There have been so many incrediblefantasy moviesfrom times past that don’t get enough credit today, just waiting to be discovered by a new generation of viewers. Whilemassive fantasy franchiseslikeHarry Potter,The Lord of the Rings, andPirates of the Caribbeanhave remained consistently popular, this ignores the litany of lesser-known classics that don’t get nearly enough credit. Whether it’sunderrated fantasies of the 1970sortrashy movies that are nothing but fun, all these releases have something special to offer.
The best fantasy films feature richly imagined worlds that capture viewers’ imaginations in thought-provoking and insightful ways, although many great movies aren’t well-known by general audiences.Fantasy filmmaking traverses so many different styles, as animated releases, medieval stories, or tales of magical wizards all represent different facets of the endless possibilities of this genre. While hardcore fantasy lovers may already be familiar with some of these releases, they deserve far more love from mainstream audiences.
While Steven Spielberg may have put dinosaurs on the cinematic map with his blockbuster smash success that wasJurassic Park, this was not the first time dinosaurs served as the basis for a grand fantasy adventure.Baby: The Secret of the Lost Legendwas a highly underrated releasethat followed the paleontologist Susan Matthews-Loomis, who stumbles upon a brontosaurus on an expedition in Central Africa. What started as a quest to hunt down a so-called monster turned into a scientist and her husband’s epic journey to protect the baby dinosaur and its parents from the African military.
Baby: The Secret of the Lost Legendmay be overshadowed by the far more famous dinosaur franchise that originated from the author Michael Crichton, but it still deserves credit as an enjoyable kids’ movie. Coming from director Bill L. Norton, the filmmaker behindMore American GraffitiandHercules in the Underworld, who sadly has a track record of being associated with films that viewers can’t help but compare to their more famous counterparts. For those looking for a fun Disney dinosaur movie,Baby: The Secret of the Lost Legendticks all the boxes.
The action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger first earned his status as a fantasy movie icon through his starring role in theConan the Barbarianmovies, although there was a third entry in his Hyborian Age series that feels like it often gets forgotten about.Red Sonjahad its origins as a thirdConanmovie, although it was retooled into a female-centric swords-and-sorcery starring Brigitte Nielsen. While Schwarzenegger does appear as a new character named Lord Kalidor, the lack of name recognition forRed Sonjahas done it a disservice in terms of its legacy.
However, those who dismissRed Sonjaas aConanknockoff will be missing outon an enjoyable spin-off that gave a feisty young fantasy warrior some time in the spotlight. While Schwarzenegger has called it the “worst film I have ever made” and joked if his kids get out of line, he makes them watch it “ten times in a row” (viaEntertainment), there’s a certain campy appeal that makes it fun to revisit.
Although Sean Connery’s suave and charismatic portrayal of the secret agent James Bond made him a sex symbol and icon of the 1960s, his role in the strange fantasy filmZardozfeatured him at his most scantily clad. Dressed in an outfit that could only be described as a red mankini, Connery starred inthis wild post-apocalyptic story about a man named Zed living among stone-worshipping barbarianswho grow food for a hidden elite called the Eternals.
This trippy and intense, special effects-filled film saw Zed slowly learning more about the mysterious stone idol and getting caught in between two fighting camps as it builds toward its epic conclusion. AlthoughZardozreceived poor reviews at the time, it’s since gained a reputation as a surreal cult classic that represents the best of 1970s fantasy wildness. With an outrageous and, at times, pretentious concept,Zardozis a fun-filled fantasy that deserves far more love.
The 1970s was a time jam-packed with creative and highly imaginative fantasy movies for kids, such as ThePhantom Tollbooth,which boasted the perfect balance between adventure and an educational message. With a mix of live-action and animation,The Phantom Tollboothfelt totally ahead of its time in 1970 as it told the story of a young boy named Milo entering a magical parallel universe. As Milo traveled to different lands, he encountered the letter-based Dictionopolis Kingdom of Words and the number-centric Kingdom of Mathematics called Digitopolis.
In the swift span of just 89 minutes,The Phantom Tollboothpresented a frantic adventure packed with unique and idiosyncratic characters. With a psychedelic style that captured the era out of which it was produced, this fantastical story had a unique sense of humor, which means it still stands up to today. Asa precursor to later live-action and animation hybrids likeWho Framed Roger RabbitandSpace Jam,The Phantom Tollboothwas a trailblazing classic that should be far better known than it is.
As a director whose filmography is filled with unique and exciting fantasy movies, it’s no surprise that some of Terry Gilliam’s movies aren’t as well known as others. One underappreciated classic wasThe Adventures of Baron Munchausen,the third and final entry in Gilliam’sTrilogy of ImaginationafterTime BanditsandBrazil. With each film representing the battle between fantasy and reality, the flamboyant wit and whimsical splendor of this film should not be underestimated.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausenwas based on the tall tales of a real 18th-century German nobleman who told of his wartime exploits against the Ottoman Empire. With John Neville as Baron Munchausen, there was a light sense of cheerfulness to this film that sadly did not translate into box office success during the 1980s. However, looking back,The Adventures of Baron Munchausenis yet another fun-filled fantasy from Gilliam that should be just as esteemed as his most famous films.
Wizardsrepresented the animation visionary Ralph Bakshi’s first foray into the world of fantasy filmmaking after making urban classics likeFritz the Cat. While Bakshi would later gain recognition for his animated version ofThe Lord of the Rings, it was the psychedelic trip that wasWizardsthat stands out today. With an adult-centric story about opposing wizards utilizing magic and technology, this creative tour de force pushed the limits of contemporary animation at the time to create something totally unique.
With Nazi imagery being used to represent the horrors of war,Wizardsmay have had a heavy-handed message at times, yet it still stands out as a totally earnest attempt to revolutionize an art form. As an allegorical fantasy that explored intense political statements relating to nuclear war and man’s inhumanity toward man, it’s a testament to the audience’s willingness to be challenged thatWizardswas a hit at the box office at the time. While fantasy fanatics are well aware of the power ofWizards, it deserves more recognition from general viewers.
While director Ridley Scott has astounded audiences with cult classics like the sci-fi triumph that wasBlade Runneror the historical epicGladiator, perhaps his most underrated movie was the 1985 releaseLegend. Coming afterAlienandBlade Runner, this was Scott’s fourth movie, whichfeatured an impressive cast including Tom Cruise and Tim Curry. With fairy-tale roots and a whimsical nature, Scott never made anything quite likeLegendbefore or since it.
Despite often being swept under the rug in the overall discussion of Scott’s work,Legendtold a sprawling story and featured a lot of the director’s unique sense of visual style. With beautiful imagery of unicorns and a story that brought viewers into the darkness of an underground world,Legendwas an ambitious and nostalgic fantasy with plenty to offer. With a richly imagined world and over-the-top characters, fantasy fans shouldn’t let the bad reviews from the time of its release stop them from checking out this underappreciated classic.
Time Banditswas one of director Terry Gilliam’s most underappreciated films, as its hilarious take on fantasy adventure stories appealed to the entire family. With a star-studded cast that included many of Gilliam’s fellowMonty Pythonmembers, this tale of a boy traveling through time with a band of thieves was incredibly well-received when it was released. With fantastic set designs and incredible makeshift special effects,Time Banditslooked great and had a uniquely comic tone.
Featuring the likes of Shelley Duvall and Sean Connery in minor roles,Time Banditshad its supporters yet doesn’t get nearly the same level of reverence as other Gilliam classics likeBrazil. As one of the most fun time travel movies out there,Time Banditswill appeal to fantasy fans with an infectious sense of adventure. Although Gilliam had planned to makeTime Bandits II, these plans were shelved forever after the death of main cast member Jack Purvis.
The dark fantasy filmDragonslayerwas a joint production between Paramount Pictures and Disney that featured a lot more mature content than the average Disney movie from this time. Set in a medieval kingdom,Dragonslayertold of a young wizard on a quest to vanquish the dragon Vermithrax Pejorative. With trailblazing special effects,Dragonslayerwas popular with critics at the timebut failed to make much of an impact at the box office and could not even recoup its $18 million budget, grossing just $14.1 million (viaBox Office Mojo.)
WhileDragonslayermay have underwhelmed commercially, the film remains a creative triumph that any self-respecting fantasy film fan should seek out. With great performances and special effects that still look great, Matthew Robbins carved out a unique world with this underrated production.Dragonslayertends to get overlooked these days, but those in the know recognize Vermithrax Pejorative as one of the most impressive depictions of a dragon ever committed to screen.
Director Richard Donner helmed plenty of classic movies, as releases likeSuperman,The Goonies, andLethal Weaponhave all gained a special place within modern popular culture. However, one astounding release so often left by the wayside isLadyhawke, a medieval fantasy starringMatthew Broderick as a thief pulled into the schemes of a young couplewho have been cursed by a bishop. Featuring lovers who can only be together at the time, Broderick is brought in to help them break the magical spell.
Ladyhawkewas a fantasy that was packed with action and plenty of magic, although it was its themes of romance that really stood out. With Michelle Pfeiffer as Isabeau of Anjou, her alluring appeal was so compelling that practically everyone who encountered her fell in love. With a unique sense of humor that brings together witchcraft, love, and courage,Ladyhawkewas a romanticfantasyadventure of the best kind and an underappreciated 1980s classic that never quite got enough credit for how entertaining it is.
