Fantasy is one of the most enjoyable genres when it’s done right, enduring from the early stages of cinema until the modern age. However, it’s notoriously tricky to pull off; very few can successfully build these wildly imaginative worlds and do it right. Moreover, thanks to classics like The Lord of the Rings, the bar is very high.
While we’re certainly not living in a fantasy golden age, the 2020s have nevertheless yielded more than a few fantasy gems, from the quirkiness of Dream Scenario to the mythic brutality of The Northman. Whether rendered through hand-drawn animation, surreal dream logic, or historically grounded myth, the titles below remind us of what the genre can do when it’s operating at its best.
10
‘Dream Scenario’ (2023)
“I’m in people’s dreams?” Dream Scenario begins with an absurd premise: an ordinary, unremarkable man suddenly starts appearing in the dreams of millions of people around the world. Thus, Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) goes from a mild-mannered professor into an overnight sensation…. but not in the way he expects.
What starts as a surreal comedy gradually shifts into something darker. Paul’s appearances in dreams slowly become more disturbing, and public perception turns against him. Dream Scenario is a bold, creative conceit that could easily have crashed and burned, but director Kristoffer Borgli (who also made The Drama with Zendaya and Robert Pattinson) pulls it off. He’s assisted by a committed star in Cage, whose hammy acting style can often be a detriment to movies, but here it fits the story perfectly. The result is a smart, entertaining, satirical fantasy.
9
‘Wolfwalkers’ (2020)
“I can feel it. The forest is alive.” Wolfwalkers is a hand-drawn animated movie that feels almost timeless. Set in 17th-century Ireland, it follows Robyn (Honor Kneafsey), a young apprentice hunter who befriends Mebh (Eva Whittaker), a mysterious girl who can transform into a wolf while she sleeps. As Robyn is drawn deeper into Mebh’s world, she begins to question everything she has been taught.
The film’s central conflict is the tension between civilization and nature, expressed not just through the story but through its visual style. The imagery here is phenomenal, meticulously composed and rich in detail. For example, the rigid, geometric design of the town contrasts with the fluid, organic animation of the forest. All this is a refreshing change of pace from the usual polished, hyperreal 3D look of most modern animated movies.
8
‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)
“Everyone thinks they’ll be the one to live forever.” Most spin-offs tend to be pretty mediocre, but Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a surprisingly profound meditation on mortality disguised as a family adventure. Antonio Banderas is as charming as the title character, who, after burning through eight of his nine lives, sets out to find a mythical wish that can restore them. Bucking kids’ movie convention, this lighthearted quest gradually deepens into something more introspective.
Indeed, our swashbuckling feline protagonist is forced to confront his vulnerability, fear of death, and the legacy he leaves behind. The story is not afraid of getting a little darker than usual. For example, Death himself (Wagner Moura) literally shows up as a wolf stalking Puss. Finally, on the visual side, the movie deftly blends styles, incorporating painterly textures and dynamic action sequences that elevate it above typical franchise fare.
7
‘Gretel & Hansel’ (2020)
“The world is a dangerous place for a girl like you.” This brisk gem from Oz Perkins reimagines the classic fairy tale as something slow, eerie, and deeply atmospheric. The plot follows the two children (Sophia Lillis and Sam Leakey) as they wander through a bleak landscape, eventually finding refuge in a strange house inhabited by a mysterious woman (Alice Krige). But, as its title suggests, the film shifts the focus toward Gretel, framing the story as her dark coming-of-age.
In the process, Perkins makes the well-known story more unsettling and introspective, ensuring that the well-worn narrative beats feel fresh again. His direction is deliberate, emphasizing mood over narrative clarity, serving up a steady stream of stark, haunting visuals. The deviations from the source material are also smart and audacious. All in all, this movie is impressively economical, fitting a lot into just 87 minutes.
6
‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ (2024)
“Rohan will stand.” This anime banger expands the world of Middle-earth by looking backward, telling the story of Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox) and the siege that would give Helm’s Deep its name. It centers on Helm’s daughter, Héra (Gaia Wise), as she navigates war, leadership, and legacy in a time of crisis. It achieves a compelling balance between grand world-building and character-driven storytelling.
What emerges is a classic story about resilience, about what it means to stand against overwhelming odds, and how legends are forged through moments of desperation. Telling this story through anime style was a risky creative choice, but one that director Kenji Kamiyama nails. Impressively, he gives the movie a distinct identity while maintaining continuity with the broader Lord of the Rings universe. Ultimately, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is one of the most enjoyable LoTR projects we’ve got in years, arguably better than The Rings of Power.
5
‘Encanto’ (2021)
“I will never be good enough for you, will I?” Set in a magical Colombian village, Encanto follows the Madrigal family, each member blessed with a unique supernatural gift, like super strength, healing, shapeshifting, and prophetic visions. Except, that is, for Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), who seems to have none. But when the magic sustaining their home begins to fade, Mirabel becomes the unlikely key to saving it.
A lot of the elements here are familiar, almost archetypal: quests, a family focus, magical powers. However, Encanto does look at some of these things from new angles. For instance, the characters’ gifts are framed not just as powers, but as burdens tied to roles within the family structure. Luisa’s (Jessica Darrow) strength becomes the pressure to carry everyone else’s weight. Isabela’s (Diane Guerrero) perfection becomes a prison of expectations. Bruno’s (John Leguizamo) visions isolate him. That already makes the movie more interesting than most of its peers.
4
‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ (2023)
“We’re thieves. But we’re not that bad.” Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a rare fantasy blockbuster that understands tone, embracing a quirky, comedic vibe rather than being dour and self-serious. It follows a charming group of misfits led by a bard-turned-thief (Chris Pine) as they attempt to retrieve a powerful relic while navigating betrayal, danger, and their complicated pasts. Along the way, the story unfolds as a tabletop campaign brought to life, complete with unexpected twists, chaotic plans, and character-driven humor.
The film’s world-building is expansive but accessible, introducing magical elements without overwhelming the audience. It’s chock-full of references and in-jokes that’ll please D&D players, but not in a way that leaves outsiders feeling excluded. Fundamentally, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves works because it captures the joy of fantasy, its sense of adventure and unpredictability.
3
‘The Boy and the Heron’ (2023)
“How do you live?” Hayao Miyazaki came out of retirement to direct The Boy and the Heron, a touching fantasy drama that feels both mythic and deeply personal. It follows Mahito (Soma Santoki), a young boy grappling with loss, who is drawn into a mysterious world by a talking heron (Masaki Suda). What he finds is not just another reality, but a reflection of his inner turmoil.
The narrative is fluid, often dreamlike, resisting straightforward interpretation: characters appear and disappear, landscapes shift, and the boundaries between worlds blur. The Boy and the Heron doesn’t simply state its ideas or its world, instead trusting the audience to navigate its layers and find meaning within them. Yet beneath the ambiguity lies a clear thematic thread: grief and the struggle to move forward in its wake. Miyazaki’s animation is, as always, breathtaking, but it is the film’s emotional depth that defines it.
2
‘The Northman’ (2022)
Image via Focus Features
“I will avenge you, Father. I will save you, Mother. I will kill you, Fjölnir.” The Northman is a fantasy rooted in myth and history, blending Viking legend with brutal realism. Alexander Skarsgård stars as Amleth, a prince whose father is murdered, setting him on a path of revenge that defines his entire life. The narrative is straightforward, harking back to ancient lore, but Robert Eggers elevates it through atmosphere and detail.
Rather than modernizing the story, Eggers strips away irony and takes us back to a worldview shaped by fate, vengeance, and divine order. The mud, firelight, and brutal landscapes feel grounded and tactile, and the violence is likewise stark and unflinching. Then, The Northman slips, almost seamlessly, into visions: valkyries riding across the sky, a glowing sword guarded by a draugr, the Tree of Kings stretching into eternity.
1
‘The Green Knight’ (2021)
“Now, off with your head.” Based on the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain, this brilliant offering from A Ghost Story‘s David Lowery follows a young knight (Dev Patel) as he embarks on a journey to confront the mysterious Green Knight (Ralph Ineson) and fulfill a bargain that seems destined to end in death. The narrative is episodic, each encounter along the way offering a test: of courage, of honesty, of character.
Gawain is far from a traditional hero; he’s uncertain, flawed and often driven by pride rather than virtue, making him way more compelling than most fantasy protagonists. Lowery’s direction also subverts genre expectations, getting meditative rather than action-packed, immersing us in striking symbolism: giants wander across the horizon, a talking fox offers guidance, ghosts and enchanted figures emerge without backstory. Every encounter feels like it means something, even if we can’t fully articulate what.
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