A lot of the best fantasy movies are based on books, even if fans might not necessarily know about their literary influences. More so than most other genres, fantasy movies have always taken inspiration from literature, but bringing these concepts to life isn’t always simple.
While there are many adaptations of classic fantasy books, like theLord of the Ringstrilogy orThe Wizard of Oz,there are also plenty of classic fantasy films which took inspiration from lesser-known novels. These films had more freedom to go off-piste, since they introduced audiences to fresh, unfamiliar concepts.
Henry Selick’s particular style of stop-motion animation is perfect for the kinds of dark fantasy stories that he gravitates towards. Just likeThe Nightmare Before ChristmasandJames and the Giant Peach, Coralineis a wonderful showcase of Selick’s mastery of his medium.
Coralinewon Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
Coralineis a surprisingly dark horror story for such a young audience, but Selick doesn’t believe in speaking down to his audience. He captures the unsettling atmosphere of the book, while making it his own just like his other adaptations.Coralinewon Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
The story of Walt Disney’s decades-long quest to make a film adaptation ofMary Poppinseventually formed the basis for its own movie, 2013’sSaving Mr. Banks.This illustrates how passionate Disney was about bringing his daughters' favorite novel to the big screen.
Mary Poppinsis rich with Disney magic, featuring memorable songs, some charming animations and an infectious sense of adventure. It has retained its appeal for decades, thanks in part to Julie Andrews' pitch-perfect leading performance as the magical nanny.
Shrektakes the bare bones of William Steig’s picture book and fleshes it out with plenty of hilarious wisecracks, some fun action scenes and an endless supply of pop-culture references. What’s important is that the movie preserves the book’s subversive, satirical view of traditional fairy tales.
WithShrek 5on the way, the franchise has moved even further away from Steig’s book. While it was never the most faithful adaptation to begin with, the movies have all but abandoned Steig’s premise.Shrekis a great example of a bad adaptation that ends up being a good movie.
Pinocchiois still one of thebest Disney animated moviesever made, although it was only the studio’s second feature-length production afterSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Pinocchiorepresents a leap forward in terms of both ambition and artistry. Carlo Collodi’s magical fable was the perfect material for this.
Pinocchiohas to tone down some of the more upsetting elements of Collodi’s work, which is something that plenty of Disney movie adaptations have done over the years. This doesn’t mean thatPinocchiois completely devoid of threat, because the Pleasure Island sequence and the character of Stromboli are still terrifying.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryis one of thebest Roald Dahl books, even though the author famously hated the finished product. Dahl was originally hired to adapt his own book, having written several other successful movie scripts, but he was fired after failing to meet deadlines.
Even without Dahl on screenwriting duties,Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryretains some of the author’s compelling darkness and mystery. The psychedelic tunnel sequence, for example, is a jolt of unpredictable horror in a film that’s otherwise filled with vivid colors and enticing creations.
Many ofStudio Ghibli’s moviesare famous for their creative approaches to the fantasy genre.Spirited Away, Princess MononokeandThe Boy and the Heronare all densely populated with fascinating creatures.Howl’s Moving Castlestands out because it’s a rare Ghibli adaptation of a book.
Howl’s Moving Castleis just as magical and inviting as any other Ghibli classic.It’s also one of the studio’s most emotionally resonant movies, thanks to the central relationship between a magically-aged woman and an enigmatic woman who inhabits a walking fortress.
Each fan of theHarry Potterfranchisewill have their own personal favorite, and the entire series should be respected as a fairly consistent adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s best-selling books.The Prisoner of Azkabanstill manages to stand out, however, because it represents an important turning point in the story.
The two movies that precedeThe Prisoner of Azkabanare great children’s movies, but the series eventually had to grow up a little bit, just as the characters do. Alfonso Cuarón’s brings a completely new aesthetic toThe Prisoner of Azkaban,highlighting the darkness and danger of the third book in the series.
Few movies have shaped the landscape of modern filmmaking as profoundly asThe Wizard of Oz.While the 1939 hit is famous for introducing the concept of full-color movies to a large audience like never before, it has also inspired countless other movies with its story and characters.
The Wizard of Ozis the quintessential fantasy movie in many ways. It tells a familiar story of an ordinary person being transported to a magical land filled with eccentric creatures and characters. This idea cuts to the very heart of fantasy, which has always been a genre fuelled by escapism and imagination.
The Princess Bridefeels like a much older fairy tale. It even starts with a grandfather reading the story to his grandson, to inspire a certain kind of nostalgic feeling. In reality, Rob Reiner’s fantasy romance is based on William Goldman’s 1973 novel of the same name.
The Princess Bridedelivers everything one could want from a fantasy movie.There’s romance, adventure, action, comedy and drama all mixed together into a delightful genre cocktail. With an endlessly quotable script and a story that can move even the hardest of hearts,The Princess Brideearns its stylistic allusions to the classics.
Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy is often recognized as the pinnacle of the fantasy genre.While all three movies maintain a staggering high level of quality, the first movie deserves extra recognition for the way that it introduces so many characters and the world of Middle-earth in style.
The Fellowship of the Ringset theLord of the Ringstrilogy up for success from the beginning.
The Fellowship of the Ringset theLord of the Ringstrilogy up for success from the beginning. Of course, the casting and the overall aesthetic of the movie are superb, butFellowshipalso does a great job of gradually expanding the world from the shire to the dangers lying just over the horizon. By the end, Frodo and his companions finally see the scale of their quest.
