7 ‘80s Fantasy Movies That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Fuel your imagination with the world of fantasy. Known for dragons, myths, and otherworldly tales, the fantasy genre invites audiences into fictional universes shaped either entirely by an author's imagination or inspired by long-lost ancient eras. Many of these protagonists are not born heroes. More often than not, they begin their quest as ordinary individuals who are pulled into some destiny. Through hardship and loss, these unlikely individuals must rise to the occasion.

As movie technology began to modernize in the 1980s, filmmakers took full advantage of these advancements. Practical effects, ambitious set designs, and solid storytelling helped bring worlds to life that once seemed impossible to capture on screen. Even decades later, many of these films still feel magical. With that in mind, here are seven '80s fantasy movies that have truly aged like fine wine.

7 'Krull' (1983)

Krull is the product of combining fantasy swords, sci-fi lasers, and mythic adventure into one solid package. On the distant planet of Krull, Prince Colwyn (Ken Marshall) sets out to rescue Princess Lyssa (Lysette Anthony) from the terrifying Beast, an alien warlord whose Slayers tear through kingdoms without leaving a single trace. Their only hope lies in the Glaive, a mystical, five-bladed weapon that resembles a magical boomerang and strikes like destiny itself.

The best kinds of heroes are the ones who think they can't work well with each other. That's the kind of protagonists Krull has. These mismatched heroes have every reason not to embark on this quest, but they do anyway. Whether it's Cyclopes wrestling with fate or thieves chasing redemption, everyone's got their own personal agenda. Krull isn't afraid to let its main characters fail, suffer losses, or stumble into outrageous, unheroic moments. For those into Star Wars, the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and Arthurian legend, Krull has it all.

6 'Kiki's Delivery Service' (1989)

Kiki's Delivery Service follows 13-year-old witch Kiki (Minami Takayama) as she leaves home for a year of training, determined to find independence and her place in the world. Headstrong yet kind-hearted, Kiki arrives in the European-inspired seaside city of Koriko with her talking cat Jiji and a lot of nervous optimism. To support herself, she starts a flying delivery service, learning responsibility one package at a time while dealing with loneliness and self-doubt.

Unlike the traditional fantasy trope, where the hero must face a larger-than-life villain, the real battle in Kiki's Delivery Service comes from Kiki herself. Kiki's teenage worries are things that adult viewers can also relate to. The movie lingers on familiar moments, from Kiki struggling to fit in and feeling isolated in crowds to gradually losing her ability to fly as her confidence fades. Through whimsy and magic, Kiki teaches audiences that the only way to overcome inner turmoil is by stepping back and learning to make peace with our imperfections.

5 'Conan the Barbarian' (1982)

Set in the fictional Hyborian Age, Conan the Barbarian tells a brutal revenge story of a poor boy who lost his family in a flash. After witnessing his village destroyed and his parents slaughtered by the cult leader Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones), the young Cimmerian boy Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) grows up hardened by slavery, battle, and loss. Years later, armed with immense strength and a warrior's resolve, he sets out to confront the man who shaped his life through violence.

There is nothing flashy about Conan the Barbarian, and the same can be said for the production as a whole. While many have criticized the film for its lack of style or a solid script, it ultimately speaks for the era in which it was made. True to its grim nature, the movie plays out as a slow burn, moving with mythic seriousness. Conan's mission is simple, and his actions are equally straightforward. He gains allies, loses them, and survives crucifixion. There's no grand meaning behind it all, just survival.

4 'Labyrinth' (1986)

Labyrinth follows Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a teenager who lashes out at being forced into responsibility and impulsively wishes her baby stepbrother Toby (Toby Froud) away. When the Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie) takes the child, Sarah is given 13 hours to reach the center of the labyrinth and reclaim him. As she moves through the maze, she is repeatedly misled, tempted, and focused, forced to confront illusions that mirror her immaturity and desire to escape adulthood.

Aesthetics aside, the labyrinth represents the unfair, nonsensical rules shaping Sarah's emotional state. Because she resents growing up, the maze mirrors her energy. Doors lie, characters give terrible advice, and shortcuts backfire. She is not alone, though. With puppets like the frightening-looking but gentle Ludo and the selfish yet loyal Hoggle, this otherworldly dimension feels messy and foreign. That confusion reflects the uncertainty of adolescence, where progress is unclear, and every choice carries consequences.

3 'The Goonies' (1985)

Childlike wonder comes to life in The Goonies. The kids of the Goon Docks are in deep trouble when their rundown coastal neighborhood faces demolition to make way for a golf course. On their last weekend together, Mikey Walsh (Sean Astin) and his friends discover a treasure map belonging to legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy. Hoping to save their homes, they venture into underground tunnels filled with skeletons, riddles, and deadly traps, all while being chased by the escaped Fratelli crime family.

Each kid reacts differently to danger, which makes The Goonies exciting to watch. Data's (Ke Huy Quan) unreliable gadgets, Mouth's (Corey Feldman) reckless sarcasm, Chunk's (Jeff Cohen) fear, and Mikey's stubborn optimism all shape how the scenes play out. With traps like the collapsing tunnels and the bone piano, audiences root for these kids as they brainstorm their way out of these outrageous situations. Although the Fratellis are genuinely threatening, they're cartoonish enough to match the kid-friendly tone.

2 'The NeverEnding Story' (1984)

The NeverEnding Story follows Bastian Balthazar Bux (Barret Oliver), a lonely boy grieving his mother's death and enduring constant bullying at school. While fleeing his tormentors, he hides in a bookstore, where he discovers a mysterious novel called The NeverEnding Story. He takes the book to his school's attic and begins reading about Fantasia, a magical realm slowly being destroyed by a force known as the Nothing. The story shifts to Atreyu (Noah Nathaway), a young warrior tasked with saving Fantasia.

Fantasia feels shaped by children's dreams and fears. The NeverEnding Story thus sees this foreign world through the inner mind of a child. The joy of Atreyu flying with Falkor (Alan Oppenheimer) contrasts with the dread of the Swamps of Sadness, where hope literally sinks. Although Bastian is the protagonist of the film, he's not hero material — he's just a stranger who encounters the book and finds solace in it. Fantasy here is not just a genre, but an escape into a realm where imagination runs free.

1 'Excalibur' (1981)

Excalibur recounts the rise and fall of King Arthur (Nigel Terry) through a dark, myth-driven lens. The story begins with Uther Pendragon (Gabriel Byrne) receiving the enchanted sword Excalibur from Merlin (Nicol Williamson) to unite Britain. After Uther's death, the sword is sealed in stone, awaiting the true king. Years later, Arthur — Uther's illegitimate son raised as a squire — draws the sword and claims the throne. With Merlin's guidance, he establishes the Knights of the Round Table and marries Guenevere.

Fans of lore-driven stories are in for Excalibur. The movie does justice to the legend's tragic arc, especially through the birth of Modred, who is linked to Arthur's downfall. Excalibur questions whether idealism can truly bring peace. No matter how ambitious Arthur could be, at the end of the day, he is a mere mortal capable of making mistakes. Only this time, Arthur's personal failures prompt political collapse.