20 best fantasy movies on Netflix for a whimsical escape
Seeking some exciting escapism? What could be more satisfying than fabulous fantasy films? This wonderous genre leads viewers down a path into magical realms, where myths and monsters roam, surprises lurk around every corner, and heroes set forth on adventures epic and enthralling.
Whether you’re searching for a movie that’s frightening, family-friendly, mind-bending, heartbreaking, or pulse-pounding, we’ve got you covered with a curated selection of fantasy films from around the world…and beyond.
Here are the 20 best fantasy films on Netflix now available.
1. Damsel
Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) accepts her impending arranged marriage with a sense of duty. After all, her starving people need the riches her new family will provide. But she starts to get her hopes up when she meets the handsome prince (Nick Robinson). Unfortunately, the prince’s family has a dark secret, one for which they intend to sacrifice Elodie’s life. Damsel is not your average fairy tale. It’s an action-packed adventure about survival… and vengeance. Ray Winstone, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Angela Bassett, and Robin Wright also star in this entertaining twist on the damsel-in-distress narrative. — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor
How to watch: Damsel is now streaming on Netflix.
2. Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil
If you love Pan’s Labyrinth, then you’ll enjoy this fantasy period piece, which pitches a plucky young heroine into a world of war-ravaged men and manipulative monsters.
Co-written and directed by Paul Urkijo Alijo, Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil begins in 1835, when the First Carlist War plagued Basque Country, Spain. There, a blacksmith makes a deal with a devil, which will have a wicked impact on his village and the life of one brave little girl (Uma Bracaglia) on a quest for answers about her dearly departed mother. Folding folklore and religious horror in with a cheeky sense of humor and dark thread of adventure, this fascinating film takes audiences to hell and back. Literally! — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor
How to watch: Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil is now streaming on Netflix.
3. Okja
If you ever dreamed of being besties with a fantastical beast, then you’ll relish every step of this buddy adventure from Bong Joon Ho. With Okja, the internationally acclaimed South Korean writer/director spun a story about a big and lovable “super pig” named Okja and the farm girl who’d do anything to save it from slaughter. Along the way, this adorable duo will meet zealous animal-rights activists, an unnervingly energetic TV personality (Jake Gyllenhaal), and an elegant entrepreneur (Tilda Swinton) whose good intentions are as false as her smiles. Racing through fertile jungles, crowded shopping malls, and the bustling metropolis of New York City, Okja is a wild ride that brings fantasy into reality. — K.P.
How to watch: Okja is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Nightbooks
From David Yarovesky, the director of Brightburn, comes a spooky tale that’ll thrill on family night.
Based on the horror-fantasy novel of the same name by J. A. White, Nightbooks centers on a Brooklyn bookworm (Winslow Fegley) who is kidnapped by a wicked witch (Krysten Ritter). Held captive in her magical apartment, he’s forced to tell her a new scary story each night in exchange for his survival. Thankfully, he’s not alone. A hard-nosed fellow prisoner (Lidya Jewett) not only helps him avoid the pitfalls of this precarious prison, but also helps him unlock the secrets that could get them both out!
Peppered with PG-level scares and plenty of style (we’d die for Ritter’s witch wardrobe), Nightbooks is a rollicking good time for kiddos (and grown-ups) who appreciate a good bump in the night. — K.P.
How to watch: Nightbooks is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Over the Moon
Pining for a fantasy adventure threaded with fantastic songs? Then, you’ll revel in the animated musical Over The Moon.
After decades of working in Disney animation, Glen Keane takes the helm in his directorial debut, which is inspired by the Chinese legend of Chang’e, the goddess of the moon. When a 13-year-old girl (Cathy Ang) decides a DIY rocket will jettison her not only to their celestial deity but also to a better life, she discovers happiness is much closer than she could have dreamed. In addition to pop jams and plenty of charismatic characters — among them a star-bright pangolin — this Netflix Original boasts a star-studded voice cast, including Sandra Oh, Kimiko Glenn, Phillipa Soo, John Cho, Margaret Cho, and Ken Jeong. — K.P.
How to watch: Over the Moon is now streaming on Netflix.
6. Vampires vs. the Bronx
Want a movie that’s got excitement, comedy, a scorching message about the evils of gentrification, and is a kid-friendly fantasy romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx.
Oz Perkins’ PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens, who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and influx of rich white folks with tote bags means bad news for the neighborhood. Together, they team up Monster Squad-style to take down the bloodsuckers and save their community. With a sharp wit, a warm heart, a rich sense of atmosphere, and an equal appreciation for the Blade movies and ’80s Amblin, Vampires vs. the Bronx is an easy watch (just 85 minutes!) full of rewards.* — K.P.
How to watch: Vampires vs. the Bronx is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Suzume
Suzume is hard to describe. Within the first 15 minutes of the movie, teenage Suzume meets a handsome stranger, discovers a mysterious free-standing door to an ethereal plane she can’t access, picks up a rock that turns into a talking cat, and unknowingly sets off a series of events that threaten to devastate Japan under a cataclysmic earthquake. And that’s just how the movie begins!
Makoto Shinkai’s emotional and optimistic adventure is a beautiful story that gives physical stakes to personal introspection. The animation, like his other films (Your Name, 5 Centimeters per Second, and The Garden of Words), is characteristically stunning, and the story is unlike any you’ve ever seen. Suzume might be the only movie in existence where a three-legged stool will make you cry. — K.G.
How to watch: Suzume is now streaming on Netflix.
8. The Old Guard
For fantasy with a superhero flare, check out this action-packed thriller from critically cheered director Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Charlize Theron stars as Andy, the leader of a covert band of almost-immortal mercenaries. For centuries, they have fought together to save humanity from ruin. However, as a new member is added to the team (a mesmerizing Kiki Layne), this old guard tangles with a threat that could tear them to shreds for good. Adapted from Greg Rucka’s graphic novel of the same name.
The Old Guard brings a sharp edge and an R-rating to the glossy and bloodless superhero standard. The sprawling and graphic fight scenes hit hard, but the incredible ensemble, which includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, hits harder. Together they bring a sophisticated pathos that doesn’t tend to fit with the flashy capes crowd. — K.P.
How to watch: The Old Guard is now streaming on Netflix.
9. Bleach
Few things are as fantastical and fun as a Manga made live-action. Based on the popular Japanese comic by Tite Kubo, Bleach follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a moody teen who turns into a Soul Reaper through a twist of face and brave sacrifice. By day, he must endure all the drama inherent in high school. By night, he—with the help of his pestering mentor Rukia Kuchiki—must guide good ghosts to their peaceful afterlife and battle back sinister spirits. Director Shinsuke Sato brings an anime-like verve to the film, employing zipping graphics, a lively soundtrack, a bouncy tone, a barrage of frightful foes, and kick-ass martial arts action. Stars Sôta Fukushi and Hana Sugisaki are totally in tune, delivering performances that pop with personality. — K.P.
How to watch: Bleach is now streaming on Netflix.
10. Orion and the Dark
Eleven-year-old Orion (Jacob Tremblay) is afraid of everything: bees, bullies, bears, you name it. But what keeps him up at night is his deepest fear, the biggest and baddest of them all: the dark. All that is about to change when The Dark (Paul Walter Hauser) decides to pay Orion a visit and prove that he’s not so scary after all.
Orion and the Dark is a lovely, moving, and fun family adventure that’s smarter and more introspective than a whole heck of a lot of grown-up movies. That’s because this charmer was written by Charlie Kaufman, the Hollywood veteran behind existential favorites like Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and I’m Thinking of Ending Things. While Orion and the Dark is a much lighter and kid-friendly film than Kaufman’s most iconic work, its subject matter is no less weighty and its message no less affecting. A winner for all ages! — K.G.
How to watch: Orion and the Dark is now streaming on Netflix.
11. Matilda the Musical
You know this story: Matilda, a kind, isolated kid with newly discovered powers of telekinesis, finds herself enrolled at a horrible school run by the detestable Miss Trunchbull. Trunchbull abuses and humiliates her students, and Matilda uses her powers to try to change things for her and her peers.
It’s a beloved Roald Dahl children’s book that was adapted into the hit 1996 film, then a successful stage musical, and finally, a 2022 movie based on the musical. And yes, it is just as lively and lovable as its predecessors! Matilda has high energy choreography, fantastic performances (Emma Thompson as a truly repulsive Trunchbull is a stand-out), and a score you won’t be able to stop singing. — K.G.
How to watch: Matilda the Musical is now streaming on Netflix.
12. Nimona
Nimona transports us to a futuristic medieval world where knight Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) is on the run for a crime he did not commit. However, it’s his label as a “villain” that brings shapeshifter Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) into his life. More comfortable as a shark than a human girl, Nimona is a delightfully deviant fiend who wants nothing more than to stick it to the all-powerful Institute. She and Ballister make quite the odd pair — she wants to wreak havoc, he just wants to clear his name — but together, they may just defeat an evil lurking in their kingdom.
Between some electrifying fight scenes and its graphic animation style, Nimona is a blast of a viewing experience. But its message and LGBTQ visibility is what truly sets it apart. Not only is Ballister’s relationship with knight Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang) a key element of the film, but Nimona’s own fluidity and negotiation of her identity calls to mind transness in a meaningful, important way.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Nimona is now streaming on Netflix.
13. The Imaginary
The Imaginary was written by Yoshiaki Nishimura and directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, both formerly of Studio Ghibli, so you know it’s going to be visually stunning, fantastical, and full of feelings.
When Rudger, an imaginary friend, is separated from his creator Amanda, he must enlist help from other imaginaries to find his way back home. But the journey is nothing but simple — lurking in the shadows is the inescapable, existential dread of being forgotten, as well as the very present threat of Mr. Bunting, a despicable man who consumes imagined beings. The Imaginary is both whimsical and dark in equal measure, elegantly tackling big subjects like death and loss alongside lighter themes, like the importance of play. — K.G.
How to watch: The Imaginary is now streaming on Netflix.
14. Troll
Inspired by Norwegian folklore, 2022’s Troll is a monster movie that feels both fresh and familiar. We’ve got an enormous creature wreaking havoc, a unique mythology, and satisfying spectacles — there’s something for everyone!
When a drilling operation results in the deaths of multiple workers, Norwegian scientists blame a pocket of methane. Young Nora (Ine Marie Wilmann), however, suspects something bigger and more sinister: a troll. Fortunately for Nora, when a 300-foot behemoth emerges from the mountains, she’s proved correct! Unfortunately for Norway, the troll is pissed, and it’s headed straight for Oslo. — K.G.
How to watch: Troll is now streaming on Netflix.
15. The Sea Beast
In a world where oceans are terrorized by massive and ferocious beasts, no sailors are more famed for their monster-killing exploits than the crew of the Inevitable. And no one is a bigger fan of the beast hunters than young orphan Maisie Brumble, who stows away on the Inevitable to become a hunter herself. But when she and crewmember Jacob Holland are thrown overboard and swallowed by the mightiest monster of them all, the Red Bluster, they’re forced to consider a less violent approach, perhaps even working with the beasts, to get themselves to safety. A thrilling, kid-friendly adventure with a top-notch voice cast (Karl Urban, Jared Harris, and more), The Sea Beast is a swashbuckling — and heartwarming — trip across the high seas. — K.G.
How to watch: The Sea Beast is now streaming on Netflix.
16. Wendell and Wild
Written by Jordan Peele and directed by Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas), Wendell and Wild has all the makings of a new classic. Featuring the beautiful and macabre stop-motion animation reminiscent of Selick’s past masterpieces, this latest installment adds a touch of teen angst to his ghoulish canon. Kat (Lyric Ross) is a hardened foster kid who blames herself for her parents’ death. So when two bombastic demons (played with glee by Key and Peele themselves) promise they know how to bring her parents back, she puts her fears aside and makes a deal.
How to watch: Wendell and Wild is now streaming on Netflix.
17. Mary and the Witch’s Flower
Mary is an eager young girl with bright red hair who can’t seem to get anything right. When a friendly cat leads her to a mysterious flower that grants her temporary magical powers, Mary discovers a hidden world of adventure where all is not as it seems. Mary and the Witch’s Flower is an exuberant, lovable story from Hiromasa Yonebayashi, a former Studio Ghibli animator. Brimming with heart and excitement, this beautifully animated film whose English dub features the voice talents of Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent, will soon become a family favorite.* — K.G.
How to watch: Mary and the Witch’s Flower is streaming on Netflix.
18. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Arch, quirky, and highly choreographed, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a story within a story within a story, and so on. Based on the short by Roald Dahl, the movie opens with Dahl himself (Ralph Fiennes) introducing and then narrating the story of a man, Henry Sugar, who does nothing with his money but gamble. Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch) takes over the narration to tell of the moment he first learned of a doctor who met a man who could see without using his eyes. Within that story is the tale of how this man met a guru who taught him everything he knows. This story-Russian-nesting-doll affects Sugar profoundly; he abruptly changes the course of his life. If you like Wes Anderson, then you’ll love this sweet and stylized short film.* — K.G.
How to watch: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is now streaming on Netflix.
19. Hilda and the Mountain King
In the excellent Netflix series Hilda, a young blue-haired girl (voiced by Bella Ramsey) moves with her mother to the city of Trolberg, a hamlet plagued by angry trolls who attack any who venture outside of the city walls at night. At the start of the 2021 film Hilda and the Mountain King, Hilda has been transformed into a troll herself, lost in a massive cave and unable to tolerate sunlight — but luckily, she can also understand everything the other trolls are saying. Perhaps she might be able to learn something about why they keep attacking the city while she’s trying to escape.
With the trademark animation and emotional grounding of the series, Hilda and the Mountain King is a dark, exciting, and philosophical kids’ flick that will easily enthrall any adults in the room. — K.G.
How to watch: Hilda and the Mountain King is now streaming on Netflix.
20. The Lego Movie
Emmet (Chris Pratt) is an ordinary Lego citizen of Bricksburg. He’s friendly, follows the rules, and always adheres to the Lego building instructions. But a chance encounter with a mysterious Lego (Elizabeth Banks) and a mythical item called the Piece of Resistance, sends him on an adventure that will break through both the boundaries of his city and his entire understanding of what Legos are capable of.
The Lego Movie is a smart, fast-paced, and hilarious ride that packs a surprisingly potent emotional punch for a movie about plastic figurines. The cast (Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman) is at the top of their game, and the visuals are a never-ending treat. It’s a smash-hit for a reason!* — K.G.
How to watch: The Lego Movie is now streaming on Netflix.
UPDATE: Aug. 21, 2024, 4:13 p.m. EDT This article was first published on Sept. 30, 2021. It has since been updating to reflect current streaming options.
