Fantasy cinema has gifted audiences countless rides on the side of magic, whimsy, and enchanting darkness. From dragons and cursed kingdoms to chilling destinies and impossible quests, the genre delivered some of the most life-changing films to make it onto the big screen. But honestly, few films have truly impacted viewers with a lightning-in-a-bottle magic feel, and even fewer still have managed to completely blow audiences’ minds—only to later slip through the cracks of pop-culture memory, lingering simply as a daydream of something that once was.
Extraordinary fantasy films like the 2007 underrated fairy-tale gem, Stardust, and the 1982 fearless movie The Secret of NIMH, which wielded a captivating darkness and daring that made it an animated standout, are just two examples of fantasy’s best that have been horrifically forgotten. Compiled on this list are eight fantasy jewels, which, despite their brilliant shine, no one seems to really remember.
7
‘The Secret of Kells’ (2009)
This stunning Irish animated film is one of the most enchantingly beautiful fantasy movies to ever exist-yet somehow, very few people talk about it. The Secret of Kells follows the young novice monk living in the Abbey of Kells, Brendan (Evan McGuire), who, after growing increasingly fascinated by a master illuminator who carries an incomplete magical book, ventures into the forbidden forest to gather berries for ink.
The Secret of Kells is not only visually breathtaking, but it is truly unlike any mainstream animation, especially during its time. Every scene is a feast for the eyes as the film brings to life a medieval tapestry. Beyond the incredible animation, The Secret of Kells’s story is a moving ode to art and knowledge persevering through darkness—portraying the importance of stories, imagination, and creativity through times of fear. Despite its epic brilliance, the movie was a small indie release and quickly got overtaken by bigger studio hits in 2009. Now, The Secret of Kells is an unheard-of, completely forgotten tale that stands quietly among fantasy’s finest.
6
‘City of Ember’ (2008)
This unique post-apocalyptic fantasy deserves far more love and attention than it’s ever received. Based on a young adult novel, City of Ember is set in an underground city lit by countless electric lamps, designed to sustain the last of humanity for 200 years. Only, 241 years later, the Ember’s generator has begun to fail, and the lights guiding their way are dying.
City of Ember is a sci-fi-fantasy mesh with an immediately captivating story. Those who have stumbled across the movie have frequently praised the film for its sense of wonder and thrilling suspense. Those who have not are missing out on a family-friendly adventure that wields themes of curiosity and hope in the face of disaster. For many, City of Ember feels like a brilliant fever dream they may have come across one afternoon, and because it was such a box office flop, even more people remain unaware it even exists. Thankfully, the film did have a few fans, and although most of them may have forgotten City of Ember’s existence, the movie deserves to be rediscovered and well-loved for its originality and hopeful, steampunk vibe.
5
‘The Secret of NIMH’ (1982)
The Secret of NIMH is an animated fantasy film that is noteworthy for its strange, dark, and genuinely bold story. Based on Robert C. O’Brien’s novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, the movie follows the timid field mouse Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman), whose sick son will die if their home is plowed over by a farmer’s tractor. With desperation and determination to save her boy, Mrs. Bisby seeks help from a mysterious colony of highly intelligent rats, encountering ancient prophecies, glowing amulets, and much more along the way.
The animated classic has a hand in shaping an entire generation of fantasy fans and was once fondly remembered as an ambitious masterpiece. Released at a time when Disney especially dominated the animated field, The Secret of NIMH stood out as an oddity that was seen as just too intense and much too dark. Sadly, with time, The Secret of NIMH faded further into the background, as bigger, bolder hits of the fantasy genre came onto the scene. The daring animation, which is nothing short of revolutionary, is a masterful blend of folklore, science fiction, and fantasy that defiantly deserves to be remembered and rediscovered by those who appreciate a 10/10 fantasy masterpiece.
4
‘The City of Lost Children’ (1995)
This surreal fantasy nightmare stands as the perfect cult classic that remains insanely underrated. The City of Lost Children, or La Cité des enfants perdus, is set in a harbor town and focuses on the mad scientist Krank (Daniel Emilfork), who is unable to dream, so he kidnaps children to steal their dreams. When a brave little boy named One (Ron Perlman) teams up with an orphan girl to rescue the stolen children, what ensues is a visually rich and completely bizarre journey that is truly captivating.
The City of Lost Children is an extremely creative tale that features tons of inventive details, masterful art direction, and skillful cinematography. Even though The City of Lost Children is a fantasy knockout, being a French-language film, it didn’t penetrate the English-speaking mainstream very deeply. Outside its small cult following of genuine cinephiles, the film is mainly forgotten by those who may have stumbled across it, despite its brilliance. Those who are willing to indulge in The City of Lost Children’s strange magic are definitely in for a 10/10 experience as the movie stands as one of the most imaginative fantasy films of all time.
3
‘Death Becomes Her’ (1992)
Death Becomes Her is an entertaining dark fantasy-comedy that was extremely ahead of its time. The film centers around two rivaling women—the vain actress Madeline (Meryl Streep) and the writer Helen (Goldie Hawn)—who, while fighting over the same man, drink a mysterious potion that grants them immortality. Unfortunately, eternal youth comes at a cost, as their bodies begin to deteriorate after several gruesome accidents.
This cult classic is a fantasy staple for most lovers of the genre, but without a proper mainstream legacy, Death Becomes Her is often missed by fans of fantasy. Even with Death Becomes Her’s genuine hilarity, rife with cartoonish body horror and wit, the film had mixed reviews during its debut. Even with a small modern resurgence of the film, most people don’t remember the oddball, but extremely brilliant movie. Even though Death Becomes Her is mostly forgotten about, the fantasy film definitely deserves its flowers for its 10/10 experience.
2
‘Stardust’ (2007)
This delightful fairy-tale adventure is one of fantasy’s best hidden gems. Stardust, an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel, is set in Victorian-era England, following the young Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox), who ventures past his humble village of Wall, which borders a mystical realm—to retrieve a fallen star, only to discover that the “star” is actually a young woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes).
Stardust is filled with whimsy and charm—a purely fun film that wonderfully balances sincerity and satire. The film’s cast of characters wield impeccable chemistry, with the romance between the unlikely lovers being especially sweet. With its initial debut doing modestly, especially in the U.S, the film isn’t even that well-known, standing as an underrated fantasy gem that is a noteworthy, timeless classic to its few fans. In the years since, even with a dedicated small following, Stardust still flies under the radar, forgotten and underappreciated, even though it’s one of the finest fantasy romances out there.
1
‘Practical Magic’ (1998)
Practical Magic is a fantastic fantasy classic that features a witchy romance that was quite ahead of its time. The film, adapted from Alice Hoffman’s novel, centers on sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman), descendants of a long line of witches cursed in love. Sally desperately wishes for a normal life and true love, while her sister embraces danger and magic—setting her on an unchangeable path of sorcery and death.
The cozy fantasy romance wields both heartfelt emotion and gothic charm. Its a true rarity in the genre that sends sparks of warmth directly to the heart. Practical Magic’s atmosphere is truly unmatched–from its witchy aesthetic and dreamy score to its autumnal coastal setting. Sadly, the film’s premiere mostly received a negative reception, as it was marketed as a rom-com rather than a fantasy drama. In more recent years, Practical Magic remains mostly overlooked and majorly forgotten despite its brilliance that shines through the fantasy genre as a near-perfect film.
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