10 Most Rewatchable Fantasy Movie Masterpieces of the 21st Century, Ranked

1 week ago 10

Ivana Baquero's hugging Doug Jones's Faun in 'Pan's Labyrinth'

Published Feb 2, 2026, 6:31 PM EST

Born with Autism (formerly classified as Asperger syndrome), Tyler B. Searle has been obsessed with storytelling since he was old enough to speak. He gravitated towards fairy tales, mythology, the fantasy genre, and animated movies and shows aimed at family audiences. When not writing, Tyler enjoys watching more cartoons and reading fantasy books in his home in Ontario, Canada.

Storytelling is perhaps one of humanity's greatest gifts, as it allows us to pass on lessons, see from another's point of view, and make sense of the trials and tribulations of life, among other reasons. Perhaps the oldest genre of storytelling is fantasy, which originated as ancient myths, folk stories, and fairy tales, but has since evolved into a sprawling tapestry of fantastical worlds, noble heroes, and ferocious monsters. Regardless of what form it takes, fantasy stories allow the more creative storytellers to let loose, and no two fantasy stories are ever quite the same.

Fantasy movies are no exception, and often use creative effects and camera tricks to create some of the most visually stunning and entertaining movies of all time. This approach has continued with the technological boom of the 21st century, which has produced many fantasy films that draw audiences back, compelling them to rewatch and discover something new every time.

10 'Stardust' (2007)

Tristan Thron (Charlie Cox) is a young man living in the town of Wall, seen as an outcast due to the mysterious circumstances of his birth, and who longs to win the heart of the local beauty, Victoria (Sienna Miller). Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Stormhold, the dying king (Peter O'Toole) throws his ruby into the sky for his living sons to seek, and it knocks a star to earth. Tristan vows to get the star for Victoria, but he discovers that it has taken the form of a young woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes), and that she is pursued not just by the princes of Stormhold, but also the witch Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), who wants to use Yvaine's heart to restore her and her sisters' youth and beauty.

Stardust changes a few things from the novel that inspired it, but the result is easily one of the most feel-good fantasy films since The Princess Bride. It invites the audience to come along into a world of lighthearted adventure, charming romance, and likable characters, with the standout easily being Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro), the sophisticated, cross-dressing sky pirate. It still occasionally dips into the darker side of fantasy and has plenty of unfortunate deaths, but Stardust remains fun and inspirational, especially with its story about the power of love.

9 'Midnight in Paris' (2011)

Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald smiling in Midnight in Paris

Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) is an aspiring novelist vacationing in Paris with his fiancée, Inez (Rachel McAdams), and her parents. One night, Gil wanders the city at night and finds himself transported back to the 1920s, where he meets famous individuals like Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates), and Salvador Dalí (Adrien Brody) before returning to the present. Night after night, Gil continues to time-travel and meets a similarly nostalgic woman named Adriana (Marion Cotillard), much to the frustration and confusion of Inez.

Midnight in Paris offers a very minimalist approach to fantastical elements, which helps add a whimsical air akin to walking through a dream. This approach fits perfectly with the major themes of nostalgia, both in the joys and inspiration it can bring, but also the dissatisfaction and stagnation if one becomes too fixated on the past. Then there are the performances: Wilson is perfectly cast as the neurotic everyman trying to find meaning in the world, while the supporting cast all leave a strong impression as the historical figures he meets.

8 'Song of the Sea' (2014)

A character smiling softly while standing on the shore in Song-of-the-sea

Ben (David Rawle/James Ó Floinn) is a young boy living with his father, Connor (Brendan Gleeson) and mute sister, Saoirse, in a lighthouse off the coast of Ireland, until they are taken to the mainland by their concerned Grandmother (Fionnula Flanagan). One day, the kids try to return to the lighthouse, but run into a trio of magical daoine sí. They reveal that Saoirse is a selkie, able to transform into a seal using a special cloak, and is the key to returning them to their homeworld if she can sing a special song.

Song of the Sea is the second of the Irish Folklore Trilogy by Cartoon Saloon, and ranks as perhaps the greatest animated film to come from Ireland. Its animation alone is stunningly beautiful and perfectly captures the look of a fairy tale come to life, yet also feels distinctly Irish. Meanwhile, the story is a strong coming-of-age tale that shows the importance of sibling love and processing grief.

7 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' (2022)

a creature of blue light speaking to a little wooden boy

20 years after the death of his son, a woodcarver named Geppetto (David Bradley) cuts down a tree in a drunken stupor and carves a puppet in his likeness. A nature spirit called the Wood Sprite (Tilda Swinton) brings the puppet to life, names him Pinocchio (Gregory Mann), and assigns Sebastian J. Cricket (Ewan McGregor) as his conscience in exchange for a wish. Unfortunately, Pinocchio's lack of self-control, coupled with his unique nature, leads to him falling in with the wrong people, such as the traveling con artist Count Volpe (Christoph Waltz), and the local Podestà (Ron Perlman), who sees Pinocchio as an immortal soldier.

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is by far the most creative take on Carlo Collodi's story, and you have no problem believing that it was a passion project of del Toro's for years. The stop-motion animation is amazing, with complex models and very lifelike movements, resulting in a stylistic dark fantasy world that explores what it means to be human. It also has a fascinating look at the duality of life and death, with Pinocchio getting into several conversations about immortality with the Wood Sprite's sister, Death (Tilda Swinton).

6 'Your Name' (2016)

The protagonists of the anime movie Your Name in a side-by-side shot.

Mitsuha (Mone Kamishiraishi/Stephanie Sheh) is a young woman dissatisfied with her rural life as a miko and wonders what it would be like to be a boy living in Tokyo. To her surprise, she gets her wish one day when she wakes up in the body of an aspiring architect named Taki (Ryunosuke Kamiki/Michael Sinterniklaas). Mitsuha initially thinks the whole thing was a dream when she wakes up as herself again, only to discover that Taki was inhabiting her body. Over the next several days, the two continue to switch and leave notes for one another as they try to make sense of this all.

Your Name broke all kinds of records on release and remains a crowning achievement of Japanese storytelling. Its overwhelming acclaim comes from how simple yet complex the story is; while it does get more layered as it goes on, it's a tale about communication, sacrifice, and how everything is interconnected, symbolized in the film by Mitsuha's red ribbon. Mitsuha and Taki's relationship is also very engaging, especially as the two grow and change based on their interactions.

5 'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' (2022)

After dying to a giant, the feline outlaw Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) learns that he is down to his last of 9 lives, and is forced into retirement when he nearly dies to a mysterious wolf (Wagner Moura). He is stirred back into action when he learns of a map that leads to a Wishing Star, and teams up with his old flame, Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek Pinault), and an optimistic dog (Harvey Guillén), to get it. However, not only does Puss have to deal with others seeking the wish, but the dark forest where it's found forces him to confront his greatest fears.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish shocked audiences at the time with how much effort was put into it, and each rewatch offers something new. The animation takes inspiration from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and goes for a watercolor-inspired look, making it feel like a picture book come to life. The story is very mature for a family film, with an emphasis on accepting one's mortality and figuring out what matters most in life.

4 'Shrek' (2001)

Shrek (Mike Myers) is an ogre living in a swamp who just wants to be left alone. Unfortunately, he soon finds his land infested with fairy tale creatures, having been relocated by Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). With the help of a talking Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Shrek confronts Farquaad on the matter, who agrees to remove the squatters if Shrek will rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from a dragon-guarded castle.

Shrek is one of the most important animated films ever made: it not only cemented 3D animation as the new norm over 2D, but also ushered in an era of fairy tales and Disney satire. Yet at the heart of all this is a well-founded story about acceptance, both from others and yourself, which leads to a brilliant twist ending that plays with the usual fairy tale conclusion. It also helps that Shrek himself is a terrific character, with many realistic flaws that make him easy to relate to, and while he can be harsh and defensive, once the walls come down, there's a heart of gold inside.

3 'Pan's Labyrinth' (2006)

The Pale Man with eyeballs in his palms in Pan's Labyrinth.

In Francoist Spain, a young girl named Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and her pregnant mother go to live with her new stepfather, the brutal Captain Vidal (Sergi López). One night, Ofelia follows some fairies into an underground labyrinth and meets a Faun (Doug Jones), who tells her that she is the reincarnation of the princess of the underworld. To return to her throne, she must pass three challenges, all while tending to her mother, since Vidal is busy hunting down rebels.

Pan's Labyrinth is a masterpiece of dark fantasy filmmaking and one of the best modern fairy tales. Its success comes from its use of the fantasy world as a means for Ofelia to make sense of the dark moments in her life, which also makes you wonder how much of the magic is real and how much is just in Ofelia's mind. Though it goes to very dark places, Pan's Labyrinth never loses a sense of optimistic hope and leaves off with a very bittersweet ending.

2 'Spirited Away' (2001)

Chihiro holding into Haku as he flies above the river in Spirited Away.

En route to their new home, Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi/Daveigh Chase) and her parents stumble into the spirit world, where her parents are turned into pigs, and Chihiro becomes trapped when the sun sets. She is helped by a boy named Haku (Miyu Irino/Jason Marsden), who sends her to the local bathhouse to get a job from the witch Yubaba (Mari Natsuki/Suzanne Pleshette). Between her work, Chihiro does what she can to learn the rules of this new world so she can rescue her parents and escape.

Spirited Away is the magnum opus of famed director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, which blends his love of Shintoism and environmentalism with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Every scene bursts with creativity and details that make the world feel like a truly alien landscape, and requires multiple viewings to see everything going on in any one single frame. Story-wise, it's a brilliant coming-of-age tale, with Chihiro's quest to rescue her parents forcing her to take on more adult responsibilities and nail down her identity.

1 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy (2001-2003)

Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) learns that the golden ring he inherited from his uncle, Bilbo (Sir Ian Holm), is the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord of Mordor, Sauron (Alan Howard). He sets off for the elven city of Rivendell, where it is decided that the ring must be taken deep into Mordor so it can be destroyed to banish Sauron from the world forever. As Frodo sets off on this near-impossible quest, Sauron gathers orcs and wicked humans to his side, and the free people of Middle-earth must stand united or be subjugated.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is, hands down, a contender for the greatest film trilogy ever made and is often the first thing people think of when they think of fantasy masterpieces. Middle-earth is brought to life thanks to a masterful blending of CGI, practical effects, gorgeous shots of the New Zealand landscape, and impressive camera tricks to make the Hobbit characters look smaller than everyone else. The cast is also perfectly chosen, giving each of their characters heaps of pathos as they battle against overwhelming odds, which sets the stage for timeless themes of camaraderie and the corrupting nature of power.