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Fantasy is one of the most imaginative genres in the film industry, creating worlds and creatures beyond all constraints of reality. From Middle-earth to Oz, there's no limit to what fantasy can create. Because of this ascension past the ordinary world, fantasy films almost never blend this mythical nature with a more grounded reality, leaving this latter attribute to the realistic tales of everyday life, such as Saving Private Ryan.
Some movies, however, blend magic with elements of the real world, such as Pan's Labyrinth. This unique combination of the fantastical and the mundane leads to the creation of a lucid dream-like experience, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. This list will discuss the best movies that blend fantasy and reality, appreciating their distinctive approach and providing more insight into why and how they work.
10 'Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)' (2014)
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
Image via Fox Searchlight Pictures Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a dark comedy-drama film first released in 2014. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who also directed The Revenant and Babel, the plot follows a washed-up actor named Riggan, played by Michael Keaton, as he tries to revitalize his career with a new play after years of obscurity following his iconic role as a superhero named Birdman, who also serves as his inner critic.
Birdman is shot in a unique way that creates the illusion of one continuous take. This is best shown during the scene in which Riggan is locked out of the theater, and the camera closely follows him as he runs out onto the street. The camera then subtly points down at the ground to provide a chance to cut and then pans around the busy street as Riggan runs through it. This technique creates a stream-of-consciousness feel to the narrative, thus enhancing the audience's intrigue by making it easier to accept the fantasy elements through this dream-like identity.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Release Date November 14, 2014
Runtime 119 minutes
Writers Alejandro González Iñárritu , Nicolás Giacobone , Alexander Dinelaris , Armando Bo
9 'The NeverEnding Story' (1984)
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
Image via Warner Bros. The NeverEnding Story is a fantasy film first released in 1984. It serves as an adaptation of the 1979 novel of the same name by Michael Ende, who also wrote the Jim Button series. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, best known for directing Das Boot, the story follows a young boy named Bastian Bux, played by Barret Oliver, who also appeared in Frankenweenie, as he discovers a world of imagination through a book.
The NeverEnding Story greatly benefits from its dark atmosphere. For example, during the scene in which the lupine Gmork attacks Atreyu (Noah Hathaway), the book's hero, a wolf head prop falls and nearly hits Bastian. This sense of parallel storytelling between Bastian and Atreyu shows that not only are they going on the same adventure, but also that they need each other in order to see their respective journey to an end. Bastian provides the imagination that a reader provides a storybook, and Atreyu and his world provide the emotional resonance that Bastian needs to deal with the issues in his life.
Release Date July 20, 1984
Runtime 94 minutes
8 'Big Fish' (2003)
Directed by Tim Burton
Image via Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Big Fish is a fantasy drama film first released in 2003. It is an adaptation of the 1998 book Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions written by Daniel Wallace. Directed by Tim Burton, the plot follows a man named Ed Bloom, played by Ewan McGregor, as he recounts his life story to his son Will, played by Billy Crudup of Watchmen and Spotlight fame.
The Southern setting greatly aids in the blend of fantasy and reality throughout Big Fish. For instance, when Ed first arrives, the town of Spectre is presented as a symmetrical, quaint place surrounded by a thick set of trees on all sides. This presentation of Spectre as a set on a stage emphasizes the fairy tale nature of Ed's stories, subtly reminding the audience that nothing can be taken fully at face value; nothing is quite real, just like in tall tales such as Ed's.
Release Date December 25, 2003
Runtime 125 minutes
Writers Daniel Wallace , John August
7 'Shutter Island' (2010)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Image via Paramount Pictures Shutter Island is a neo-noir psychological thriller film first released in 2010. It is based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the story follows a U.S. Marshal named Teddy Daniels, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, as he investigates a prison on the titular island.
Shutter Island excels at slowly telling the audience the story in a very subtle way. For example, there is a scene in which Teddy is exploring a cave system on the island and a woman named Rachel Solando, played by Sharp Objects' Patricia Clarkson, appears suddenly in front of him bloodied and tells him about a conspiracy involving mind control, the prison staff, and Teddy's own psyche. This method of delivering information provides a more immersive experience by only letting the audience learn new story details alongside Teddy, making them feel like they are a part of the investigation.
Release Date February 19, 2010
Runtime 138 minutes
Writers Laeta Kalogridis , Dennis Lehane
6 'Brazil' (1985)
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Image via Universal Pictures Brazil is a dystopian science fiction black comedy film first released in 1985. Directed by Terry Gilliam, who also directed 12 Monkeys, the plot follows a bureaucrat named Sam Lowry, played by Jonathan Pryce, who also appeared in The Two Popes, as he tries to find a woman named Jill (Kim Greist), whom he had previously imagined saving.
Brazil has excellent production design throughout. For example, the walls of the Information Retrieval building are barren and metallic, emphasizing the soulless and de-personal nature of the totalitarian regime that runs everything. In addition, Sam's daydreams involve him being an angelic figure, wings and all, saving a beautiful woman from various threats while cloaked in bright lights. This contrast between his reality and his fantasies shows that his life is so boring and devoid of meaning that he has to engage in increasingly strange fantasies to simply get through every day, thereby showing the soul-crushing nature of his dystopian world.
Release Date December 18, 1985
Director Terry Gilliam
Runtime
5 'Pan's Labyrinth' (2006)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Image via Warner Bros. Pan's Labyrinth is a dark fantasy film first released in 2006. Directed by horror master Guillermo del Toro, the story follows a young girl named Ofelia, played by Ivana Baquero, as she navigates a mysterious labyrinth against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War while living with her evil stepfather Captain Vidal, played by Sergi Lopez, who also appeared in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.
Pan's Labyrinth has a very creative creature design. For instance, the Pale Man, played by Doug Jones, renowned for his transformative work in movies like Hellboy and The Shape of Water, has very minimal facial features, long clawed fingers, and eyes on the palms of his hands. In addition, The Faun, also played by Jones, has a statue-like head and black armor with a gothic marble design. Designs such as these help to build the world of the labyrinth by providing an embodiment of the dangers and wonders of such a wondrous and fantastical world.
Release Date January 19, 2007
Runtime 118 minutes
4 'Tigers Are Not Afraid' (2017)
Directed by Issa Lopez
Image via Videocine Tigers Are Not Afraid is a fantasy crime horror film first released in 2017. Directed by Issa Lopez, who was recently behind HBO's True Detective: Night Country, the plot follows a young girl named Estrella, played by Paola Lara, as she and four other children as she finds herself a target of a drug cartel following the disappearance of her mother.
Tigers Are Not Afraid succeeds at effectively combining elements and tropes of fantasy and fairy tales with the gritty story of cartel violence. For example, a recurring motif involves three pieces of chalk that Estrella uses to grant her wishes with a gritty twist, like when Estrella wishes for the death of cartel member Caco (Ianis Guerrero) to join the orphan gang. This blend of fairy tale tropes and gritty realism shows both the relentlessly innocent nature with which Estrella views the world as well as the dark reality she now finds herself living in.
Release Date November 2, 2017
Runtime 83 minutes
Writers Issa López
3 'Amélie' (2001)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Image via UGC Amélie is a romantic comedy film first released in 2001. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who also directed Alien Resurrection, the story follows the titular waitress, played by Audrey Tautou, who also appeared in The Da Vinci Code, as she begins a crusade of helping others after finding a mysterious box in her apartment.
Amélie has a very effective use of color throughout. For instance, in the Café des 2 Moulins, where Amélie works, bright lights line the walls, providing a bright hue throughout the background that contrasts directly with her red and black clothing. She effortlessly stands out while providing a visual compliment to her positive and quirky nature through vibrant colors and warm hues. In addition, Tautou gives a very gripping performance in the lead role, going from various emotional states, such as happy and contemplative, without losing the charm that dominates the story.
2 'Donnie Darko' (2001)
Directed by Richard Kelly
Image via Pandora Cinema Donnie Darko is a science fiction psychological thriller film first released in 2001. Directed by Richard Kelly, who also directed Southland Tales, the plot follows the titular teenager, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, whose accidental survival of a freak plane accident causes an unraveling of time and reality that he must now figure out how to avert.
This cult classic has superb acting, especially from Gyllenhaal. For example, during the scene in which Donnie is walking home, Gretchen, played by The Neon Demon's Jena Malone, is very friendly and talkative; after she leaves, he becomes flustered over his failure to secure her romantically. In addition, when Frank, played by James Duval of Independence Day fame, appears to Donnie through a mirror, Donnie responds by stabbing him before willingly doing his bidding. The film not only humanizes Donnie by showing his realistic reactions to everything around him but also creates empathy by showing his conflicted nature.
Release Date October 26, 2001
Runtime 113 minutes
1 'Perfect Blue' (1997)
Directed by Satoshi Kon
Image via Rex Entertainment Perfect Blue is a psychological thriller anime film first released in 1997. It is a loose adaptation of the novel Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis by Yoshikazu Takeuchi. Directed by Satoshi Kon, who also directed future classics like Paprika and Tokyo Godfathers, the story follows a J-pop star named Mima, voiced by Junko Iwao, as she finds herself stalked by an obsessive fan, implicated in a series of murders, and losing her grasp on reality.
Perfect Blue uses its animation to expertly craft a world in which reality is indistinguishable from fantasy. For instance, there is a scene in which Mima is looking at a reflection of her past self, which is then hit by a train before cutting to her falling into bed. Such scenes show the intense personal conflict that arises from the stark contrast between her vibrant past and her uncertain future, leading to a fracturing of her identity. Stylish, unnerving, and appropriately confusing, Perfect Blueis the best movie to blend fantasy and reality.
Release Date February 28, 1998
Cast Junko Iwao , Rica Matsumoto , Masaaki Ôkura , Shinpachi Tsuji
Runtime 81
English (US) ·