Fantasy movies are full of some of the most compelling characters in pop culture history. From the likes of Hermione Granger, Gandalf, and Ariel, there are many iconic characters that audiences everywhere have fallen in love with. Most of these characters wouldn’t be as well renowned or well-loved without the fantastic performances of their respected actors. So without further ado, here are the best performances in fantasy movies.
10 Halle Bailey as Ariel - The Little Mermaid (2023)
Jodi Benson delivered a phenomenal performance as the iconic mermaid in the 1989 animated classic, The Little Mermaid. Her performance was so spectacular that we couldn't ever imagine anyone matching Benson's brilliant performance, let alone exceeding it. Yet, in 2023 we were all proven wrong with Halle Bailey's flooring performance as Ariel.
Bailey modernizes the character of Ariel, and her angelic vocals add to the overall magic of the stunning Disney live-action remake, The Little Mermaid. Halle Bailey's jaw-dropping performance will inspire millions for years to come. There are few performances and characters as important and necessary as Bailey's Ariel.
9 Robin Williams as Genie - Aladdin (1992)
Legendary comedian Robin Williams never disappoints. Whether he's starring in an award-winning drama or a gut-busting comedy, Williams always delivers brilliant performances. However, few roles are as well-loved as his role as Genie in Disney's Aladdin.
Williams basically delivers a PG version of his comedy routines. His dialogue is fast, witty, and deeply hilarious. But where his performance shines is the many brilliant impressions and accents the comedian pulls off. Whether it's imitating Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, or Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robin Williams breaks the fourth wall in genius and hilarious ways.
8 Tom Hiddleston as Loki - Marvel Cinematic Universe
Well renowned for his Shakespearean background, Tom Hiddleston delivers one of the best performances in the MCU as the Norse God of Mischief, Loki. Loki is a deeply complex and tragic MCU character with an archaic background full of archaic dialogue. So, who better to portray this Norse God, than an actor with experience performing Shakespeare.
There are few characters in the MCU that carry as much tragedy and guilt as Loki, and Tom Hiddleston effortlessly delves into that. At first, Loki was a seemingly irredeemable villain, which Hiddleston plays into. But as Loki's journey continues and his character deepens, Loki, mostly due to Hiddleston's undeniable charm, turns Loki into an incredibly sympathetic and lovable MCU character.
7 Alan Rickman as Severus Snape - Harry Potter Franchise
The Harry Potter franchise is full of some of the best British actors of all time. Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Emma Roberts, and Brendan Gleeson are just a few of the best to appear in the franchise. However, as compelling as these actors are, the great Alan Rickman quickly cemented his performance as Severus Snape among the best the franchise had to offer.
Rickman's dark, mysterious, and foreboding performance made us love and hate Snape in equal measure. Snape was a deeply intriguing character whose backstory was slowly revealed as the franchise progressed. However, none of us were ready for the jaw-dropping plot twist and heartbreaking death of the beloved character, that puts his entire persona and character into perspective. The devastation we felt upon his death, is all thanks to Rickman's fantastic performance.
6 Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow - The Pirates of the Carribbean Franchise
Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the best pirates in movie history. His campy and un-serious persona adds a brilliant entertainment factor to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which is all due to Johnny Depp's exceptional performance. His comedic timing is on point, and his physical comedy is just the cherry on top of the cake.
5 Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya - The Princess Bride (1987)
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." is one of the most iconic lines in movie history, and perhaps the main reason why this line is so great is due to Mandy Patinkin's brilliant delivery. Inigo Montoya is a deadly swordsman, and although he is mostly fueled with a lust for vengeance for the death of his father, he is still a charismatic and hilarious character.
Mandy Patinkin fills Inigo Montoya with the charm and charisma that made us adore his character. Similarly, Patinkin infuses his character with impressive physicality in the swordplay, making us believe in Montoya's deadly swordsmanship.
4 Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee - The Lord of the Rings Franchise
If there is one character we would have by our side on a perilous journey, it would always be the perpetually optimistic Samwise Gamgee. What Samwise lacks in combat he makes up for with his kindness, compassion, and optimism. We couldn't think of anyone who could play the role better than the always lovable Sean Astin.
In a world full of powerful wizards, terrifying orcs and deadly archers, Sean Astin's effortless performance makes a character so kind, one of the best and most important characters in the franchise.
3 Gandalf as Sir Ian McKellen - The Lord of the Rings Franchise
Not much really needs to be said. Sir Ian McKellen is among the best actors of all time. Every performance is spectacular. We dare you to find a role of McKellen that isn't flawless. Even his role in the horrendous Cats movie was memorable. No role of his is more iconic than his time as Gandalf, the all powerful wizard.
Gandalf is the wisest wizard of them all. He boasts great power and has great knowledge of how the world works. He also spouts out a lot of great dialogue. No one could have done it better than the legendary actor, who brings Gandalf to life in a very Shakespearean fashion.
2 Emma Watson as Hermione Granger - The Harry Potter Franchise
There are few female characters as inspiring as the great Hermione Granger. Her no-nonsense attitude and unparalleled intelligence made Hermione one of the most powerful witches in the Wizarding World. However, Hermione would not be as beloved nor as inspiring without the fantastic Emma Watson, who never fails to pour her heart and soul into a role, making all of her characters inspirational and badass.
Emma Watson bottles up all of her intellect and confidence and pours it into the role of Hermione Granger, making her a fan-favorite character in the Harry Potter franchise.
1 Andy Serkis as Gollum - The Lord of the Rings Franchise
To this day, there are few performances as compelling as Andy Serkis' role as Gollum. His brilliant motion capture performance not only earned the Best British Actor at the Empire Awards and the Best Virtual Performance at the MTV Movie and TV Awards, among many others, but also paved the way for mo-cap technology.
Ultimately playing two roles, Andy Serkis shines when his character Gollum would talk to himself as a dual personality role. One as the river folk he once was, Smeagol, and one as the tragic monster he has become due to his corruption of the one ring.