Fantasy Films through the ages

Voyage Dans La Lune

Oct 4, 1902

This was one of the first ever fantasy films. It had a science fiction combined with visions of the future. Thid particular film was about a trip to the moon.

King Kong

Apr 7, 1933

This was a prehistoric fantasy rather than a vision of the future and focused etremely intelligent animals.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Mar 12, 1938

This was Disney's first full film and focused on creating magical characters in a fairytale setting.

The Wizard of Oz

Nov 4, 1939

This was, and still is, one of the gratest fantasy children films with completely made up characters and magic.

Cinderella

Jul 26, 1950

During this period some of the most famous children movies were made, focusing on the fantasy/romance/adventure genre.

The 3 Worlds of Gulliver

Dec 9, 1960

This fantasy revolves around traveling between different worlds rather than showing ideas of the future.

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm

Jul 22, 1962

This was a feature fairytale including characters such as a princess, a dragon and a group of elves.

Jason and the Argonauts

Aug 15, 1963

This fantasy film focuses on mythology rather than imagination.

Robin Hood

Mar 31, 1974

Animated version of the story of Robin Hood

Sinbad series

Period: Apr 12, 1974 to Jul 15, 1977

This fantasy explores the more fantastic creatures.

Star Wars

Dec 27, 1977

This is one of the first fantasy/sci-fi genre films and was a huge success later inspiring a TV series.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Dec 9, 1982

This fantasy film revolves around alien friendships with children.

Dark crystal

Dec 17, 1982

This story takes place in a different world and is aimed priamrily at children.

Legend

Dec 13, 1985

This focuses on a man entering an other, magical world in order to retrieve the ring of the princess so that he can marry her.

Labyrinth

Nov 28, 1986

This is the story of how a misplaced wish can come true in a way we are not expecting. It is a film for the whole family to enjoy whilst they enter this fantasy world.

The Princess Bride

Sep 25, 1987

This is one of the classic fairytales with swordfighting, a princess and an evil prince fighting for their love. All read to a child by his grandfather.

Edward Scissorhands

Jul 26, 1990

This is a romantic fantasy film which borders on being dark fantasy. Films by this point have started to explore the forbidden romance between two characters which wil not be able to be together.

Pocahontas

Oct 6, 1995

Disney movie about the love between the daughter of a Native American tribe chief and a British explorer.

Harry Potter series

Period: Nov 16, 2001 to Jul 15, 2011

The Harry Potter world is one of the most popular fantasy series. It managed to attract an audience varying from young children to adults with its world of magic, mayhem and adventure.

The Lord of the Rings series

Period: Dec 19, 2001 to Jul 18, 2014

This series came out at the same time as the 'Harry Potter' series and competed with it for popularity, however, even though they are similar, this particular series was aimed at an older target audience and most of the films are not suitable for children.

The Chronicles of Narnia series

Period: Dec 8, 2005 to Dec 9, 2010

This is a story of children travelling through a wardrobe to reach a magical world called Narnia. This series was mainly aimed at children and didn't attract a wide variety of adult fans like the 'Harry Potter' series did

Pan’s labyrinth

Nov 24, 2006

This is a spanish movie and is a dark fantasy film about the war.

Twilight

Dec 19, 2008

This was one of the first films that started off the popularity of dark fantasy/romance movies in which it is acceptable to like vampires, warewolves and the likes.

Twilight saga

Period: Dec 19, 2008 to Nov 16, 2012

This one of the more popular dark fantasy sagas which was aimed mainly at teenagers.

Red Riding Hood

Apr 15, 2011

This film also has aspects of dark fantasy in it and like many of the popular modern films is a remake of the children's fairytales but aimed at teenagers.