If you enjoyed the Warcraft movie like I did, despite what the critics say, here is a list of movies in no particular order, which might satisfy your fantasy craving. Hopefully, we’ll see a sequel someday, even if Duncan Jones isn’t going to be a part of it, but for now check these out.
17. Clash of the Titans
A remake of the 1981 classic starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes, Clash of the Titans is your typical popcorn flick. Based loosely on the myth of Perseus, we follow Perseus (Sam Worthington) as he discovers the truth of his demigod heritage and how he saves the Greek city Argos from the Kraken.
Throughout the film, Perseus deals with the famous gorgon Medusa, gods from the Grecian pantheon, and other mythical creatures that pervade old myths and overall is a fun CGI filled romp through the ancient world.
16. Conan the Barbarian (2011)
After spending seven years in pre-production, Conan the Barbarian emerged, starring Jason Momoa (to be separated from the Arnold Schwarzenegger films). Conan is the sole survivor, after his village is attacked by a warlord, seeking a relic to bring back his dead wife. Seventeen years later, we find Conan a pirate, but still thirsting for revenge against the warlord who destroyed his family and life. A fateful meeting leads him back on a road of redemption and vengeance.
15. Solomon Kane
A mercenary attempts to leave his violent ways behind him, after learning he is destined for damnation, but ends up embracing his violent ways when a girl is kidnapped and her family is slain by an evil sorcerer. Solomon Kane is forced to use his skills to save the girl and maybe even find his redemption.
Starring James Purefoy, this is a film in the same vein and temperament of Van Helsing, but with a little more sword and sorcery flair.
14. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
Going to put out a small disclaimer and say, I’m a big fan of this movie, even if it's more of a popcorn flick and Disney’s single attempt(possibly only) at making a video game film.
Based on the classic game, Prince of Persia, Jake Gyllenhaal is the rogue prince Caspian who attempts to safeguard a mythical dagger that can release the Sands of Time, which would give the wielder power to reverse time and the ability to dominate the world. Ben Kingsley also stars as Nizam the antagonist who is after the dagger and dogs Caspian at every step.
13. Beowulf
An animated retelling of the saga of Beowulf and the monster Grendel. The warrior, Beowulf is brought to Denmark to contend with Grendel, who has been terrorizing the King’s halls.
He later clashes with the mother of Grendel and makes a deal with the devil. The film expands over decades as Beowulf becomes not only the King’s champion, but the King himself and he will have to reap what he has sown. Starring the voices of Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, and Ray Winstone as Beowulf, this is a fun rehash of an old tale.
12. Game of Thrones
Switching gears for a moment, I want to bring up Game of Thrones, because if you haven’t seen the show, which is now filming its last season, then you simply must get on board!
Set in the fictional world of Westeros and centered around the noble family of Starks, Wardens of the North, we follow Ned and Catelyn Stark and their six children as they become embroiled in rival house conflicts and political intrigue as the dead walk in the north. Based on George R. R. Martin’s series, this show is not one that any fantasy fan can miss.
11. Shannara Chronicles
Another show based on the famous Terry Brooks’ series, The Sword of Shannara series. Set in a high fantasy universe, that is a reflection of our own world, this show follows roughly the same beats as the second book in the series titled, The Elfstones of Shannara.
Filled with drama and action, there is little that isn’t wanting here, other than maybe higher production value. We follow Wil, Amberle, and Eretria as they go on a quest to protect the legendary tree the Ellcrys, which keeps demons locked away in the Foreboding.
10. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Directed by Guy Ritchie, this is a retelling of the famous King Arthur legend, but one with a very “Guy Ritchie” flair. Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) is robbed of his birthright as a baby and is raised in the back alley streets of the city, but when he draws the sword from the stone he is forced to see himself for who he is and come to terms with his legacy.
If he does not, then the kingdom will fall to Vortigern’s(Jude Law) might. An overall fun new spin on an otherwise well-traveled tale. Ritchie’s edgy gritty style takes well, though in some unexpected ways.
His decisions in some cases do not feel bold enough, but they are just enough to distinguish this film from the others before it.
9. Season of the Witch
Set in the 14th century, a crusader (Nicholas Cage) transports a witch to a monastery. Little does he realize that this witch is the source of the Black Plague that is afflicting Europe.
A motley crew of monks, knights, and a youth come together to battle the supernatural force that comes to contend with them after they attempt to perform a ritual in order to end the Plague altogether. This is an older movie, but one that has a dark fantasy bent that some may enjoy.
8. The 13th Warrior
Arab Ahmad Ibn Fadlan (Antonio Banderas) is a man who falls in love with the wrong woman and is sent to a faraway land as an ambassador. After staying in a Viking port for a night, he becomes embroiled in a conflict between the Vikings and the unknown.
He will have to go on a quest to banish this new threat and it will require all of his ability and will to live. This is a film from 1999, but it is overall a classic that has all the classic elements of fantasy. The mystery of the Wendol is something that is sure to suck viewers in.
7. Troy (2004)
Troy is another retelling of the famous mythic poem by Homer, The Iliad and tells of the tragic story of Paris, Helen, Achilles, and Hector. With an all star cast, this movie is great. Orlando Bloom plays a great Paris, but the real star here is Brad Pitt as Achilles. It has all the classic drama of the war set in 1200 BC during the Bronze Age.
This on the long side, but for an adaptation of the ancient poem there is a little something for everyone and of course it captures all the action and brutality of this conflict.
6. 300
Possibly the best movie from Zack Snyder, 300 is based on the 1998 comic by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley and retells of the story of the Battle of Thermopylae, which took place during the Persian-Greco wars.
Based entirely on fiction, but shot in an overall highly stylistic way, this movie was a blockbuster when it came out, despite its R rating for brutal violence. We follow King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) as he leads a group of 300 spartans against the overwhelming horde of Persians, led by the brutal tyrant Xerxes.
5. Your Highness
Switching gears again to talk about the only real fantasy comedy on this list, we have the movie Your Highness. Starring Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel, and Justin Theroux, this really is a stoner comedy at its core, and we follow two sons of the King of Mourne, Thadeous (McBride) and Fabious (Franco).
Thadeous has always been the younger brother and nothing has been expected of him. He has always been passed over and contentedly boozed, smoked, and taken “easy” maidens. When his brother’s bride-to-be is kidnapped his father forces Thadeous’ hand and gives him an ultimatum to either join his brother Fabious on his quest to save his bride or be cut off.
It’s honestly a hidden gem of a movie, if you are into stoner comedies like this, but overall it's a fun afternoon movie.
4. Hercules (2014)
Taking a new spin on the myth of Hercules, this movie takes place after his twelve labors and follows Hercules (Dwayne Johnson) as he deals with the sins of his past, which haunt him. He is serving as a mercenary when he is hired by the King of Thrace and his daughter to aid them in dealing with a tyrannical warlord.
He is then tasked with training an army to become as ruthless as Hercules and his fellow mercenaries are, while dealing with the ghosts of his dead family. A strangely intimate, but action-packed movie at its core, Hercules is fun if nothing else than watching the Rock swing a sword.
3. King Arthur (2004)
I’ll be honest and say this is one of my favorite movies of all time. This is a truly realistic, though still fictionalized retelling of the legend of King Arthur. Set in ancient Britain, the movie is about the fading glory of the Roman Empire, and how a captain set to guard the frontier of the Empire rises to the occasion to repel an invasion of Saxons.
Still incorporating a lot of the elements of the myth, but recasting them in a realistic and believable way. It is honestly my “headcanon” that this is how the legend of King Arthur was made. Starring Clive Owen, Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Joel Edgerton, Ray Winstone, and Keira Knightley.
2. The Hobbit Trilogy
This trilogy received a lot of flak, but it still carries some amount of nostalgia and appreciation, since Peter Jackson is a legend after directing the Lord of the Rings movies.
The Hobbit is the prequel to J. R. R. Tolkien’s master work, The Lord of the Rings. We follow Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he gets swept up in the quest of a company of dwarves who seek to reclaim their mountain stronghold from the dragon Smaug.
Ian McKellen reprises his role as Gandalf the Grey and Orlando Bloom returns as Legolas the Elven Prince of Mirkwood.
1. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
This is the go to trilogy for any fantasy fan and one of my all-time favorite trilogy of movies (beaten only by Star Wars). We follow Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as he leads a fellowship that eventually fragments, in order to take the One Ring and destroy it in the fire of Mount Doom, in order to destroy the evil of Sauron once and for all.
There are a lot of moving parts to this film with three separate narratives between Frodo, Samwise (Sean Astin), Aragorn, the heir to Gondor (Viggo Mortensen), Gimli the dwarf (John Rhys-Davies), Legolas the Woodland elf, and Gandalf the Grey wizard (Ian Mckellen).
The movies follow the beats of the stories quite well, as they are assailed by the Black riders, servants of Sauron, Saruman (Christopher Lee, may he rest in peace), and the Witch King. The best way and in my opinion only way to watch these movies is getting the expanded versions and spending the day watching all of them in a row.
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