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Movies · Top 10

Top 10 Fantasy Movies of All Time in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Direct answer

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) is the top fantasy movie of all time: it won all 11 Academy Awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture, and holds a 94% Tomatometer. The Fellowship of the Ring (4 Oscars) and Pan’s Labyrinth (3 Oscars) follow.

At a glance

#PickOscars wonBest for
1The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King11 (all 11 it was nominated for, incl. Best Picture)Viewers who have seen the first two films and want the payoff
2The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring4 (of 13 nominations)Starting the Middle-earth saga from the beginning
3Pan's Labyrinth3Adults who want a dark, grown-up fairy tale
4The Wizard of Oz2 (of 5 nominations: Best Original Song, Best Original Score)Families with young kids and anyone who loves musicals
5Spirited Away1 (Best Animated Feature)Animation fans and families with kids old enough for some scary spirits
6The Princess Bride0 (nominated for Best Original Song)A funny, romantic family movie night
7Edward Scissorhands0 (nominated for Best Makeup)Fans of Tim Burton and bittersweet modern fairy tales
8Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban0 (2 nominations: Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects)Families already watching the Harry Potter films in order
9Stardust0 (no nominations)A light, romantic adventure based on Neil Gaiman’s novel
10Big Fish0 (nominated for Best Original Score)Viewers who want a father-and-son story told through tall tales

Pick by what you want

Best overall
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Best for young kids
The Wizard of Oz
Best animated
Spirited Away
Best dark fantasy
Pan's Labyrinth
Best family comedy
The Princess Bride

The ranking

1

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Answrs VerdictThe most Oscar-winning fantasy film ever made.
Oscars won: 11 (all 11 it was nominated for, incl. Best Picture)Tomatometer: 94% (306 reviews)Director, year: Peter Jackson, 2003Rated: PG-13Worldwide box office: $1.1 billion

Peter Jackson’s 2003 finale to the Tolkien trilogy won all 11 Academy Awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture. Critics give it a 94% Tomatometer across 306 reviews, and it took in $1.1 billion worldwide. It is rated PG-13.

Go ifViewers who have seen the first two films and want the payoff
Skip ifYou have not watched The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers yet
Why #1 over #2: Its 11 Oscars are the most of any film here; The Fellowship of the Ring won 4.
2

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Answrs VerdictWhere the trilogy starts, and the second most-awarded film here.
Oscars won: 4 (of 13 nominations)Tomatometer: 91% (271 reviews)Director, year: Peter Jackson, 2001Rated: PG-13Worldwide box office: $897 million (with reissues)

The 2001 film that started Peter Jackson’s trilogy won 4 Oscars from 13 nominations. It holds a 91% Tomatometer from 271 reviews and has grossed $897 million worldwide with reissues. It is rated PG-13.

Go ifStarting the Middle-earth saga from the beginning
Skip ifYou want a story that wraps up in one film
Why #2 over #3: Its 4 Oscars beat the 3 won by Pan’s Labyrinth.
3

Pan's Labyrinth

Pan's Labyrinth
Answrs VerdictThe dark-fantasy pick, with 3 Oscars.
Oscars won: 3Tomatometer: 95% (240 reviews)Director, year: Guillermo del Toro, 2006Rated: RWorldwide box office: $83 million

Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 dark fairy tale won 3 Academy Awards and has a 95% Tomatometer from 240 reviews. It grossed $83 million worldwide. It is rated R, so it is for adults, not kids.

Go ifAdults who want a dark, grown-up fairy tale
Skip ifYou are watching with children - it is rated R
Why #3 over #4: Its 3 Oscars beat the 2 won by The Wizard of Oz.
4

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz
Answrs VerdictThe highest Tomatometer on this list, 98%.
Oscars won: 2 (of 5 nominations: Best Original Song, Best Original Score)Tomatometer: 98% (171 reviews)Director, year: Victor Fleming, 1939Rated: GWorldwide box office: $29,690,032 (all releases)

Victor Fleming’s 1939 classic, starring Judy Garland, won 2 Oscars (Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow" and Best Original Score) from 5 nominations. Its 98% Tomatometer is the highest on this list. It is rated G.

Go ifFamilies with young kids and anyone who loves musicals
Skip ifOld-fashioned pacing bores you
Why #4 over #5: Its 2 Oscars beat the 1 won by Spirited Away.
5

Spirited Away

Spirited Away
Answrs VerdictThe animated pick, and an Oscar winner.
Oscars won: 1 (Best Animated Feature)Tomatometer: 96% (226 reviews)Director, year: Hayao Miyazaki, 2001Rated: PGWorldwide box office: US$396 million

Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 Studio Ghibli film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and has a 96% Tomatometer from 226 reviews. It grossed US$396 million worldwide. It is rated PG.

Go ifAnimation fans and families with kids old enough for some scary spirits
Skip ifYou only watch live-action films
Why #5 over #6: It won an Oscar; The Princess Bride won none.
6

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride
Answrs VerdictThe best-reviewed film here without an Oscar win.
Oscars won: 0 (nominated for Best Original Song)Tomatometer: 93% (152 reviews)Director, year: Rob Reiner, 1987Rated: PGUS and Canada box office: $30.8 million

Rob Reiner’s 1987 fairy-tale comedy stars Cary Elwes, Robin Wright and Mandy Patinkin. It was nominated for Best Original Song and holds a 93% Tomatometer from 152 reviews. It made $30.8 million in the US and Canada. It is rated PG.

Go ifA funny, romantic family movie night
Skip ifYou want big-budget battles and effects
Why #6 over #7: Its 93% Tomatometer edges Edward Scissorhands at 92%.
7

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands
Answrs VerdictThe gothic fairy-tale pick.
Oscars won: 0 (nominated for Best Makeup)Tomatometer: 92% (71 reviews)Director, year: Tim Burton, 1990Rated: PG-13North America box office: $56,362,352

Tim Burton’s 1990 film stars Johnny Depp as the gentle man with scissors for hands, with Winona Ryder and Vincent Price. It was nominated for Best Makeup and has a 92% Tomatometer. It grossed $56,362,352 in North America. It is rated PG-13.

Go ifFans of Tim Burton and bittersweet modern fairy tales
Skip ifYou need a happy ending
Why #7 over #8: Its 92% Tomatometer beats Prisoner of Azkaban at 90%.
8

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Answrs VerdictThe best-reviewed Harry Potter film on this list.
Oscars won: 0 (2 nominations: Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects)Tomatometer: 90% (263 reviews)Director, year: Alfonso Cuarón, 2004Rated: PGWorldwide box office: $808 million

Alfonso Cuarón directed this 2004 third Harry Potter film, with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. It earned 2 Oscar nominations and a 90% Tomatometer from 263 reviews, and grossed $808 million worldwide. It is rated PG.

Go ifFamilies already watching the Harry Potter films in order
Skip ifYou have not seen the first two films
Why #8 over #9: Its 90% Tomatometer beats Stardust at 77%.
9

Stardust

Stardust
Answrs VerdictThe fun fairy-tale adventure pick.
Oscars won: 0 (no nominations)Tomatometer: 77% (196 reviews)Director, year: Matthew Vaughn, 2007Rated: PG-13Worldwide box office: $137 million

Matthew Vaughn’s 2007 adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel stars Claire Danes and Charlie Cox. It has a 77% Tomatometer from 196 reviews and grossed $137 million worldwide. It is rated PG-13.

Go ifA light, romantic adventure based on Neil Gaiman’s novel
Skip ifYou want the critics’ top choices only
Why #9 over #10: Its 77% Tomatometer just edges Big Fish at 76%.
10

Big Fish

Big Fish
Answrs VerdictThe tear-jerker of the list.
Oscars won: 0 (nominated for Best Original Score)Tomatometer: 76% (219 reviews)Director, year: Tim Burton, 2003Rated: PG-13Worldwide box office: $123 million

Tim Burton’s 2003 fantasy drama stars Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney as the younger and older Edward Bloom, a teller of tall tales. It was nominated for Best Original Score, has a 76% Tomatometer from 219 reviews and grossed $123 million worldwide. It is rated PG-13.

Go ifViewers who want a father-and-son story told through tall tales
Skip ifYou want action rather than sentiment

How we ranked these

We ranked the 10 films by the number of Academy Awards each won, as listed on Wikipedia, and broke ties with the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (critics’ score) as shown on each film’s Rotten Tomatoes page. Box office figures come from each film’s Wikipedia article. We did not use our own opinion scores. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the greatest fantasy movie of all time?

By Oscars, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). It won all 11 Academy Awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture, and holds a 94% Tomatometer.

Which fantasy movie has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score?

Of these 10, The Wizard of Oz (1939) has the highest Tomatometer at 98%, followed by Spirited Away at 96% and Pan’s Labyrinth at 95%.

Which of these fantasy movies are fine for young kids?

The Wizard of Oz is rated G; The Princess Bride, Spirited Away and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban are rated PG. Pan’s Labyrinth is rated R.

What is the best animated fantasy movie?

Spirited Away (2001), directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and has a 96% Tomatometer.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (critics) at a glance

Big Fish76 %
Stardust77 %
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban90 %
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring91 %
Edward Scissorhands92 %
The Princess Bride93 %
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King94 %
Pan's Labyrinth95 %
Spirited Away96 %
The Wizard of Oz98 %
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (critics), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.