A cult classic is a movie that may not have achieved worldwide fame and critical acclaim, or made millions at the box office, but has nonetheless amassed a loyal following among a particular group of cinephiles. When coupled with the fantasy genre, which usually features elements such as witchcraft and sorcery, supernatural beings, impossible quests, enchanted weapons, legends and folklore, and lush settings, these movies are particularly exciting.
The 1980s spawned countless adventure/fantasy live-action movies and animations, while the 1990s and 2000s gave fans of the genre several thrilling TV shows, like Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, The Adventures of Sinbad, and Legend of the Seeker.
Here is a selection of 20 cult classic fantasy films, most of which may not have been blessed with a high budget or have become blockbusters, but are still cherished, defended, and discussed by their devotees.
20 Willow (1988)
Ron Howard’s Willow may have been remade in 2019 with better special effects and followed by a series in 2022, but its fans will always hold it dear to them, despite the critics’ lack of enthusiasm for both the plot and the direction. Starring Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Warwick Davis, and Jean Marsh, this high-fantasy film starts with the villainous sorceress Queen Bavmorda of Nockmaar ordering the massacre of all her kingdom’s newborns, following a prophecy that a child with a rune birthmark would eventually cause her ruin. One baby is smuggled out, set on a drifting raft in a river, and taken in by the family of the dwarf Willow Ufgood. With elements like wolf-hounds, household spirits, fairies, trolls, an aging enchantress, and spells, Willow definitely belongs in the classics.
19 Pete’s Dragon (1977)
Pete's Dragon is a musical directed by Don Chaffey and set in New England in the early 1900s. It stars Sean Marshall as the orphan boy Pete, Helen Reddy as Nora, Jim Dale as Dr. Terminus, Mickey Rooney as Lampie, Charles Tyner as Merle Gogan, Jeff Conaway as Willie Gogan, and the voice of Charlie Callas as Elliott the Dragon.
Pete runs away from his abusive foster family, the Gogans, and befriends Elliott. The dragon’s ability to turn invisible will often cause the boy trouble, but they stick together regardless. Things start looking up when Nora, the lighthouse keeper’s kind daughter, offers him shelter, and refuses to give him back to the Gogans.
Per the New York Daily News, “Sean Marshall, as Pete, looks and acts natural on camera, which makes him a refreshing change from those sweet little cherubs usually cast in Disney movies. Miss Reddy plays her role with crisp efficiency, and fortunately receives strong support for the rest of the cast, particularly Dale, so slick and funny as the conniving medicine man.”
18 Labyrinth (1986)
Directed by beloved puppeteer, animator, actor, and filmmaker Jim Henson, Labyrinth is a musical fantasy featuring Jennifer Connelly as 16-year-old Sarah and David Bowie as the Goblin King Jareth. Sarah is a romantic young girl who loves fairytales and legends. Frustrated with her half-brother Toby, she wishes he would be taken away by goblins. This is when Jareth appears, grants her wish, and then gives her 13 hours to find Toby in a labyrinth, or else he’d turn him into a goblin forever.
Fun fact: Bowie recorded five songs for the film: Underground, Magic Dance, Chilly Down, As the World Falls Down, and Within You.
17 Dragonslayer (1981)
In sixth-century Urland, Galen Bradwarden, an aspiring wizard, sets out to defeat the evil 400-year-old dragon Vermithrax Pejorative, who has been feeding on virgin women. The latter are chosen bi-yearly through a lottery, and this time, it’s the Princess’ turn to be handed to Vermithrax, whose name is often mentioned by George R.R. Martin as his favorite. This is the premise of Dragonslayer, a dark fantasy flick directed by Matthew Robbins and starring Peter MacNicol, Ralph Richardson, Caitlin Clarke, and John Hallam.
16 Legend (1985)
An epic dark fantasy movie directed by Ridley Scott, Legend features Tom Cruise as Jack O' the Green, Mia Sara as Princess Lili, Tim Curry as the Lord of Darkness, David Bennent as the elf Honeythorn Gump, Alice Playten as Blix, the leader of Darkness's goblins, and Star Trek: Voyager’s Robert Picardo as the swamp hag Meg Mucklebones. The plot follows Jack and his friends’ quest to stop Darkness from destroying the last unicorn and marrying the fairy Princess.
The 89-minute theatrical release may not have been a box-office success, but it did win the British Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography. Fans definitely prefer the director’s cut, though, which runs for 114 minutes.
15 Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Also known as Jason and the Golden Fleece, Jason and the Argonauts is a mythical fantasy film directed by Don Chaffey, and featuring Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovack, Honor Blackman, and Gary Raymond. It is best known for its profusion of legendary creatures, namely the Greek pantheon of Gods, harpies, a bronze giant, and the Hydra and her seven skeleton children. Prophesized to rule Thessaly, Jason, under the protection of the Queen of the Gods Hera, sets sail with a crew that includes the mighty Hercules, in order to find the mythical Golden Fleece.
14 The Beastmaster (1982)
Helmed by Don Coscarelli and starring Marc Singer, Tanya Roberts, and John Amos, The Beastmaster is adapted from the 1959 novel by Andre Norton. The story centers on Dar, a prince of Aruk in hiding who can communicate telepathically with animals. Together with his companions, the golden eagle Sharak, the thieving ferrets Kodo and Podo, and the black tiger Ruh, he stands against the evil wizard Maax and his brutal horde.
13 Stardust (2007)
Based on the titular novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess, the romantic comedy Stardust is co-written and directed by Matthew Vaughn. It stars Claire Danes as Yvaine, Charlie Cox as Tristan Thorn, Michelle Pfeiffer as the evil witch Lamia, Mark Strong as Prince Septimus, Robert De Niro as Captain Shakespeare of the Caspartine, Ricky Gervais as Ferdy the Fence, Sienna Miller as Victoria Forester, Peter O'Toole as the King of Stormhold, and the voice of Ian McKellen as the Narrator.
Despite this cast, the film wasn’t a blockbuster, but it did have “brilliant production values” and “an underrated score,” according to Den of Geek, which lists it in its Top 25 Underappreciated Films of 2007.
The story starts in a village bordering the magical Kingdom of Stormhold. Tristan, the son of a villager and a princess from that forbidden land beyond the wall, is tasked by his narcissistic crush Victoria to retrieve the Fallen Star, so she would grant him her hand in marriage. He then uses his mother’s magical candle to capture the Star, now in Human form and called Yvaine. Naturally, they fall in love. Yvaine is also hunted by a trio of witches, who plan to eat her heart to revive their youth and powers.
12 Dragonheart (1996)
An adventure fantasy helmed by Rob Cohen, Dragonheart features Dennis Quaid, David Thewlis, Dina Meyer, and Sir Sean Connery as the voice of the dragon Draco. Sir Bowen, a Knight of the Old Code, makes a living as a dragon slayer. But then he meets the last dragon, Draco, and forms a partnership with him: they would stage several “slayings”, Bowen would get the reward money, and Draco would be left alone. Unbeknownst to the knight, Draco is the one he’s been looking for all along: the creature who, many years ago, gave his prince part of his heart to heal his mortal wound.
The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
11 Ladyhawke (1985)
The eerie medieval fantasy Ladyhawke is produced and directed by Richard Donner, and stars Matthew Broderick as the thief Phillipe ‘The Mouse’ Gaston, Rutger Hauer as Etienne of Navarre, Michelle Pfeiffer as Isabeau of Anjou, John Wood as the Bishop of Aquila, and Alfred Molina as the wolf trapper Cezar. Because he is obsessed with the beautiful Isabeau and jealous of her relationship with Etienne, the Bishop lays a curse on them: by day, she would transform into a hawk, and by night, Etienne would become a wolf. They can thus never be together in human form, but they keep each other company nonetheless. After the Mouse escapes prison and is rescued by Etienne, he decides to help them break the curse, which is only possible if the lovers stand together in human form in front of the Bishop. Good thing a solar eclipse is about to occur.
10 Krull (1983)
Directed by Peter Yates and scored by James Horner, Krull is a British-American production whose plot starts with a prophecy about “a girl of ancient name that shall become queen,” who “shall choose a king, and together they shall rule their world, and their son shall rule the galaxy.” Simple enough. Except that the planet Krull, where the story is set, is overrun by The Beast and his army of Slayers, traveling around in the Black Fortress, a sort of spaceship. Only Glaive, a magical five-pointed throwing star, can defeat them.
9 Clash of the Titans (1981)
“It's got blood and thunder and lots of gory details, all presented with enormous gusto and style. It has faith in a story-telling tradition that sometimes seems almost forgotten, a tradition depending upon legends and myths, magical swords, enchanted shields, invisibility helmets, and the overwhelming power of a kiss.”
Another British-American co-production, Clash of the Titans is directed by Desmond Davis. Starring Harry Hamlin, Burgess Meredith, Dame Maggie Smith, and Sir Laurence Olivier, the film is inspired by the Greek myth of Perseus, and his quest to save Princess Andromeda. He must pass many tests, including capturing the winged horse Pegasus, avoiding being petrified by Medusa, and defeating the Kraken, a sea monster.
8 The Last Unicorn (1982)
Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, the animated movie The Last Unicorn is based on the 1968 book by Peter S. Beagle, and is voiced by a stellar cast: Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Dame Angela Lansbury, and Sir Christopher Lee.
As a unicorn sets out to find the rest of her kind, which were herded by the Red Bull monster and kept in his hidden lair, she is captured by a witch, then freed with the help of an aspiring magician. The latter musters enough power to transform her temporarily into a Human, thus concealing her from any danger. Now known as Lady Amalthea, she takes refuge in a castle, where the prince falls for her.
One of the film’s highlights is its soundtrack, composed and arranged by Jimmy Webb, with songs by the legendary band America.
7 Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China is a fun fantasy action comedy starring Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, and James Hong. The plot centers on the truck driver Jack Burton, who helps his friend Wang Chi rescue his fiancée from kidnappers in San Francisco's Chinatown. She was taken by the sorcerer David Lo Pan because only a green-eyed beauty could release him from his ancient curse.
“All I know is, this Lo Pan character comes out of thin air in the middle of a goddamn alley while his buddies are flying around on wires, cutting everybody to shreds. And he just stands there, waiting for me to drive my truck straight through him with LIGHT coming out of his mouth!”
– Jack Burton
6 The Princess Bride (1987)
You might recognize admirers of the fantasy adventure comedy The Princess Bride when you hear them use the catchphrase “As you wish,” “Inconceivable!”, or “You killed my father: prepare to die!”. Adapted by William Goldman from his own 1973 novel and directed by Rob Reiner, it follows the handsome farmhand Westley (Carey Elwes), who sets out to rescue his beloved Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) from the revolting Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon).
Featuring pirates, a small Sicilian man, a sadist with six fingers, a giant from Greenland, an avenging Spanish fencing master, and a folk healer and resurrector, this flick is highly entertaining.
5 The NeverEnding Story (1984)
While the younger viewers of the nostalgic Netflix hit series Stranger Things were only introduced to The NeverEnding Story’s theme song thanks to the show, Gen Xers know all too well it originated from the cult classic directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
The movie features Barret Oliver as Bastian, Noah Hathaway as Atreyu, Tami Stronach as The Childlike Empress, and Alan Oppenheimer as the voices of the dragon Falkor, the wolf-like creature Gmork, Rockbiter, and the Narrator.
The story follows a shy and bullied 10-year-old called Bastian, who escapes his difficult reality by losing himself in a magical book about the land of Fantasia. The malevolent Nothing is threatening to destroy Fantasia, and its Empress has fallen ill. It is up to her champion Atreyu, and the Human reader Bastian, to find her a cure and save everybody.
4 Red Sonja (1985)
Inspired by the character created by Robert E. Howard, Red Sonja is an epic fantasy film produced by Dino De Laurentiis, directed by Richard Fleischer (Barabbas, Fantastic Voyage, Conan the Destroyer), and scored by the iconic Maestro Ennio Morricone (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The Mission, Cinema Paradiso). It features Danish model, actress, and singer Brigitte Nielsen in the titular role, opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger as Lord Kalidor, Sandahl Bergman as the evil Queen Gedren of Berkubane, Ernie Reyes, Jr. as Prince Tarn, and Paul L. Smith as Falkon, the latter’s servant.
Abused and left for dead by Queen Gedren’s soldiers, Sonja is given a magical sword, under the condition she wouldn’t sleep with a man unless he defeats her in fair combat. On her revenge journey, she is joined by a few peculiar companions: the honorable Lord Kalidor, and a spoiled orphaned prince guarded by his loyal servant, whose kingdom was destroyed by the Queen.
While Red Sonja was not favorably received by critics, it generated a devoted cult following, defending its entertaining combination of a sculptural red-haired lead, bearded wizards, cruel warlords, martyred priestesses, a mystical talisman, Arnie’s muscles, an unhinged villain, lush landscapes, and of course, Morricone’s stimulating score.
Fun fact: It was Bergman who was first offered the lead role, but she insisted on playing Gedren.
3 Excalibur (1981)
“Serpent's breath,
The charm of death and life,
Thy omen of making.”
- Merlin invoking the Dragon
Arthurian lore has inspired countless novels, plays, films, and TV series, including the stylish, somber, and very graphic Excalibur, which is co-written, produced, and directed by John Boorman, and scored by Trevor Jones. It stars Nigel Terry as King Arthur, Dame Helen Mirren as Morgana Le Fay, Nicholas Clay as Sir Lancelot, Cherie Lunghi as Guinevere, Paul Geoffrey as Perceval, Liam Neeson as Gawain, Sir Patrick Stewart as Leodegrance, and Nicol Williamson as the Enchanter Merlin.
Described by some critics as a “lush” and “wondrous vision,” and by Variety as “exquisite, a near-perfect blend of action, romance, fantasy and philosophy,” the movie was also called “a mess,” and “near-atrocious” by others.
2 The Dark Crystal (1982)
"When single shines the triple sun,
What was sundered and undone
Shall be whole, the two made one
By Gelfling hand, or else by none."
Netflix's subscribers are no doubt familiar with its 2019 series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, which blends puppetry with animation. However, years before that, there was a stand-alone movie simply called The Dark Crystal, directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. It featured the voices of Stephen Garlick, Lisa Maxwell, Billie Whitelaw, Percy Edwards, and Barry Dennen.
A millennium ago on the planet Thra, the Crystal of Truth lost a shard, thus giving birth to two new races: the cruel and greedy Skeksis, and the peaceful Mystics. Jen, whose Gelfling clan was decimated by the former, is tasked by the latter with the mission of healing the Crystal. His journey will put Kira, another remaining Glefling, on his way.
Fun fact: The show’s episode titles (Nothing is Simple Anymore, Prophets Don’t Know Everything…) are all quotes from the original movie.
1 Conan the Barbarian (1982)
“Thief. Warrior. Gladiator. King.”
You might identify Arnold Schwarzenegger with the Terminator, and James Earl Jones with the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, but they both collaborated together on one of the nearest and dearest epic movies to fantasy aficionados: Conan the Barbarian, which was followed by the less popular Conan the Destroyer in 1984. Based on Robert E. Howard’s 1932 stories for Weird Tales magazine, the film was written by Oliver Stone and John Milius, and directed by the latter. It featured a mesmerizing score by Emmy-award winner Basil Poledouris (Red Dawn, RoboCop, Lassie).
The story follows Conan (Schwarzenegger), a freed Cimmerian slave who seeks to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of the sorcerer Thulsa Doom (Jones). He teams up with two thieves, the warrior Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) and the archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez). The three of them are then hired by the king they were trying to rob to recover his daughter, who was coincidentally kidnapped by Conan’s lifelong enemy, now a powerful cult leader.