Summary
Movies are a powerful medium of entertainment that breathes life into stories and characters that leave impressions for years to come. Possessing a wide range of genres, movies can explore all types of stories, from comedy to documentaries and everything in between. Movies can explore small towns plagued by a mysterious mist or dip into fantasy and bring a massive world of witchcraft and wizardry to life.
Fantasy is an untapped genre in film due to its extreme difficulty to accomplish successfully. While there have been many attempts to capture true magic on screen, they often fall short. Fantasy movies that do well leave a sparkle in the eyes of viewers and nurture the imagination of the next generation. There have been dozens of fantasy films over the years, with a small treasure trove of releases from 1990 to 1999. Here are some of the best fantasy movies from the 1990s, ranked by their current IMDb scores.
8The Witches
An Instant Classic That Still Holds Up Today
The Witchesstars Jason Fisher as thirteen-year-old Luke, who is on vacation with his grandfather and staying at a hotel. He encounters a mysterious woman, and as his curiosity gets the better of him, he discovers a sinister plot has snared him and other children in a trap.
A convention that is being housed in the same hotel isa gathering of witcheswho are plotting to transform children into rats. The mysterious woman is actually a grand high witch, played by Angelica Huston, who discovers Luke, who now must go on the run and put a stop to the witches' devious plan before it’s too late.
7Dragonheart
A Mystic Story That Explores A Different Take On Knights And Dragons
Dragonheartis a special story that subverts expectations of the normal relationship between a sword-wielding knight and a fire-breathing dragon. Dennis Quade plays Bowen, a shifty sellsword working together with a dragon named Draco who go from town to town swindling villagers for gold.
The history between the two is long, as Draco helped save the life of a young boy by sacrificing his heart for Bowen. Old demons come to roost as Draco comes under attack by a maniacal prince who seeks to exterminate the species. Bowen and Draco become at odds with the very same boy they once saved, now a man who has grown ruthless and cold.
6James And The Giant Peach
A Fantasical Coming Of Age Story
Based on the phenomenal novel by Roal Dahl of the same name,James and the Giant Peachis a beautiful story that follows a sweet, young boy whose life has taken a dire turn. After his parents are killed by a flying rhinosaurus, he is placed with his cruel and abusive aunts. Suffering daily, James gets a lucky chance when a mysterious man gives him a bag full of magical insets.
This begins a magical journey for James, who desires to travel to New York and find a better life. Joining him are a spider, a centipede, a ladybug, and a worm, who become his new family as they sail across the sea on a giant peach.
5Jumanji
A Wild Ride Of Destruction And Chaos
Kristen Duntz and Bradley Pierce play Judy and Peter Sheperd, who become trapped in a game of life and death when they roll the dice of a mystical board game. Awakening a primal force, Judy and Peter release Sam Perish, a now grown man who disappeared in the same house for nearly thirty years.
Together, they must brave marvelous horrors and finish the games before the monsters that come out of it have them for lunch.Robin Williams delivers an iconic performanceas Allan Parrish, granting the film its magical aura as one of the best films of all time.
4The Mummy
A Magnificent Story That Captures Lightning In A Bottle
In one of Brenden Fraiser’s greatest roles, disgraced soldier Rick O’Connnel comes under contract to aid librarian Evelyn Canahan and her brother, who seek to travel to Egypt and find the temple of the dead.
Here, all parties involved awaken an ancient evil that begins to terrorize the continent and soon the world if they don’t put a stop to its horrors.The Mummyhas everything a good fantasy movie needs: curses, undead hordes, magic, and heroes who save the day.
3Sleepy Hollow
A Star-Studded Adaptation Of The Headless Horseman
Johnny Depp stars in the dark fairy tale as Ichabob Crane, a police constable who comes to Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of horrific murders. As Crane arrives, he is warned by the locals that a supernatural menace is plaguing the small cove.
Skeptical, Crane can barely dismiss the rumors before another victim drops and the image of a headless horseman and its dark steed gallop away into the night. Ichabob must now protect the town from the hellrider and keep the future victims safe while trying not to lose his head in the process.
2Edward Scissor Hands
A Dark, Tragic Story Set In The Modern Day
Edward Scissorhandswas seen as the start ofJohnny Depp’s dive into the macabre and bizarre. Depp plays an eccentric young man named Edward who is found in a mysterious mansion by a local motherly woman named Peg, played by Dianne West.
Young Edward has a gruesome disability as his hands were replaced by a mechanical connection of scissors. Peg brings the young boy home to her Pleasantville-styled community, and he begins his new life, which is filled with ups and downs as he tries to adapt.Edward Scissorhandsis a cult classic that still stands as one of the most creative stories by Tim Burton.
1Princess Mononoke
A Timeless Masterpiece That Gets Better With Every Watch
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most prestigious animation directors of all time, having written, drawn, and directed most of his work.Princess Mononokeis one of the greatest films to come from Studio Ghibli, and Miyazaki’s magnificent imagination tells the story of a boy and girl caught in the middle of a war between man and beasts. Ashitka was a member of a secluded village who was attacked by a dying great boar.
After being previously wounded and cursed, Ashitaka is forced to leave his home for aid. His journey brings him to an iron-forging town. The town and its people are at odds with the spirits of the forest and a young human girl named San, who is angry at the village for poisoning the forest. Ashitaka becomes enthralled in the conflict, attempting to find a common ground for both sides but putting his life on the line to protect the forest that is dying due to the forge of the town.
