Only 3 Fantasy Movies Are More Important Than The Lord of the Rings

3 hours ago 11

Published Jun 16, 2026, 8:32 PM EDT

David is a Senior Editor at Collider focused primarily on Lists. His professional journey began in the mid-2010s as a Marketing specialist before embarking on his writing career in the 2020s. At Collider, David started as a Senior Writer in late 2022 and has been a Senior Editor since mid-2023. He is in charge of ideating compelling and engaging List articles by working closely with writers, both Senior and Junior, as well as other editors. Occasionally, David also reviews movies and TV shows and writes episode recaps. Currently, David is also writing his second novel, a psychological horror satire that will, hopefully, be picked up for publication sometime next year.

In the fantasy genre, there's a before and an after The Lord of the Rings. Peter Jackson's seminal trilogy adapted the eponymous saga by J. R. R. Tolkien — itself arguably the most important literary work of the 20th century — into three of the most acclaimed, beloved, and commercially successful movies of the noughties. The Lord of the Rings almost single-handedly revived the then-dying fantasy genre and launched a new era of franchise-driven filmmaking, although very few movies ever came close to matching its overall quality, including Jackson's subsequent Middle-earth efforts.

Yes, it's not an overstatement to say that The Lord of the Rings is among the most revolutionary movies in cinematic history, especially when discussing the fantasy genre. Yet, they're not the most important movies; in fact, there are at least three fantasy movies that surpass The Lord of the Rings in terms of significance, influence, and overall impact, both within the genre and in cinema overall. That's not to say Jackson's trilogy isn't a seminal achievement, nor is it meant to suggest some sort of failing on the movies' part. Rather, this list aims to contextualize the fantasy genre as a whole through the three movies that have arguably had the strongest impact in its history.

'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (1937)

No studio is more synonymous with cinematic fantasy than Disney, and no movie is more important to Disney's history than Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The studio's first feature-length effort came at a time when the very notion of a fully animated motion picture was laughable. The project was famously dubbed "Disney's folly" by naysayers and non-believers who refused to believe such a thing could be possible. Of course, Walt Disney proved them wrong, and the rest is history. Adapted from the 1812 German fairytale of Snow White, the film focuses on the titular princess (Adriana Caselotti), whose beauty awakens the envy of her wicked stepmother, the Queen (Lucille La Verne). After the huntsman sent to kill her instead lets her escape, Snow White ventures into the forest, where she finds refuge in the house of seven dwarfs.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is still a delightful and stunning experience. The film is genuinely beautiful to look at, surprisingly fluid and with evocative, detailed animation that adds a layer of poignancy to a straightforward fairy tale. If it remains impressive today, nearly a century after its initial premiere, then one can only imagine just how revolutionary it must have seemed to 1930s audiences. Escapism was the name of the game in the late '30s, and this outstanding work of art was the very definition of that. More importantly, and in the context of cinematic history overall, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs single-handedly opened the doors for animation as a medium. As for Disney, the film cemented the studio as the go-to destination for fantasy in cinema, a true factory of dreams and childhood bliss that no other Hollywood giant could even come close to. Nearly a century later, Disney might've lost some of its luster, but it remains a titan of the industry, producing countless movies that can still enthrall audiences. The days when it produced genuine classics might be long gone, but just like Elton John, it's still standing, and it's thanks to the legacy of masterpieces like Snow White.

'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

The Tin Man, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz

Inspired by the success of Snow White, Hollywood studios ventured to take more risks in fantasy movies. MGM, arguably the most important studio in Classic Hollywood, opted to translate Frank L. Baum's works to the big screen again — yes, you read that right. Contrary to what you may think, 1939's The Wizard of Oz was not the first adaptation of Baum's books but rather the ninth (!); it was, however, the best and most iconic, and the one that has come to define the entire legacy of Oz. Directed by multiple people at various stages of its notoriously troubled production but most commonly attributed to Victor Fleming, the film stars Judy Garland in the role that made her immortal as Dorothy, a young girl who is transported via tornado from Kansas to the land of Oz. There, she joins forces with three other outcasts to follow the yellow brick road and reach the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, all while being hunted by the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton).

If Snow White proved that fantasy could reach audiences of all ages, The Wizard of Oz proved it could also succeed in live-action. The film is vibrant, kinetic, and woefully fantastic, creating an enchanting world full of whimsy and possibility that truly defies every expectation. The costumes are delightful, the sets are the right balance of quaint and endearing, the songs are simply irresistible, and the story is heartwarming to a fault. Then we have the performances, which have become beacons of cinematic fantasy; in many ways, Garland's Dorothy and Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West are the ultimate archetypes of what good and evil look like in the genre. The film has become a legend on its own, to the point where it would be fair to say that it single-handedly built our entire notion of what cinematic fantasy should look and sound like. More than any other movie, this one stands out in our subconscious when we think of the fantasy genre. To quote another seminal movie from Classic Hollywood, The Wizard of Oz is truly the stuff that dreams are made of.

Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz Which Lord of the Rings
Character Are You? One Quiz · Ten Questions · Your Fate Revealed

The road goes ever on. From the green hills of the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom, every soul in Middle-earth carries a destiny. Ten questions stand between you and the truth of who you are. Answer honestly — the One Ring has a way of revealing what we most want to hide.

💍Frodo

🌿Samwise

👑Aragorn

🔥Gandalf

🏹Legolas

⚒️Gimli

👁️Sauron

🪨Gollum

BEGIN YOUR QUEST →

You are handed a responsibility that could destroy you. What do you do? The weight of the world falls on unlikely shoulders.

AAccept it. Someone has to, and running changes nothing. BStay by the side of whoever carries it. They shouldn't go alone. CStep forward and lead. This is exactly what I was made for. DIt's mine now. I won't let anyone else have it.

NEXT QUESTION →

Your closest companion is heading into terrible danger. You: True loyalty is revealed not in comfort, but in crisis.

AFollow them without hesitation. I'd rather die beside them than live without them. BRally others and forge a plan to help — strength in numbers. COffer wisdom and guidance. My counsel may save them where swords cannot. DLet them go. Only the strong survive, and sentiment is a weakness.

NEXT QUESTION →

Enormous power is within your reach. Your instinct is: Power corrupts — but only those who reach for it.

ADestroy it. Nothing good comes from power this absolute. BUse it to protect those I love — just this once. CWield it wisely. I have the will and the knowledge to do good with it. DSeize it. I have waited long enough. It belongs to me.

NEXT QUESTION →

What does "home" mean to you? Where we long to return reveals who we truly are.

AA simple, peaceful place — green hills, good food, no adventure required. BWherever the people I love are. Home is a feeling, not a place. CA kingdom I must earn before I can truly claim it as mine. DI lost it long ago. That loss is what drives everything I do.

NEXT QUESTION →

When a battle is upon you, your approach is: War reveals what we are made of — whether we like it or not.

ASurvive by any means. I'm not a fighter — but I'll do what I must. BFight for the person beside me, not for glory or honour. CLead the charge. Nothing inspires an army like a king at the front. DStrike from range, fast and precise — never let them get close.

NEXT QUESTION →

Someone comes to you for advice in their darkest hour. You: Wisdom is not knowing all the answers — it's knowing which questions to ask.

AListen, then offer honest encouragement. Sometimes people just need belief. BGive them practical help — words are fine, but action is better. CSpeak carefully. I have seen much, and I know what counsel can cost. DTell them what they want to hear. Trust is a tool like any other.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you see yourself, honestly? Self-knowledge is the most dangerous kind.

ASmall and ordinary — but perhaps that's exactly why I was chosen. BDefined entirely by who I serve and love. I am nothing without them. CForged by hardship into something the world has not yet fully seen. DDiminished from what I once was — and consumed by the need to reclaim it.

NEXT QUESTION →

Which of these best describes your relationship with the natural world? Middle-earth speaks to those who know how to listen.

AI find peace in it — forests, rivers, open skies. Nature restores me. BI prefer the earth underfoot — stone, mines, solid and real things. CI have watched the world change for longer than most can comprehend. DNature offers hiding places, cold water, raw fish. That's enough for me.

NEXT QUESTION →

You encounter a wretched, pitiable creature who has done terrible things. You: How we treat the fallen reveals the height of our character.

AShow mercy. Even the most broken souls deserve a chance at redemption. BPity them — but never trust them. They made their choices. CSee them as a tool. Their knowledge or skills may still serve a purpose. DDestroy them before they can cause more harm. Mercy is a luxury we cannot afford.

NEXT QUESTION →

When the quest is over and the songs are sung, what do you hope they say about you? In the end, we are all just stories.

AThat an ordinary person did an extraordinary thing — and came home. BThat I never abandoned the person who needed me most. CThat I was worthy of the crown — and everything it demanded. DNothing. I don't need songs. I needed it, and now it's gone.

REVEAL MY FATE →

The Fellowship Has Spoken Your Place in Middle-earth

The scores below reveal your true character. Your highest number is your match. Even a tie tells a story — the Fellowship was never made of simple people.

💍 Frodo

🌿 Samwise

👑 Aragorn

🔥 Gandalf

🏹 Legolas

⚒️ Gimli

👁️ Sauron

🪨 Gollum

You carry something heavy — and you carry it alone, even when you don't have to. You were not born for greatness, and that is precisely why greatness chose you. Your courage is not the roaring, sword-swinging kind; it is quiet, stubborn, and terrifying in its refusal to quit. The Ring weighs on you more than anyone can see, and still you walk toward the fire. That is not weakness. That is the rarest kind of strength there is.

You are, without question, the best of them. Not the most powerful, not the most celebrated — but the most essential. Your loyalty is not a trait; it is a force of nature. You would carry the person you love up the slopes of Mount Doom if it came to that, and we both know you'd do it without being asked. The world needs more people like you, and the world is lucky it has even one.

You were born to lead, and you have spent years running from it. The crown is yours by right, but you know better than anyone that right means nothing without the will and the worthiness to back it up. You are tempered by loss, shaped by long roads, and defined by a code of honour you hold to even when no one is watching. When you finally step forward, the world shifts. Because it was always waiting for you.

You have seen more than you let on, and you say less than you know — which is exactly as it should be. You are a catalyst: you do not fight the battles yourself, you ignite the people who can. Your wisdom comes not from books but from an age of watching what happens when it is ignored. You arrive precisely when you mean to, and your presence alone changes what is possible. A wizard is never late.

Graceful, perceptive, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure — you see things others miss and act before others react. You do not need to make a scene to be remarkable; your presence speaks for itself. You are loyal to those you choose to stand beside, and that choice is not made lightly. You have lived long enough to know that the most beautiful things in this world are also the most fragile, and that is why you fight to protect them.

You are loud, proud, and absolutely formidable — and beneath all of that is one of the most fiercely loyal hearts in Middle-earth. You don't do anything by half measures. Your friendships are forged like iron, your grudges run as deep as mines, and your courage in battle is the kind that makes legends. You came into this fellowship suspicious of everyone and ended it willing to die for an elf. That is not a small thing. That is everything.

You think in centuries and act in absolutes. Order, dominion, control — not because you are cruel by nature, but because you have decided that the world left to itself always falls apart, and you are the only one with the vision and the will to hold it together. You were not always this. Something was lost, or taken, or betrayed, and the version of you that stands now is the answer to that wound. The tragedy is that you're not entirely wrong — just entirely too far gone to course-correct.

You are a study in contradiction — pitiable and dangerous, cunning and broken, capable of both cruelty and something that once resembled love. You are defined by loss: of innocence, of self, of the one thing that gave your existence meaning. Two voices war inside you constantly, and the tragedy is that the better one sometimes wins, just not often enough, and never at the right moment. You are a warning, yes — but also a mirror. We are all a little Gollum, given the right ring and enough time.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope' (1977)

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill in Star Wars-Episode IV A NewHope.

In 1977, George Lucas revolutionized cinema entirely with his space opera set in a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, then simply known as Star Wars, completely changed the entertainment landscape, and cinema has never been the same. Written and directed by Lucas, the film focuses on Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), a young farmboy who acquires the droid R2-D2, discovering a message aimed at Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) from Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) asking him to deliver the stolen plans of the Death Star to her father in Alderaan. The two then join forces with the smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his Wookie partner, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). Meanwhile, Leia finds herself in the hands of the evil Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones), the commander of the Empire's forces.

Before you say anything about how "actually, Star Wars is sci-fi," let us be clear on something: this franchise is technically science-fantasy, but the Skywalker saga is far more fantasy than sci-fi. It focuses on the hero's journey, places a heavy emphasis on mysticism, and the Force is pretty much magic with another name. Now, let's move on. It's impossible to state just how influential Star Wars was upon release, mainly because we arguably haven't had another movie reach those incredible heights. The film went beyond the silver screen to become a bona fide, inescapable cultural phenomenon. It took everything Steven Spielberg's Jaws had achieved two years earlier and took it to the next level, thus crafting the first truly contemporary blockbuster. Star Wars redefined visual effects, daring audiences to dream bigger and more daringly and pushing their imaginations past their limits. In the process, it launched one of Hollywood's most enduring franchises, leading to eight subsequent sequels and countless spin-offs, none of which have achieved the same level of universal acclaim as Star Wars and its immediate sequel, The Empire Strikes Back.