No matter how many fantasy movies you watch, the best ones can still make you second-guess what you see and surprise you. Movies don't need to shock you to be good, but some are unforgettable for scenes you never saw coming.
10 The Folding City Fight Scene - Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strange is full of visual spectacles and incredible scenes where the rules constantly change, keeping audiences on their toes. One of the most impressive is the folding city scene, which combines clever perspective tricks with the action.
The scene is remarkable because the laws of reality literally unfold on screen. For example, Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) runs into a four-way junction on the road. The side streets twist into a different perspective, yet we see vehicles continuing their journeys upside down as if nothing happened.
We later see the entire city folding in, changing the gravity in the process. It's a busy scene that begs to be rewatched, as there's so much going on.
9 Gandalf Battling The Balrog - Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
Many scenes from The Lord of the Rings trilogy could have made the list, but few are as impactful as Gandalf's fight with the Balrog in the Mines of Moria.
The scene forces the audience to double-take as it appears that Gandalf is the victor at first. He triumphantly yells, "You shall not pass!" as the Balrog falls to its doom. However, the ancient beast whips the wizard off his feet as it falls into the darkness.
Our heroes are unable to save Gandalf, and the scene is shocking, given how powerful he is. The audience expects that he may somehow survive, but that hope is extinguished after an extended scene of the hobbits grieving.
8 Dumbledore Recast As Michael Gambon - Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)
Richard Harris portrayed a wonderful, warm Professor Albus Dumbledore before tragically losing his battle with Lymphoma. His character was recast, and Michael Gambon played the famous wizard from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban onward.
Gambon plays a brilliant Dumbledore, but his delivery and interpretation of the character are quite different from Harris's. Some of Gambon's lines are notably more urgent, like his now-famous reaction to Harry's name appearing in the Goblet of Fire in the fourth movie.
Audiences' opinion of Gambon was mixed at first, but warmed over subsequent movies. His intensity was also arguably a better fit for dramatic scenes, like his showdown against Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic.
7 Smaug's Grand Reveal - The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (2013)
Smaug's reveal in the first Hobbit movie is a shocking scene because Bilbo (Martin Freeman) knows the dragon is nearby, but has no idea where. The audience is also clueless as the music subtley fades away in the background.
Bilbo enters Smaug's lair looking for the Arkenstone. He finds the dragon's treasure hoard and tries to keep quiet as he sifts through mountains of gold.
Smaug's reveal is so shocking because we don't see him skulking around in the background or perched above the treasure. Instead, Bilbo accidentally uncovers his eye as he's buried underneath the gold and doesn't even realize it at first. Bilbo's entire encounter with Smaug is thrilling and tense, but the introduction is unforgettable.
6 Westley Isn't Left-Handed - The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride is arguably one of the finest fantasy movies ever made. It also contains one of the greatest fantasy swordfights of all time.
The battle between Westley (Cary Elwes) and Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) is as much a fight with swords as it is with words. Both warriors appear equally skilled until Inigo remarks that he didn't know Westley was left-handed.
Audiences see Westley fight before this encounter and scramble to recall if this is true. The reveal that Westley is, in fact, handicapping himself is one of the best parts of the film. Once he swaps hands, Inigo is on the back foot, showing what a formidable fighter Westley truly is.
5 Aslan Returns - The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe (2005)
Aslan's death in The Chronicles of Narnia is surprisingly drawn out and sustained. It's a harrowing scene, particularly for a younger audience, making his unexpected return even more impactful.
In the movie, Aslan sacrifices himself to save Edmund. The witch's henchmen treat the lion cruelly and even shave his mane. The witch ultimately kills Aslan on the Stone Table, and there's seemingly no way he survived.
The scene makes the list because a loophole in the laws of magic means Aslan's death is not permanent. His willingness to die for Edmund allows the lion to return in an unexpected turn of events when all hope seems lost.
4 There Is More To Captain Shakespeare Than Meets The Eye - Stardust (2007)
Stardust did not perform poorly at the box office, but it garnered a larger fanbase and cult classic status in the years that followed. A few scenes in the film caused audiences to double-take, but Robert De Niro's portrayal of Captain Shakespeare deserves special mention.
The captain is a ruthless, cutthroat pirate in Stardust. At least, that's how he appears. In reality, he's more concerned about how hard it is to get blood off his clothes than spilling it. He implies he will do dreadful things to Claire Danes' character, Yvaine, but it's all for show. In private, the Captain drops the act, revealing a much warmer character with a love of fashion.
Shakespeare knows the value of a fearsome reputation and uses it to misdirect his crew and the audience. It cements his status as a fan favorite, as De Niro steals the show in every scene.
3 Bastian Controls Fantasia - The Neverending Story (1984)
The Neverending Story is a classic fantasy movie that broke the fourth wall long before the term was popularized.
During the film, Bastian (Barret Oliver) 'borrows' the Neverending Story book without the shop owner's permission. The film mostly follows the events in the book as Bastian reads it.
However, Bastian screams when he reads about a giant turtle called Morla the Ancient One, who seems to know who he is. The characters in the book appear to react to events in the real world, which raises the question: Is Bastian controlling the story?
It's a fascinating premise that the movie explores alongside its high-fantasy adventure. The audience is drip-fed information about the connection, which is further explored in the sequels.
2 Maleficent Breaks The Curse - Maleficent (2014)
Maleficent offers a unique take on the classic fairytale, Sleeping Beauty. It makes sweeping changes to the original tale, turning Maleficent from a one-dimensional villain into a tragic antihero.
One scene, in particular, rewrites the original story when the prince's 'true love' kiss fails to awaken Aurora from her slumber. Toward the end of the movie, the fairy trio ushers the prince into her chambers. The audience expects Aurora to wake up after the prince kisses her, but she doesn't respond.
The movie fleshes out Maleficent's character, showing that she cares deeply for the princess. She ultimately frees Aurora from the curse with a kiss on the forehead, subverting the audience's expectations going into the film.
1 Darth Vader Is Luke Skywalker's Father - Star Wars: Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
We're delving into one of the most iconic science fantasy movies for our last entry, and the legendary reveal in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back caused audiences to double-take so hard that we're still talking about it today.
The Empire Strikes Back is a surprisingly dark movie where Vader captures Luke's friends, luring him to Cloud City on Bespin. Vader orchestrates a duel between Luke and himself. Our hero fights bravely, but is ultimately outclassed.
Luke accuses Vader of killing his father, to which the Emperor's apprentice responds, "Luke, I am your father." It's one of the most iconic lines in cinema and has become a part of internet culture.
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