Fantasy movies are among the most delightful in the endlessly imaginative world of cinema. These are stories that make audiences watch their wildest dreams come true right in front of their eyes. They get to witness magic, mythological creatures, and grand tales that they might not even have dreamed up otherwise. They become special guests in worlds beyond the wildest corners of their imaginations.
It’s not uncommon for fantasy films to be visually striking, narratively engrossing, or technically commendable. What’s much rarer — but every bit as enjoyable — is a fantasy movie that has outstanding acting. From movies with a couple of iconic performances, likeLabyrinth, to ones with more stars at the top of their game than one can count, likeHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part2, these arefilms which prove that even a genre as story-focused as fantasy can find space to deliver powerful acting.
10’Labyrinth' (1986)
Directed by Jim Henson
Jim Henson, world-renowned puppeteer, became a household name as the creator ofThe Muppets. He also directed a handful of movies, though, and his last is probably still his most popular:Labyrinth, a dark fantasy adventure where a 16-year-old must navigate her way through a maze in order to rescue her baby brother after he’s taken by the Goblin King.
Thoughit received no Oscar nominations,Labyrinthis still remembered as one of the best and most iconic fantasy movies of the ’80s. Two of its best elements (perhaps its most memorable) come in the form of its two lead performances: The enchantingJennifer Connellyas Sarah and the hypnotizingDavid Bowieas the Goblin King. The puppet performances are also all amazing, which should come as no surprise with Henson at the helm. These are all some of the most iconic performances the genre had to offer in the ’80s, an era that certainly had no shortage of competition.
9’Being John Malkovich' (1999)
Directed by Spike Jonze
Charlie Kaufmanis by far one of the greatest screenwriters of all time, and his debut is one ofthe best screenwriting debuts ever:Being John Malkovich, a surrealist comedy directed bySpike Jonze, a director with whom Kaufman has chemistry that becomes pure dynamite on screen. The story follows Craig, a puppeteer who discovers a portal that leads directly into the head ofJohn Malkovich.
The movie’s narrative is as gleefully absurd as the premise makes it sound, and far more brilliant than anyone could ever imagine just from reading the synopsis. Butwhile the script and direction are arguably the film’s biggest strengths, its excellent performances deserve just as much recognition.John Cusackis fantastic in the lead role,Cameron Diazgives the strongest performance of her career, and John Malkovichplays his role with such enthusiasm and humility that it’s easy to say the movie simply wouldn’t work if it wereBeing [Literally Any Other Actor].
Being John Malkovich
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8’It’s a Wonderful Life' (1946)
Directed by Frank Capra
One ofthe best movies of the 1940s,Frank Capra’sIt’s a Wonderful Lifeis oh so much more than just a simple Christmas classic. It’s about an angel sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman from a small town, by showing him what life would have been like for his home and its inhabitants if he had never been born.
The movie is a surprisingly powerful study of masculine mental health at a time when Classical Hollywood movies barely ever explored such complex topics. Then again, Capra was never one to go with the flow.Neither was he one to neglect actors in his movies, soIt’s a Wonderful Lifehas a number of extraordinary performances.Donna Reedis beautifully nuanced,Lionel Barrymoregives one of the best villain performances of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and — of course —Jimmy Stewartdoes the best work of his career, delivering a portrayal that’s as poignant and layered as it is beautiful and life-affirming.
It’s a Wonderful Life
7’The Seventh Seal' (1957)
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Swedish filmmakerIngmar Bergmanis easily his country’s best and most popular director ever. He achieved this status by making some of the greatest arthouse movies of his time — perhaps most prominently,The Seventh Seal. It’s about a knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades. There, he seeks answers about life, death, and God’s existence while he plays chess with Death.
Bengt Ekerot […] gives one of the most memorable portrayals of Death ever seen on film.
Throughout his whole career,Bergman loved working with the same people, building a family of actors and crewthat accompanied him throughout his illustrious filmography. Many of these legends of Swedish cinema, likeMax von Sydow(the lead character),Gunnar Björnstrand, andBibi Anderssonoffer inThe Seventh Sealsome of the most profound and philosophical work of their careers. The standout might just beBengt Ekerot, though, who gives one of the most memorable portrayals of Death ever seen on film.
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6’Mary Poppins' (1964)
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Impressively, though perhaps not surprisingly,Julie Andrews’s first-ever performance on film also represented her first Oscar nomination and win. It was in Disney’sMary Poppins, a film that needs no introduction for those who grew up watching the House of Mouse’s classics. It’s a musical about a magic nanny using music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.
The music is delightful, the mixture of live-action and animation issome of the best ever, and the touching story is one of the most moving in Disney’s filmography. Another one of the movie’s most crucial pillars is the performances, which have aged like fine wine. From Andrews’s magical, elegant performance; toDick Van Dyke’s effortlessly energetic and lively performance; to the two phenomenal child actors,Karen DotriceandMatthew Garber;Mary Poppinsmay be beautiful to look at and beautiful to listen to, but its performers deserve just as much credit.
Mary Poppins
5’Enchanted' (2007)
Directed by Kevin Lima
Very soon after her breakout role in 2005’sJunebug,Amy Adamsonce again took the world by storm withEnchanted, one ofher most rewatchable films. It’s about a young princess from the animated land of Andalasia, who’s prepared to get married to a prince. However, the Evil Queen banishes her into the scary realm of New York City, where she starts falling in love with a lawyer.
Very creative and full of heart,Enchantedis a beautiful celebration (and also a fun reinvention) of Disney’s traditional fairy tale movies. This reinvention comes hand-in-hand with a number ofextraordinary performances which capture the film’s comedic and dramatic spirit remarkably well. FromSusan Sarandon’s deliciously evil Queen, to the dichotomy betweenJames Marsden’s caricaturistic prince andPatrick Dempsey’s notably normal lawyer, to Adams’s star-making performance as the endearing Giselle,Enchantedproves that Disney princess movies can have exceptional acting, too.
4’Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2' (2011)
Directed by David Yates
One of those fewsummer blockbusters that are perfect through and through,Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2was the long-awaited conclusion to the magical movie series,which had been enrapturing audiences for a whopping ten years up to that point. It follows the Golden Trio searching for Voldemort’s last remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord, as the final battle for the future of the wizarding world rages on at Hogwarts.
Throughout the franchise’s whole tenure, it was well-renowned for having some of the most spot-on casting the world of blockbusters had ever seen. This was particularly noticeable inDeathly Hallows — Part 2. Being that it was the momentous ending of this beloved series, everyone clearly committed themselves to delivering the best work they possibly could, and it worked wonderfully. Standouts likeAlan Rickman(Snape),Daniel Radcliffe(Harry), andRalph Fiennes(Voldemort) had never been more convincing or compelling in their roles before.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
3’The Princess Bride' (1987)
Directed by Rob Reiner
One ofthe most rewatchable fantasy movies out there,The Princess Brideis pure fairy tale magic with a cleverly meta spin. Directed byRob Reinerand written by the sameWilliam Goldmanwho penned the novel the film is based on, it’s a subgenre-hopping adventure classic like no other. Framed as a grandfather reading his bedridden grandson a story, it’s about a pirate who encounters numerous obstacles in his quest to be reunited with his one true love.
There’s something inThe Princess Bridefor everyone. Smart jokes? Check. Swooning romance? Check. Fun swashbuckling action? Check. And, of course,exceptional performances that have gone down in history as some of the genre’s most iconic? Check. Standouts include leadsCary ElwesandRobin Wright, as well as secondary actors likeMandy PatinkinandWallace Shawn. Every cast member nails the comedic moments by being irresistibly hilarious, as well as nailing more serious scenes with powerful dramatic layers.
The Princess Bride
2’Pan’s Labyrinth' (2006)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
The fantasy genre has hadmany great and iconic directorsover the years. Today, one of the best is the Mexican auteurGuillermo del Toro, master of modern dark fantasy. His best work is the Spanish-Mexican co-productionPan’s Labyrinth, an unusual coming-of-age tale set in the Falangist Spain of 1944. It’s about the young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer, who escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.
Pan’s Labyrinthis so bleak and Gothic that it almost blurs the line between dark fantasy and horror, and it does so in all the best and most enjoyable ways.This effective game of creepiness extends to the performances, which are some of the best in del Toro’s filmography. From the innocence ofIvana Baqueroin the lead role, to the horrifying perversion of the villain played bySergi López, toDoug Jones’s tremendously enveloping performances as the Pale Man and the Fauno,Pan’s Labyrinthis a spectacle for those who enjoy great acting in fantasy movies.
Pan’s Labyrinth
1The ‘Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy
Directed by Peter Jackson
A myriad of superlatives could be applied toPeter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy, an incredible adaptation ofJ.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary story about a crew journeying to destroy an evil tyrant’s greatest weapon. It’s perhaps the greatest fantasy movie trilogy of all time, comprised of three of the best fantasy films ever made. It also has some of the best visuals, best music, and best action the genre has seen — as well as some of the best acting.
The star-studded cast of all three films is nothing short of impressive. FromIan McKellen(Gandalf) toViggo Mortensen(Aragorn) toSean Astin(Sam) toAndy Serkis(Gollum),some of the best performances in the history of fantasy cinema can be found in this exceptional trilogy. These arefantasy movies that are pretty much perfect, and the actors at their forefront are a huge reason why.
