The 1980s saw a massive influx in fantasy films. Inspired by the success of Star Wars, which had both elements of science fiction and fantasy, filmmakers attempted to bring magical worlds to life with lavish sets and then state-of-the-art visual effects. The decade saw a renewed interest in fantasy, with the board game Dungeons & Dragons becoming a hit and a renewed interest in the works of authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard.
Updated June 27th, 2023: If you love fantasy movies, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article with new entries.
All the movies were genre mash-ups that mixed medieval wizardry and armored knights with contemporary sci-fi features, like digital beasts and laser weapons, some of which have been shot from metal blades. There were also magicians, flying horses, and leg warmers in these films. Strangely, most of these movies weren't intended to be funny. They were all quite serious about themselves, which sometimes led to some unintentional comedy. Yet, after all these years, many of these fantasy films still excite audiences, and filmmakers are revisiting them to make sequels or remake them. Here are the best fantasy films of the 1980s.
15 Highlander (1986)
There can only be one! The epic rallying cry was uttered by each one of the immortals who fought and defeated their opponents. Christopher Lambert stars as the immortal swordsman Connor MacLeod, joined by Sean Connery as his mentor, Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez, and Clancy Brown as the fearsome antagonist, the Kurgan. The movie is a classic, but it was elevated to the pantheon of cinema thanks to the stylized soundtrack by Queen.
Highlander is a groundbreaking fantasy directed by Russell Mulcahy and scripted by Gregory Widen. The main plot revolves around a group of immortal warriors battling each other for "The Prize" throughout history. MacLeod learns how to fight from Ramirez but loses his friend to the Kurgan. Both foes survive to present times to fight to the death, with MacLeod winning the coveted prize of everyday life.
14 Ladyhawke (1985)
The guy responsible for Superman: The Movie had one of the most vivid imaginations ever. Ladyhawke is proof of that statement. This little masterpiece was directed by Richard Donner and written by Edward Khmara. Ladyhawke features Rutger Hauer as the cursed knight Navarre, while Michelle Pfeiffer embodies the beautiful Isabeau d'Anjou. A very young Matthew Broderick adds comic relief as the thief Gaston.
Ladyhawke is a wonderful fantasy tale narrating the story of two lovers intertwined with a curse: Navarre transforms into a wolf by night, while Isabeau becomes a hawk by day. Together, they must find a way to break the cursed place on them by the Bishop of Aquila and be together. The film is a deeply emotional love story, full of magical elements and heartfelt moments where we feel the pain and frustration of the lovers.
13 The Last Unicorn (1982)
The Last Unicorn is lacking the smooth animation that makes an animated classic truly shine, yet eccentric characters and a touching plot make it one-of-a-kind for cult followers. The animated musical features a wicked King Haggard who wants to wipe out all the world's unicorns.
When a juvenile unicorn discovers that she is a threat and may shortly be the last of her species, she flees her secure woodland home and joins the aid of Schmendrick, a kind but clumsy wizard. They set off on a long and risky trip together with only one objective in mind: to overcome Haggard and rescue the unicorns from perishing. It is still regarded as a cult masterpiece and a must-see film.
12 Krull (1983)
In the 80s, space fantasy was all the rage, as George Lucas produced two more Star Wars films, both being massive box office hits and getting critical acclaim worldwide. Many studios tried their luck with unique concepts, and while some landed, others crashed and burned. Krull is a standalone offering that is pretty obscure compared to other classics in this list, yet it tells a compelling story.
Krull is directed by Peter Yates, following the script of Stanford Sherman. The mostly unknown cast features Ken Marshall as Prince Colwyn, Lysette Anthony as Princess Lyssa, and Freddie Jones as Ynyr. The plot is centered on Colwyn's quest to rescue the Princess from the Beast, an evil entity ruling the planet Krull. The film it's a blend of science fiction, fantasy, and epic battles, with memorable characters and a unique arsenal of weapons for the main characters.
11 The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is the final chapter in Terry Gilliam's Imagination Trilogy. The trilogy shows the craziness of the world through the eyes of a young boy (the 1981 remarkable time-travel fantasy Time Bandits), a man in his 30s (the 1985 dystopian classic Brazil), and an elderly man (1988’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen).
Inspired by tall tales about the 18th-century aristocrat Baron Munchausen, Terry Gilliam's epic fantasy centers on its eccentric title character's attempts to rescue a town from being overrun by the Turks. The adventures bring Baron Munchausen (John Neville) to the Moon, to the depths of the ocean, and even to the confrontation with the Grim Reaper. It is one of the most imaginative and visually stunning fantasies of all time.
10 Legend (1985)
Directed by Ridley Scott, this classic 1980s fantasy stars Tom Cruise as a young man, Jack in the Green, who must stop the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) from destroying the last of the unicorns and marrying a fairy Princess (Mia Sara). Beautifully shot and designed, Legend is an almost Disney-esque feel fairy tale. Because of dazzling visual effects, Jerry Goldsmith’s beautiful soundtrack, and Curry's performance, this foray into the world of magic is worth seeing.
9 Clash of the Titans (1981)
Were you surprised to see this name here? Don't be. Hollywood has been on a remake spree since the early 2000s, and Clash of the Titans was bound to happen at some point. The original film bearing the name was released in 1981 and was directed by Desmond Davis, based on the screenplay by Beverley Cross. The story's scope called for the best special effects of the era: full stop-motion animation by then-famed Ray Harryhausen, and it was glorious.
In this story version, we have Harry Hamlin staring as Perseus, Laurence Olivier as Zeus, and Maggie Smith as Thetis. The story is based on the myth of Medusa, set in ancient Greece, as Perseus is on a quest to save Princess Andromeda from the clutches of the mythological Kraken. The film is beautifully shot, transitioning between practical effects and live-action shots seamlessly. It may look tame these days when compared to the remake, but this was groundbreaking for its time.
8 The NeverEnding Story (1984)
The NeverEnding Story is among the most well-known fantasy movies from the 1980s, including white horses, princesses, goblins, castles, and loads of haze. Atreyu's journey across Fantasia on his mission to subdue the Nothing is majestic and entertaining. It can be mystical and enchanting, but it can also be gloomy and enigmatic when the situation calls for it. Get immersed in this popular '80s masterpiece by falling into this magical film, which was also based on a book by Michael Ende.
7 Excalibur (1981)
In this 1981 masterpiece directed by John Boorman, the classic tale of King Arthur and the wizard Merlin is offered the complete '80s flavor in Excalibur. The film is a dramatic, over-the-top, and bloody retelling of the classic myth. The movie has remained an inspiration for many, including director Zack Snyder who cited it while working on both Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.
Despite the fact that the film hasn't aged gracefully, it should be viewed as a memory box and legacy from another period. After 40 years, Liam Neeson recalls his breakout role in Excalibur and says that it was a wonderful experience.
6 Labyrinth (1986)
Labyrinth is a cult favorite, and it is famous for featuring musician David Bowie portraying Jareth the Goblin King. It's difficult to imagine anything more '80s than a tight spandex-clad David Bowie backed by a horde of Jim Henson monsters. Labyrinth is equally captivating and goofy, but it is still among the most revered fantasy movies.
The movie follows a 16-year-old Sarah, who journeys into a labyrinth to rescue her newborn brother, who was abducted by the enigmatic Goblin King. It's no surprise that the picture has a loyal fan base, with a soundtrack produced and sung by David Bowie and a few of Jim Henson's Creature Shop's most stunning puppets and special effects.
5 Willow (1988)
Willow, a small fantasy film with a substantial plot, was created by the genius imaginations of George Lucas and Ron Howard. Action, magic, and a heroic journey follow shortly when a dwarven peasant must travel across an elevated fantasy realm to safeguard a newborn from a wicked queen.
Willow seems to have some pretty great dramatic features driving it, thanks to the skills of Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis starring in the movie and an original idea by George Lucas. It may not be spectacular, but it must be on the bucket list of any fantasy enthusiast. Disney released a long-awaited follow-up series, but the series was sadly removed from Disney+ recently and is not available to watch anywhere.
4 Conan The Barbarian (1982)
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We can't have a compilation like this without adding the first Conan the Barbarian film. This film, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan, is primarily an epic tale that follows Conan's transformation from a sickly boy to a barbarian warrior seeking vengeance on the evil wizard who murdered his parents and his entire tribe. Conan the Barbarian is a great action film for anyone seeking some fantasy, sword fights, strength, and chaos. In many ways, it is a definitive classic fantasy that defined the sword and sorcery genre.
3 The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Dark Crystal by Jim Henson is a fantastic dark fantasy drama with a universe and grandeur that J.R.R. Tolkien would've been delighted with. It is undoubtedly among the most memorable cult movies ever made. It is a puppet-driven film centered on a remote planet in the ancient past, in which a race of beings known as the Gelflings set out on an adventure to find the missing fragment of a mystical crystal that is said to restore stability to their universe. It's an odd but intriguing fantasy flick.
The Dark Crystal was a revolutionary film, and years later, was followed up with a critically acclaimed prequel series on Netflix titled The Dark Crystal, Age of Resistance.
2 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
No fantasy list is complete without including the quintessential Indiana Jones film: Raiders of the Lost Ark; the first entry in the original trilogy is a thrilling adventure more grounded in reality but full of fantasy elements nonetheless. Dr. Jones embarks on a quest for the Ark of the Covenant against the Nazis. We get Harrison Ford in his second signature role as the grumpy archaeologist Indiana Jones, accompanied by Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood and Paul Freeman as the treacherous Belloq.
Indiana Jones was created as a collaborative effort between George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. The film is directed by Spielberg and penned by Lawrence Kasdan, with the guidance of Lucas. Dr. Jones's quest for the biblical Ark of the Covenant became an instant classic. The film spawned a successful franchise, one that is set to conclude with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which opens in theaters on June 30, 2023.
1 The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride, the most eloquent movie, is not just among the most legendary fantasy films of the 1980s but also one of the most cherished love escapades of all time. The Princess Bride features pirates, magicians, and princesses, with more than enough fun and wit to delight any viewer. Everyone will enjoy this movie as it contains a bit of just about everything.
The movie is epic with gallant action, melodrama, spell casters, and an inventive and brilliant screenplay not often seen in this genre of film. It's the perfect movie if viewers want a romantic drama or a thrilling duel. After all these years, it remains a classic and the ideal version of what audiences expect from a fantasy movie whose influence can be felt today in films like Stardust and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.