Amazon Prime Video’s massive lineup of films notably includes some of the best fantasy movies of the 1980s. Although the filmmaking industry was a long way away from the level of visual effects seen in today’s films, the 1980s were still a pivotal decade for fantasy movies, full of both gems and milestones for the genre.
The 1980s saw the release of a long list of films now regarded as cult classics or icons of cinema. There’s Conan the Barbarian, which gave new levels of popularity to the sword and sorcery subgenre, Clash of the Titans, one of the best live-action adaptations of Greek mythology, and, of course, The Princess Bride, with its grand love story supplemented by a cast of unforgettable characters.
Some of these great 1980s classics – along with some overlooked entries from the genre – are available to stream on Amazon’s streaming service.
The Sword And The Sorcerer
Starring Lee Horsley, The Sword and the Sorcerer was a 1981 fantasy film that follows a warrior’s efforts to assist a princess in her plan to usurp the evil warlord who has plunged her kingdom into a dark era. Over the course of the adventure, it gradually becomes clear that the hero has a secret connection to the kingdom’s royal bloodline.
As its premise makes clear, The Sword and the Sorcerer embraces many of the clichés of the fantasy movie genre. But at the same time, this sort of traditional adventure still checks several of the boxes when it comes to what fans want from a good fantasy flick: monsters, sword-fighting action, magic, a strong and capable hero, and a bit of romance.
Hawk The Slayer
Released in 1980, Hawk the Slayer is in a similar category as The Sword and the Sorcerer, in that it doesn’t try to set itself apart from the pack and instead opts to just deliver a fun, Dungeons & Dragons-style adventure. It succeeds in each aspect, offering a worthwhile story about a hero and his band of fellow adventurers and their quest to defeat an evil wizard.
Given the lack of a proper live-action 1980s Dungeons & Dragons movie, Hawk the Slayer does more than enough to fill that void with its use of sorcery, various races, and the fantasy world it builds for its characters.
The Secret Of NIMH
An animated film based on a 1971 children’s book by Robert O. Brien, The Secret of NIMH builds a cast of rats (plus a crow) and sends them on a mission to save a mouse’s sick son. Rather than set its story in a fantasy land, The Secret of NIMH chooses a modern-day setting for its world, and breathes life into it via magic, talking animals, and an interesting backstory that makes sense of it all.
Aided by a great cast of well-known actors in Dom DeLuise, Peter Strauss, and John Carradine, The Secret of NIMH is easily one of the most unique, family-friendly fantasy films of the 1980s.
Quest For Fire
Another unique entry into the fantasy movie genre came just a year before The Secret of NIMH; in 1981, Jean-Jacques Annaud directed Quest for Fire, a film that used a prehistoric setting as the foundation for a fantasy film. Quest for Fire creates a world for its prehistoric characters, complete with different cavemen tribes and interesting concepts that define their understanding of the planet.
Quest for Fire’s approach to turning a caveman story into a full-fledged fantasy adventure yielded it significant praise, which translated into an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes and even an Academy Award for Best Makeup.
Fire And Ice
Fire and Ice is an 1983 fantasy movie made with the animation style known as “rotoscoping.” Set in an icy wasteland, Fire and Ice sees a warrior who has lost everything seek revenge on an evil queen and her son, and work to rescue a princess with help from a mysterious ally.
Helped in large part by its innovative and visually appealing art style, Fire and Ice has become a cult classic. As a story penned by two of the writers of Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian comic, Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas, it feels very much like an animated Conan film, making it a welcome addition to the fantasy genre.
Masters Of The Universe
Masters of the Universe was critically panned, a notion underscored by its dismal rating of 21% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite that, the 1987 live-action adaptation of Mattel’s He-Man toyline has, over time, developed a cult following. Its surprising decision to mix real life with the fantasy world of Eternia was a drastic change to the source material, but it’s not without its strengths and is actually an underrated film.
Masters of the Universe benefits from an appropriately campy performance from Frank Langella as the unapologetically evil Skeletor and the casting of Dolph Lundgren, whose physical presence lends itself well to the larger-than-life feel of the He-Man character.
Highlander
Easily one of the greatest fantasy movies of the 1980s, Highlander is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, as is its four sequels and its animated series. The movie starred Christopher Lambert as an immortal, ancient warrior living in the present. As it turns out, he coexists with various immortals who have adapted to modern society to conceal their true identities.
Highlander supports the story of Christopher Lambert’s Connor MacLeod with some intricately crafted lore, which is one of the reasons why it was able to launch an entire franchise. Making it even better are the well-choreographed sword fights and action sequences found throughout the film.
Conan The Barbarian
Highlander isn’t the only iconic 1980s fantasy movie found in Amazon Prime Video’s lineup. Also on hand is Conan the Barbarian, one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best movies.
There’s no denying that Conan the Barbarian took some major liberties with Robert E. Howard’s original concept of the Conan character, but even so, it found success in creating a memorable and vibrant take on the Hyborian Age, not to mention a physically imposing hero in Schwarzenegger’s interpretation of Conan.
Setting the standard for sword and sorcery movies for years to come, Conan the Barbarian is packed with great one-liners for Schwarzenegger, thrilling fight scenes, unique creature designs, and, of course, magic.
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