Underrated Fantasy Movies Nobody Talks About (But Should)

Fantasy on film stretches far beyond the blockbuster series everyone knows. Hidden in different eras and countries are inventive stories that mix folklore, fables, and imaginative craft with real world themes. This list gathers titles that flew under the radar yet built strong legacies with distinctive filmmaking, memorable characters, and bold worldbuilding.

You will find animated wonders, independent passion projects, and international treasures that tap into myths and fairy tales. Each entry offers practical details about creators, casts, and production choices so you can decide what to watch next and where each film fits within the bigger fantasy landscape.

‘Stardust’ (2007)

This adaptation of a Neil Gaiman novel was directed by Matthew Vaughn and produced through Marv Films. The cast includes Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Robert De Niro, with a score by Ilan Eshkeri.

Large portions were filmed in the United Kingdom and Iceland with studio work at Pinewood. The script blends a kingdom in the sky with a village on the edge of a magical wall and features airship sequences that showcase extensive practical sets.

‘MirrorMask’ (2005)

Directed by Dave McKean and written by Neil Gaiman, this Jim Henson Company feature stars Stephanie Leonidas and Gina McKee. It uses live action performance captured against digital backdrops designed from McKean’s illustration style.

The production leaned on a small crew and heavy compositing to create a dreamlike circus world and a city of masks. Sony handled distribution in several territories and the film developed a strong audience in home video and festival circuits.

‘Ladyhawke’ (1985)

Richard Donner directed this medieval fantasy that stars Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Matthew Broderick. The story follows a cursed couple watched over by a nimble thief while a relentless captain hunts them.

Filming took place across Italian locations including Rocca Calascio and the Apennines. The score was composed by Andrew Powell with musicians from the Alan Parsons Project and the production used extensive horseback work and practical stunts.

‘Legend’ (1985)

Ridley Scott directed this dark fairy tale with Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, and Tim Curry. Multiple edits exist, including a version with a Jerry Goldsmith score and another with music by Tangerine Dream.

The shoot was centered at Pinewood Studios where the 007 Stage fire forced reconstruction of key sets. Rob Bottin led creature makeup and production design emphasized elaborate forests and cavern sets built at full scale.

‘The Last Unicorn’ (1982)

Rankin and Bass adapted Peter S Beagle’s novel into an animated feature with voices by Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges, and Christopher Lee. Songs were written by Jimmy Webb and performed by the band America.

Animation was executed by the Japanese studio Topcraft, whose artists later formed the core of Studio Ghibli. The film blends European folklore with a road journey and features hand painted backgrounds inspired by storybook illustration.

‘The City of Lost Children’ (1995)

Jean Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro co directed this French fantasy starring Ron Perlman and Daniel Emilfork. The narrative follows a scientist who steals dreams and a strongman who searches for a kidnapped child.

Darius Khondji handled cinematography and Angelo Badalamenti composed the music. The production built dense sets with industrial detail and used practical effects for underwater sequences and mechanical contraptions.

‘The Adventures of Baron Munchausen’ (1988)

Terry Gilliam directed this episodic fantasy with John Neville, Sarah Polley, Uma Thurman, and Eric Idle. The story follows a notorious storyteller who embarks on a trip across the moon, the underworld, and a besieged city.

Production took place at Cinecittà Studios and on large scale sets with extensive miniature work. The film received Academy Award nominations for art direction, costume design, visual effects, and makeup.

‘Valerie and Her Week of Wonders’ (1970)

Jaromil Jires directed this Czech New Wave fantasy based on a novel by Vitezslav Nezval. The film centers on a young girl who moves through a series of gothic and folkloric encounters in a rural town.

Luboš Fišer composed the score and the production used locations in Czechoslovakia with stylized costumes and masks. The film’s release history includes festival screenings and later restorations that brought the work to new audiences.

‘A Chinese Ghost Story’ (1987)

Ching Siu tung directed this supernatural romance produced by Tsui Hark and starring Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, and Wu Ma. The story draws on Pu Songling tales and mixes martial arts with ghostly encounters.

Action design and wire work were central to the production and practical effects were used for demon designs. The film became a benchmark for the Hong Kong fantasy cycle and launched sequels and a long running influence on regional cinema.

‘Onmyoji’ (2001)

Directed by Yojiro Takita, this Japanese fantasy adapts Baku Yumemakura’s novels about court magician Abe no Seimei. Mansai Nomura plays Seimei and Hiroyuki Sanada portrays Minamoto no Hiromasa.

The film integrates Heian era palace politics with ritual magic and period costuming. Its success led to a sequel and broadened international interest in onmyodo folklore through festival distribution and home video releases.

‘Tigers Are Not Afraid’ (2017)

Writer director Issa Lopez sets this dark fantasy among children navigating cartel violence in a Mexican city. The cast features young performers in a story that blends real world danger with haunting visions.

The film won awards at genre festivals and reached a wider audience through specialty streaming platforms. International critics praised the craft of practical effects and restrained visual trickery used for apparitions.

‘A Monster Calls’ (2016)

Directed by J A Bayona and based on Patrick Ness’s novel, this film stars Lewis MacDougall, Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, and Liam Neeson as the voice of the yew tree. The narrative follows a boy who meets a storytelling creature during a family crisis.

Motion capture and large scale puppet elements were combined for the monster, with watercolor animation used for the stories it tells. Production took place in the United Kingdom and Spain with visual effects led by MPC.

‘The Secret of Kells’ (2009)

Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey directed this animated feature from Cartoon Saloon with a story centered on the creation of the Book of Kells. The film blends monastic life with Irish myth and features a forest spirit character named Aisling.

The animation style draws on Celtic patterns and illuminated manuscript motifs with geometric designs guiding layout and movement. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and expanded international attention for the studio.

‘Song of the Sea’ (2014)

Directed by Tomm Moore, this Cartoon Saloon feature tells a selkie story about a brother and his sister in modern Ireland. Brendan Gleeson and Fionnula Flanagan are among the voice cast with music by Bruno Coulais and the band Kila.

The production uses hand drawn animation with textured backgrounds based on coastal landscapes. It received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and continued the studio’s focus on folklore.

‘Ink’ (2009)

Jamin Winans wrote, directed, edited, and scored this independent fantasy that follows a father and daughter pulled into a battle between dreamlike forces. Quinn Hunchar and Chris Kelly lead the cast.

The film was shot in and around Denver with a small crew and heavy practical makeup for the Incubi antagonists. It became widely known through digital sharing and later built a strong fanbase through word of mouth screenings.

‘The Fall’ (2006)

Tarsem Singh directed this visually ambitious fantasy starring Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru. The plot follows a stuntman who tells an epic tale to a young patient in a hospital and the story shifts into a lavish adventure.

The production self financed extensive travel and shot in over twenty countries, including India, Namibia, and Italy. It is based on the Bulgarian film ‘Yo Ho Ho’ and features costumes by Eiko Ishioka and music by Krishna Levy.

‘I Kill Giants’ (2017)

Directed by Anders Walter, this adaptation of the graphic novel by Joe Kelly and J M Ken Niimura stars Madison Wolfe, Zoe Saldana, and Imogen Poots. The story centers on a student who copes with personal challenges through an imagined fight against giants.

The film combines location photography with visual effects for the titular creatures and emphasizes grounded school and home settings. It premiered at a major film festival and saw release through specialty distributors in multiple regions.

‘The Kid Who Would Be King’ (2019)

Joe Cornish wrote and directed this modern Arthurian adventure led by Louis Ashbourne Serkis with Angus Imrie and Patrick Stewart as two forms of Merlin. The story places Excalibur in a contemporary school setting and expands to a nationwide threat.

Production shot across the United Kingdom and staged large scale night battles with practical armor and creature effects. The film was developed through Working Title and Big Talk with studio distribution to family audiences.

‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ (2012)

Benh Zeitlin directed this fantasy drama adapted from Lucy Alibar’s play Juicy and Delicious, with Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry in lead roles. The setting is a delta community called the Bathtub that faces storms and rising water.

The film won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and earned multiple Academy Award nominations. Music was composed by Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin and the production used nonprofessional actors and Louisiana locations.

‘A Matter of Life and Death’ (1946)

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger directed this Technicolor fantasy starring David Niven and Kim Hunter. The plot follows an airman who debates his fate in a celestial court while events unfold on Earth.

The production is noted for large sets including a moving staircase that connects the two realms. Earth scenes were filmed in rich color while the otherworld scenes used controlled monochrome to create visual contrast.

‘Wolfwalkers’ (2020)

Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart directed this animated feature from Cartoon Saloon with voice performances by Honor Kneafsey, Eva Whittaker, and Sean Bean. The story follows a hunter’s daughter who befriends a girl from a shapeshifting forest tribe.

The artwork uses woodcut inspired lines and layered watercolor textures to separate city and forest spaces. The film was released through Apple TV Plus with theatrical runs by GKIDS in select markets and received major award nominations.

‘Border’ (2018)

Ali Abbasi directed this Swedish fantasy adapted from a story by John Ajvide Lindqvist. The narrative follows a customs officer with a unique ability who discovers a hidden world that reshapes her identity.

The film won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. Prosthetic makeup received international recognition and the film earned an Academy Award nomination for makeup and hairstyling.

‘November’ (2017)

Rainer Sarnet directed this Estonian fantasy based on the novel Rehepapp by Andrus Kivirähk. The story weaves village life with local folklore including kratts that are built from tools and bones.

Shot in striking black and white, the production uses rural locations and practical creature designs. The film screened widely at international festivals and brought Estonian folk myth to new audiences.

‘The Secret of Roan Inish’ (1994)

John Sayles directed this Irish American fantasy based on Rosalie K Fry’s novel The Secret of Ron Mor Skerry. The story follows a girl who moves to the coast and uncovers family ties to selkie lore.

Filming took place along the Irish coastline with emphasis on boats, islands, and tidal flats. The film features a score by Mason Daring and showcases traditional music and regional storytelling.

‘Paperhouse’ (1988)

Bernard Rose directed this British fantasy based on Catherine Storr’s novel Marianne Dreams. Charlotte Burke plays a girl whose drawings influence a dream world that reflects her waking life.

The production mixes naturalistic lighting with stylized sets for the dream sequences. The score was composed by Stanley Myers with contributions from Hans Zimmer and the film built its reputation through festival play and television broadcasts.

Share the underrated fantasy films you would add in the comments so everyone can discover more hidden gems.