Sometimes reality is a bust. In times like those, you might want to fire up the Netflix account and look for something with “far-off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!” No, we’re not just quoting Beauty and the Beast for no reason, we’re talking about fantasy stories, and if you’re craving a movie that transports you to another world (or invents a little magic inside the world we live in), look no further! From family-friendly favorites to award-winning dramas, and everything in between, we’ve got you covered with the best fantasy movies you can watch on Netflix right now.
Looking for some more fantastical tales? Check out our list of best movies,fantasy shows, sci-fi shows, and sci-fi movies on the platform.
Editor’s note: This list was updated January 2023 to include The Addams Family.
Run Time: 2 hrs 15 min | Director: Fumihiko Sori
Cast: Ryôsuke Yamada, Tsubasa Honda, Dean Fujioka
A live-action feature adaptation of the hit anime series, Fullmetal Alchemist, which was adapted from the original manga of the same name, follows two brothers, Edward (Ryôsuke Yamada) and Al, who have the power to transmute matter: an art called alchemy. After a horrific accident during a failed attempt to resurrect their mother, Ed is left with one arm and one leg, while Al is left bodiless. Ed vows to recover his brother’s lost body, so they venture on a quest to find the mythological Philosopher’s Stone. Fullmetal Alchemist is an action-packed adventure feature full of heart and humor, leaning into its foundation of manga and anime and allowing audiences to enjoy the genuine message in the undoubtedly sometimes goofy story. – Yael Tygiel
The Addams Family (1991)
Run Time: 1 hr 39 min | Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, and Elizabeth Wilson
While filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld is best known as the director of Men in Black and the Netflix series A Series of Unfortunate Events, his signature style was on full display in his directorial debut: the 1991 adaptationThe Addams Family. While this movie may not be suitable for all kids, it’s got a spooky, creepy sensibility that will appeal strongly to certain folks without crossing the line into inappropriate territory. The production design is gorgeous, the performances are delightfully kooky, but above all the throughline of humor makes The Addams Family a supremely entertaining watch. – Adam Chitwood
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Run Time: 1 hr 57 min | Director: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
Cast: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann
Guillermo del Toro(Nightmare Alley) and Mark Gustafson (The PJs) team up to create the exquisitely crafted claymation film Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. Pinocchio is the story of an Italian woodcarver named Geppetto, voiced by David Bradley (Doctor Who), whose grief-filled wish magically breathes life into his wooden marionette Pinocchio (Gregory Mann). With the two brilliant directors working collectively to highlight the deliberately intricate art and whimsical music of this dark adaptation, Pinocchio is an enchanting rendition of the classic tale. Featuring an unbelievable cast, including Ron Perlman, John Turturro, and Cate Blanchett, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio truly stands undeniably apart. – Yael Tygiel
The School for Good and Evil (2022)
Run Time: 2 hrs 27 min | Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Sophia Anne Caruso, Sofia Wylie
Set in a fantastical land where young women are separated into opposing enchanted schools to learn the ways of Princesses and Witches, The School for Good and Evil is a whimsical movie from director Paul Feig (Ghostbusters), who co-wrote the story, based on Soman Chainani’s book, with David Magee. Alongside glorious performances from Charlize Theron (The Old Guard) and Kerry Washington(Little Fires Everywhere), The School for Good and Evil stars Sophia Anne Caruso and Sofia Wylie as prospective students Sophie and Agatha. Exploring the nature of humanity, the balance of positive and negative, and the strength of friendship through a playful adventure, The School for Good and Evil is an elegantly thoughtful movie for audiences of all ages. – Yael Tygiel
Dracula Untold (2014)
Run Time: 1 hr 32 min | Director: Gary Shore
Cast: Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Charles Dance
Dracula Untold is a creative origin story for one of the most iconic gothic figures in all of vampire lore. Set in 1462 Transylvania, Dracula Untold reveals how, when the son of Prince Vlad (Luke Evans) is drafted by the Turk Sultan (Dominic Cooper) to an unjust war, Vlad makes a deal with the Master Vampire (Charles Dance) to save his family and his kingdom, turning him into Dracula. Director Gary Shore allows Dracula Untold to be more than just a monster movie, weaving in a Faustian tale alongside an epic war drama and sword fighting, shrewdly increasing the gore and bloodshed expected in a vampire flick. – Yael Tygiel
Vampire Academy (2014)
Run Time: 1 hr 44 min | Director: Mark Waters
Cast: Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry, Danila Kozlovskiy, Dominic Sherwood
Before Julie Plec’s Peacock series, a film adaptation of The Vampire Academywas brought to the big screen by Mark Waters starring Zoey Deutch and Lucy Fry as the best friends from opposite sides of the proverbial track. Building on the richly complex mythology laid out in Richelle Mead’s novels, The Vampire Academy dives into the class systems and vampire traditions of Moroi, peaceful vampires who discreetly live within our world, protected by half-vampire guardians called Dhampir. The Vampire Academy places Deutch and Fry at the forefront as they train to take their places in society while battling for love, friendship, and against their bloodthirsty, immortal Vampire enemies: the Strigoi. – Yael Tygiel
The Age of Adaline (2015)
Run Time: 1 hr 52 min | Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Cast: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford
Blake Lively (A Simple Favor) stars in The Age of Adaline, a unique and intriguing story of the life and loves of an enigmatic woman who ceases to age after a car accident. As the titular Adaline, Lively seamlessly transitions through decades and styles, believably shouldering the weight of an old soul until ultimately falling in love with the unequivocally handsome Michiel Huisman (The Flight Attendant). Director Lee Toland Krieger (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) beautifully toys with light and color, framing his star-studded cast deliberately, using these elements to build a delightful romance brimming with fantastical mythology. – Yael Tygiel
Nightbooks (2021)
Run Time: 1 hr 43 min | Director: David Yarovesky
Cast: Winslow Fegley, Lidya Jewett, Krysten Ritter
Based on the horror-fantasy children’s book by J. A. White, Nightbooks is about a young, creative kid named Alex (Winslow Fegley) who loves to write scary stories. However, after his parents become concerned about his mental health, he promises to burn all of them and never write again. On his way to do this, he gets kidnapped by a witch named Natacha (Krysten Ritter), who forces him to continue writing stories or else be turned into a figurine. He, along with the help of his friend – another imprisoned child named Yazmin (Lidya Jewett) – must outsmart the witch and break free. Nightbooks effectively serves up scares for its young audience, and its compelling story makes it an entertaining watch for older viewers, too. – Taylor Gates
Afterlife of the Party (2021)
Run Time: 1 hr 49 min | Director: Stephen Herek
Cast: Victoria Justice, Midori Francis, Timothy Renouf, Adam Garcia, Gloria Garcia, Spencer Sutherland
Afterlife of the Party revolves around Cassie (Victoria Justice) and Lisa (Midori Francis), two women who have been best friends since first grade. Now, however, they are beginning to drift apart, as Cassie loves to party while Lisa is more of a homebody. After getting into a huge fight one night, Cassie dies and is tasked with serving as a guardian angel before being allowed to enter heaven. One of the people on that list? None other than Lisa. If you’re looking for a unique comedy with a surprising amount of heart, look no further – Afterlife of the Party is an entertaining tale of friendship and forgiveness. – Taylor Gates
Bleach (2018)
Run Time: 1 hr 48 min | Director: Shinsuke Sato
Cast: Sôta Fukushi, Hana Sugisaki
Bleach is ranked as one of the best supernatural manga turned live-action adaptation films. Ichigo Kurosaki, played by Sôta Fukushi, is just your average teenage boy with the gift of a sixth sense. He’s a Soul Reaper who not only sees ghosts but also sees Hollows, a race of creatures born from human souls that do not cross over after death, instead corrupting spirits and devouring the souls of both the living and the dead. Fukushi seamlessly embodies the Zanpakuto-wielding soul reaper, protecting Karakura Town with a sense of earnestness in an otherworldly story that could easily have felt cheap and gimmicky. Director Shinsuke Sato navigates the worlds of life and death, light and dark, while showcasing gorgeous special effects and capturing the canon with a faithful set and costume design. – Yael Tygiel
A Monster Calls (2016)
Run Time: 1 hr 48 min | Director: J.A. Bayona
Cast: Lewis MacDougall, Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Liam Neeson, Toby Kebbell
Despite what the title might suggest, A Monster Callsisn’t a horror movie — it’s a richly metaphorical drama that centers around the way that children choose to process grief. The film follows the young boy Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall), whose mother (Felicity Jones) is on her deathbed. Lewis has visions of a giant, fantastical creature (voiced by Liam Neeson), who gives him the sort of wisdom that he never got from his own absent father (Toby Kebbell). It’s clear that most of these fantasies are in Conor’s head; regardless, J.A. Bayona’s wondrous visual spectacle brings Connor’s most vivid dreams to life. –Liam Gaughan
Night Teeth (2021)
Run Time: 1 hr 48 min | Director: Adam Randall
Cast: Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Debby Ryan, Lucy Fry, Raul Castillo, Sydney Sweeney, Megan Fox, Alfie Allen
Night Teeth is a vampire movie like you’ve never seen before. The film follows Benny (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), a chauffeur hired to drive two friends, Blaire (Debby Ryan) and Zoe (Lucy Fry), to several parties around Los Angeles. The catch? The two women are vampires – and they’re about to cause some serious chaos. With sleek cinematography and some genuine laughs and scares alike, Night Teeth is stylish and campy fun. – Taylor Gates
The Old Guard (2020)
Run Time: 2 hr 5 min | Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Cast: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Harry Melling
An action thrill-ride that is still slept on to this day, The Old Guard is a superhero movie all its own that packs a real punch in everything from its crushing combat sequences to the prevailing heart found in each one of its characters. It stars a typically resolute Charlize Theron as Andy, the head of a group of immortal mercenaries who must undertake a revenge mission after being set-up by someone they trusted. The twist is that the reason for their immortality is that all the members have regenerative healing abilities that ensure they can take quite a beating and keep going. Adapted from the comic book of the same name by Greg Rucka and brought to life with a razor-sharp eye by director Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film also sees a scene-stealing KiKi Layne command the screen as Nile to make it a must-see for any lover of action cinema. – Chase Hutchinson
Over the Moon (2020)
Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Director: Glen Keane
Cast: Cathy Ang, Philipa Soo, Ken Jeong, John Cho, Ruthie Ann Miles, Margaret Cho, and Sandra Oh
Based in part on the legendary Chinese mythological story of Chang’e, Over the Moon is a cheery and heartfelt animated feature. There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking when it comes to this movie, but the exploration into Chinese mythology is relatively new for Western animation. The film was also screenwriter Audrey Wells‘ final film and demonstrates the comedy and heart that was so often found in her films. A family-friendly toe-tapping movie, Over the Moon came out rather quietly during the pandemic but still warrants a look for those looking for a good time. — Therese Lacson
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Run Time: 1 hr 32 min | Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael, Palin
Is it fantasy? It’s fantasy enough to deserve a spot in the fantasy category of Netflix’s movie catalog. Irreverent and iconic, if you’re one of the few people who haven’t seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail, now is your perfect opportunity. From clopping coconuts to mere flesh wounds, this movie is packed full of references that remain funny even upon revisiting. Follow King Arthur and his knight as they quest, coming across foes, temptations, and evil rabbits, it’s silly, it’s funny, it’s a joy! — Therese Lacson
Bright (2017)
Run Time: 1 hr 58 min | Director: David Ayer
Cast: Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace, Lucy Fry, Édgar Ramírez, Ike Barinholtz
In an alternate universe world, fantasy creatures exist alongside humans in a modern urban fantasy by David Ayer. While Bright didn’t win too many favors with the critics, Will Smith and Joel Edgerton play an intriguing pair of cops who battle not only personal prejudices but also criminals and opposition as cops on the beat in the city of angels. Urban fantasy is a lesser-explored subgenre in media but with it, stories are able to tackle real-world modern issues through a fantastical lens, like in Bright. A surprisingly star-studded cast and an exciting new world turned this into a hit among audiences and became a one of Netflix’s most-streamed movies ever. — Therese Lacson
Seventh Son (2014)
Run Time: 1 hr 42 min | Director: Sergei Bodrov
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore, Alicia Vikander
Seventh Son is unabashedly a fantasy film. The glorious cinematography, the ‘spooks’, the witches, the monsters, they all clearly signpost this film as a product of its genre. Based on the first book in Joseph Delaney’s The Wardstone Chronicles, the film stars Ben Barnes as the titular seventh son, who is destined to save the world from Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore). He just needs some training before he fights her, so who better to guide him than the last member of the society of knights, Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges)? Seventh Son may seem derivative and unoriginal, but it’s also ridiculously fun. The film is irreverent, a refreshing change for a genre that tends to take itself too seriously. There are sparks of humor that keep you going. Moore and Bridges are at their scenery-chewing best, and the supporting cast is littered with familiar faces. For Shadow and Bone fans, you won’t want to miss Barnes playing an out-of-sorts and somewhat vulnerable hero. This is no Darkling, but Barnes’ Tom Ward is a far cry from Prince Caspian. – Monita Mohan
