The2000swere a great time for thefantasy genre.The Lord of the Ringstrilogy showed the epic potential of fantasy as one of the best book adaptations of all time, and theHarry Potterfranchise helped bring the genre to younger viewers.Coraline, Pan’s Labyrinth, Pirates of the Caribbean,and so many others made the decade one of the absolute best for the genre.
It was a time of growth and experimentation, allowing directors to explore new worlds with fervor, utilizing new special effects technologies to bring them to life. For the first time, viewers could truly step into these worlds and experience the wonders and horrors of the magical lands within.
Of course, with so many smash-hit fantasy films that were released in the first decade of the 21st century, there were plenty that flew far beneath the radar. For every success in the genre at the time, there were several that failed to find their audience despite captivating storytelling and some truly star-studded casts.
With that in mind, this list plumbs the depths of the genre from 2000-2009, exploring 20 of the best underrated fantasy films of the decade. While some may lack the quality or the budget of their more successful counterparts, these films all shine a new light on the genre, building exciting new worlds for viewers to explore.
20In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007)
Jason Statham stars as Farmer in the Uwe Boll-directed flopIn the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale,a critically panned adaptation of the underratedDungeon Siegeseries of video games. Farmer and his family live in the town of Stonebridge in the Kingdom of Ehb, but tragedy strikes when a group of Krug attack the village.
Controlled by a powerful magus named Gallian, these Krug slaughter many of the villagers, including Farmer’s son, and capture many others. Teaming with his friends Norrick and Bastien, Farmer tracks them down to rescue his wife, unaware that they will play key roles in the coming war.
In the Name of the Kingis Far from the Best Film on This List
Compared to many of the fantasy epics to which we are now accustomed,In the Name of the Kingfalls quite short of the mark. It certainly didn’t do any favors for public perception of video game adaptations, suffering from its low budget and hollow performances. For those looking for pure dumb fun, then this is the movie for you.
Jason Statham gets to be Jason Statham, albeit with a sword in hand instead of a gun, and the action sequences are well-choreographed and surprisingly epic. This certainly doesn’t make up for the storytelling, but for those willing to put up with a little cheese, this is a fun jaunt through an underrated fantasy video game world.
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
19Stardust (2007)
Before Charlie Cox took on the role of the blind superhero Daredevil, he played Tristan Thorne in this adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel,Stardust.Tristan lives in Wall, a city bordering the land of magic known as Stormhold. When a star falls into those magical lands, Tristan decides to track it down to gift to his beloved, but when he manages to track it down, he discovers that the star is a woman named Yvaine.
Undetered, Tristan attempts to travel back to Wall with Yvaine, but with witches and the princes of Stormhold looking to acquire her for themselves, Tristan will have to come to terms with his connection to Stormhold in order to survive.
StardustHas Become a Cult Classic
Neil Gaiman is the master of the modern fairy tale,andStardustis representative of some of his best work. The story is manic and magical, with Tristan’s journey through Stormhold constantly surprising and delighting fans with its quirky world-building. Despite this, however, critics tore the film apart during its initial release, many criticizing the pacing and bizarre storytelling.
However, the film has found new life in the modern day, drawing a massive cult following of devoted fans, largely due to its perceived “flaws.” The film is fun and fast-paced, a modern fairy tale with charm and character that continues to charm viewers with its magical love story.Stream on Prime Video.
18Reign of Fire (2002)
Mad MaxmeetsThe Lord of the Ringsin the explosive 2002 fantasy filmReign of Fire.Set in the year 2020 (even 18 years earlier, people knew that it was going to be a bad year for humanity), Quinn Abercromby (Christian Bale) and Dent Van Zan (Matthew McConaughey) each lead a group of survivors during the draconic apocalypse.
20 years earlier, workers in the London Underground accidentally reawakened the dragons, replacing humanity as the alpha predator. Now, the rival groups are forced to band together to invade dragon-infested London, find the last remaining male wyvern, and end the war once and for all.
Reign of FireBrings Explosive Excitement to the Screen
Reign of Fireisn’t a deep film, but that’s alright. We don’t always need a stunning examination of the human condition. Sometimes, we need swords and bullets and fire and scaly giants tearing the world apart. In terms of its storytelling, the movie thrives in its B-status, focusing more on delivering an action-packed good time rather than theme and narrative.
The story is passable, getting butts in seats, but it is the action-packed set pieces that keep people watching. Its cast also does a great job selling the grimy, gritty fun of the film, with Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey, andGerard Butlerleaning into their way-too-intense roles in the best possible way.Rent on AppleTV.
Reign of Fire
17Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Withinwas released in 2001 by the now-defunct Square Pictures, incorporating cutting-edge CGI to create a hyperrealistic animated movie. The story follows the last remnants of humanity as they attempt to survive an infestation of alien Phantoms.
These creatures have the ability to rip out a person’s Gaia spirit on contact, forcing humanity to flee to domed cities. Drs. Aki Ross and Sid have discovered that by collecting eight Gaia spirits with opposing wavelengths, they can finally end the Phantom plague, but collecting these spirits is easier said than done, forcing Ross to turn to the Deep Eyes security unit for protection.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits WithinStruggled at the Box Office, but Still Deserves Your Attention
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Withindeserved a lot better than it got. The film bombed at the box office, with its immense production value crippling Square Pictures and its hyperrealistic animation dipping into the uncanny valley more often than not. Still, the film is absolutely stunning, especially considering its release date, and the action-packed story creates a thrilling science-fantasy world unlike any other.
With such a star-studded voice cast including the voices of Ming-Na Wen, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin, and Donald Sutherland, you’d think the film would have drawn in a bigger audience, but it has sadly fallen to the wayside.Stream on Hulu.
16The Fall (2006)
InThe Fall,Lee Pace stars as Roy Walker, a Hollywood stuntman who was hospitalized after a stunt gone wrong. While recovering, he meets a young patient named Alexandria. Looking to end his life, Roy befriends and deceives the girl, telling her stories in exchange for her assistance in gathering morphine.
He tells her the story of the Black Bandit and his band of heroes who seek revenge against the vile Governor Odious. As the story unravels, Alexandria’s imagination transforms it into a reality, giving viewers a perspective into a wild, vivid world as Roy grapples with his inner demons.
The Fallis a Magical Examination of Storytelling
The Fallis a truly bizarre tale, but therein lies its beauty. It is far from straightforward, intertwining the two realities of the hospital and Roy’s story together in a thrilling ode to the wonders of storytelling. It is an intimate, deep, weird film, meaning that it won’t appeal to every viewer. With that said, you owe it to yourself to give this film a try.
There is nothing else like it in cinema, and its thematic depth cannot be understated. It isn’t fantasy in the strictest sense; much likeBig FishandThe Princess Bride,all the magic is contained within an in-universe fictional world, but despite that, it is still one of the most magical films on this list, deserving a larger audience.
15The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,directed by Terry Gilliam, follows a traveling theater troupe with the most incredible gimmick. Using a magical mirror, Doctor Parnassus transports his guests to the Imaginarium, a dream-like world that presents its visitors a difficult choice between self-fulfillment and ignorance.
Parnassus has used the Imaginarium for centuries after having made a deal with the devilish Mr. Nick, but Nick has come to collect. Now, Parnassus has to use the Imaginarium to save five souls in order to save the soul of his teenage daughter Valentine, and the troupe’s new barker, Tony, may just be able to help him accomplish this.
The Imaginarium of Doctor ParnassusIs a Beautiful Ride Through the Land of Dreams
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassushad a rocky production. It gets lost in the pop culture shuffle as Heath Ledger’s final performance, and the film can sometimes feel hollow as a result. Nevertheless, the film is a stunningly imaginative ride.
It sometimes loses itself in the vast scope of the worlds it is trying to traverse, but the beauty of this film cannot be understated as viewers are transported between the various fantastical realms within. It may not be for every viewer, especially given its twisting and weird narrative, but for those looking for a truly unique and creative film, TheImaginarium of Doctor Parnassusis perfect.Rent on AppleTV.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
14The Fountain (2006)
Taking place across three timelines,The Fountainis a twisting narrative following the lives of one man and his search for immortality. In the first timeline, Conquistador Tomas Creo leads a band of knights into Mayan territory, battling the natives in their search for the mystical Tree of Life.
In the second, Dr. Tommy Creo is a crew member of a spaceship hurtling through the galaxy, tending to a tree beside his annoying partner, Izzi. In the third, Dr. Tom Creo becomes obsessed with finding the cure for death itself when he loses his wife to brain cancer. The three tales orbit around each other in a film about love, loss, and eternal life.
The FountainCan be too Smart for its Own Good
The Fountainisone of Darren Aronofsky’s most ambitious films, combining breathtaking visuals with vivid thematic and metaphysical discourse. Sadly, it is this ambition that drives some viewers away. This is a heady film, one rife with symbolism and philosophy, so while it has some exciting set pieces, the movie sometimes loses itself in the intellectual noise.
With that said, for those looking to dive into a fantasy film that will make you think, there is none better thanThe Fountain.With incredible performances by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, this is a fantasy flick that every viewer needs to try at least once.Rent on AppleTV.
The Fountain
13The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Directed by Terry Gilliam,The Brothers Grimmputs a unique spin on the classic collection of German fairy tales. Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm are con-artists. Together, they travel across 19th century Germany and use their knowledge of local folklore to convince villagers that there are monsters in their midst.
They then “slay” the monsters for a hefty price, before moving onto the next village and starting over again. It all goes smoothly for the brothers until the king catches wind of their “talents” and sends them to investigate a series of child disappearances. Can the con-artists truly hope to overcome a real monster in their midst?
The Brothers GrimmEntertains from Start to Finish
There’s nothing necessarily groundbreaking aboutThe Brothers Grimm.It is a straightforward action-comedy set in a fantasy/horror world, a laSupernatural.However, there is a boat load of charm in this film. Matt Damon and Heath Ledger are largely responsible for making it work, as their chemistry as the titular brothers is impeccable and can be laugh-out-loud funny.
There are some creative portrayals of magic throughout. More than anything else, though,The Brothers Grimmis simply entertaining. The film isn’t deep, just an exciting exploration of a new fantasy world inspired by the classic fairy tales, with some successful action and lighthearted dialogue.Stream on Showtime.
The Brothers Grimm
12Arthur and the Invisibles (2006)
Originally released in France asArthur and the Minimoys,Arthur and the Invisiblesblended live-action and animated filmmaking to tell the story of Arthur Montgomery. Enchanted by his grandfather’s adventures in Africa, especially the tales of the giant Bogo Matassalai and the miniature Minimoys who now live in his garden, Arthur ventures into the backyard in hopes of finding the Minimoys' prized rubies.
An encounter with the Bogo Matassalai, however, sees Arthur transformed into a Minimoy, and after drawing a sacred sword from a stone, Arthur has to help his new friends defend their home from the traitorous Maltazard.
Arthur and the InvisiblesHas its Flaws, but Should Excite Younger Viewers
While it suffered from serious critical panning,Arthur and the Invisiblesis a fun kids' adventure movie. Many of its issues stem from the poorly received changes to the UK and American versions of the film.
The original French cut has received several sequels and is still a pop culture icon, meaning that the “Weinstein cut” should have had the potential to capture the hearts and minds of young audiences further west. While it suffers from some choppy animation and an underdeveloped story, the film is a thrill-a-minute for kids looking to dip their toes into fantasy, and it acts as a fun introduction to the King Arthur Mythos and other fantasy tropes.Stream on Peacock.
Arthur and the Invisibles
11MirrorMask (2005)
Dave McKean, noted cover artist for Neil Gaiman’sThe Sandmancomics, took a step into cinematic design and direction with 2005’sMirrormask.Helena Campbell is the daughter of circus owners Joanne and Morris, but she dreams of a normal life. After a heated argument with her daughter, Joanne collapses and is hospitalized, needing an operation to survive.
The night before the operation, Helena dreams of a mysterious White City, drawn deeper into it by a street performer named Valentine. Learning that the City will die without the return of the charmed Mirrormask, Helena ventures into the Land of Shadows in order to retrieve it.
Mirrormaskis a Trippy, Dazzling Cinematic Experience
There isn’t another film likeMirrormask.McKean is known for his twisted, hallucinogenic art style, and that is on full display in every single frame of this film. Every detail of the White City is surreal and bizarre, leading to one of the most visually unique films of all time.
The story, written in collaboration with Neil Gaiman, showcases the writers' penchant for modern fairy tales, mixing in elements of horror and dark fantasy to make something wholly distinct. Critics do note the film’s lack of focus on narrative and character, but they all agree that the film has some of the most dazzling and astonishing world designs in modern film.Stream on Kanopy.
