Published May 2, 2026, 2:05 PM EDT
Anthony is a news reporter and a guide writer who has covered the entertainment industry for five years. He has covered a wide range of genres, including aviation incidents and international crime, and has a keen eye for details that may slip under the radar.
When he's not writing, Anthony can be found at Brands Hatch race track or at home watching indie horror movies nobody has heard of.
Dark fantasy movies are part of a unique genre known for telling fantasy stories with a grim twist. Many of the most notable films in the genre take familiar tales and reimagine them. Others, like Pan's Labyrinth, tell original stories that draw on fairy tales and folklore.
Some movies even offer hybrid takes on the genre. For example, The Ritual starts as a survival thriller but later strays into dark fantasy territory. Despite the success of some notable projects, dark fantasy films don't always garner mainstream appeal, and it can be difficult to find new movies to enjoy if you're already a fan.
Fortunately, there are several excellent dark fantasies available if you don't mind going back in time. The 80s and 90s are treasure troves for the genre, and many have aged remarkably well thanks to a reliance on practical effects. The genre also includes several exceptional animated movies that remain relatable to adults despite being aimed at children.
This list includes a broad range of movies that rarely enter the conversation today. Some are regarded as classics, but audiences rarely reference them alongside more well-known movies. We also have a selection of modern titles, including a bleak medieval tale that's particularly haunting thanks to its minimal dialogue.
Whether you're in the mood to revisit the 80s or want a grim, modern take on a fairy-tale classic, here's a selection of praiseworthy dark fantasy movies nobody talks about today.
10 Legend (1985)
Legend marks one of Tom Cruise's earliest starring roles as Jack. He's a gifted young man who falls in love with Lily (Mia Sara). The world in Legend is a whimsical place turned topsy-turvy when dark forces gather to attack a unicorn.
Those evil forces are led by Darkness himself, played by Tim Currey. He intends to slay the last unicorn, ending daylight for all eternity if he succeeds. Legend tells a grim, atmospheric fantasy tale where the stakes could not be higher.
Currey deserves particular praise for his theatrical portrayal of Darkness. He looks intimidating, and it's clear that he is enjoying playing the villain. Many of the creatures also still look believable thanks to the stellar makeup and practical effects.
9 Snow White: A Tale Of Terror (1997)
Snow White: A Tale of Terror transforms the beloved fairy tale into a much darker story. The plot is similar to the iconic tale, with Sigourney Weaver playing Snow White's stepmother, Lady Claudia.
The character Snow White in the movie is called Lilli, played by Monica Keena. Claudia forces her out of the home and into the forest. She meets a group of dwarves, but they and their surroundings are far less inviting than the well-known Disney movie.
Snow White: A Tale of Terror offers an exceptionally bleak take on the well-known story. Weaver steals the show as Claudia, a surprisingly complex villain with palpable hatred for her stepdaughter.
8 The Neverending Story (1984)
The Neverending Story straddles the line between regular and dark fantasy. It has plenty of lighter moments of adventure, balanced by some remarkably dark scenes, especially for a movie aimed at children.
Bastian (Barret Oliver) is a keen reader. He borrows a book from a shop called The Neverending Story and starts reading it alone. The book tells the story of Atreyu (Noah Hathaway), a young man on a mission to find a cure to save a dying empress. However, Bastian realizes he may have power over the story when the book's inhabitants seem to react to his presence.
The Neverending Story offers a high-fantasy adventure with a unique delivery. The movie has a whimsical tone, but some darker scenes are brutal and sustained.
7 Dragonslayer (1981)
Dragonslayer is a classic dark fantasy movie about a wizard apprentice tasked with slaying a fearsome dragon. The film is held in high regard by fans, but has fallen into obscurity over time.
The movie introduces audiences to the desperate situation in the kingdom of Urland. A mighty dragon named Vermithrax Pejorative is terrorizing the land. Urland's king intends to keep the creature at bay by sacrificing young women to satiate its wrath.
Galen (Peter MacNicol) is an unlikely hero. He's not a mighty warrior. He's flawed and must overcome impossible odds to survive an encounter with the dragon. Despite the movie's age, Vermithrax still looks impressive and is an exceptional antagonist that steals the show.
6 Highlander (1986)
Image by Everett CollectionHighlander is a classic dark fantasy movie starring Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod. He's a skilled immortal warrior who must defeat the Kurgan (Clancy Brown) to stop him from obtaining incredible power.
The stakes may seem low as MacLeod is immortal, but there's a catch. Immortals can still feel pain and die if they are beheaded. The movie frames the power as both a curse and a blessing, and MacLeod's story is one full of grief and tragedy.
Despite the dour tone, MacLeod remains a charismatic hero. It's clear that Brown is having a lot of fun as the intimidating Kurgan, and the movie features several notable fantasy sword fights.
5 The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Dark Crystal is another surprisingly grim movie intended for children. The film recently earned some time in the spotlight thanks to the accompanying series "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance" in 2019, but many audiences have not seen the original movie.
As The Dark Crystal is a Jim Henson production, it relies heavily on practical effects, which have a timeless appeal. The film tells Jen's story. He's a Gelfling, and the last of his kind, on a quest to retrieve a crystal shard.
His journey is arduous, filled with supernatural threats. Few are as memorable and terrifying as the Skeksis. They are vulture-like creatures with technology to drain life from their victims. The Dark Crystal is far bleaker than Jim Henson's Labyrinth, with many scenes that remain scary, particularly for a younger audience.
4 The Last Unicorn (1982)
The Last Unicorn may be an animated movie, but it tells a particularly dark tale all the same. Mia Farrow voices the unicorn, who embarks on a grand journey to discover if she is truly the last of her kind.
The unicorn encounters many people and creatures on her adventure, and very few are her allies. She teams up with Schmendrick, who's a bumbling magician at best, even if he is a faithful companion.
The Last Unicorn is relentlessly dark at times, in a bleak setting where it feels like magic is fading from the world. The movie remains praiseworthy for its exploration of mature themes. Its art style still holds up, even though it looks quite different from that of brighter, modern animated films.
3 Gretel & Hansel (2020)
Gretel & Hansel is the most modern movie on the list, yet it seems to have slipped into obscurity for most audiences. It offers a dark take on the famous Hansel and Gretel story, greatly expanding the lore.
Fans of the fairy tale will already know where the story is heading. Gretel (Sophia Lillis) and Hansel (Samuel Leakey) enter a dark forest looking for work and shelter. A woman offers the weary siblings a place to stay, but it's immediately obvious that she has an ulterior motive.
Gretel & Hansel makes the list because it's not just a simple retelling of the original. It greatly expands on the story and how the mysterious woman attempts to grow a rift between the brother and sister.
2 The Head Hunter (2018)
The Head Hunter is a remarkable movie and another modern entry on the list that many audiences missed. It tells the story of a father on a vengeance-fueled quest to destroy the monster that killed his daughter.
Christopher Rygh stars as the head hunter. The movie is set in medieval times, and it's the head hunters' duty to defeat monsters who threaten the kingdom. It's a straightforward story on the surface, but there are many moving parts, and the movie explores the consequences of the head hunters' grief-stricken vendetta.
The Head Hunter is particularly impressive, given the very little spoken dialogue. Many events are left to the audience's interpretation as we're left to question the protagonist's mental state.
1 The Secret Of NIMH (1982)
The Secret of NIMH is an exceptional animated film that delves deep into dark fantasy. It also tells a mature story, making it particularly hard-hitting for adults.
Audiences are introduced to Mrs. Brisby. She's a timid field mouse, and her home is under threat from a farmer. Despite her situation, she's unable to move as she's nursing her poorly son, Timothy.
Mrs. Brisby embarks on a perilous quest to locate the rats of NIMH. They are special, as they are extremely intelligent. They also live in a strange subterranean world, completely different from the surface.
The movie is praiseworthy for its mature themes and world-building. The art style still holds up extremely well, and it remains a brilliant animated adventure more than four decades after its release.
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