This month we’re featuring films and television shows in the fantasy genre. I didn’t realize how many films and TV shows contain elements of fantasy until I started working on this issue. The obvious choices are The Wizard of Oz, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Game of Thrones, The Harry Potter series and pretty much any Disney animated film.
You’ve probably seen them all many times. For our fifteen selections, I decided to include some classics and a few newer and edgier selections. Availability is subject to change without notice.
Damsel (2024) – I recently watched this film on Netflix and it is excellent! Princess Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) agrees to marry a handsome prince (Nick Robinson) from a mysterious kingdom only to thrown into a cave as the intended sacrifice to a dragon in an exciting game of cat and mouse. Elodie must survive by outsmarting the dragon and discovering why women are being lured to their deaths. This film is exciting. Elodie and the female dragon are well matched, and both have been deceived by the sovereigns of the kingdom. Available to watch with a subscription to Netflix.
All of Us Strangers (2023) – Adam (Andrew Scott) is a screenwriter in London. One evening he has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Henry (Paul Mescal). As their relationship grows, Adam finds himself drawn back to his childhood home where his parents seem to be living exactly the way they did before they died thirty years ago. Available to watch with a Hulu subscription.
Poor Things (2023) Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) is brought back from the dead with a brain transplant from her unborn child by an unconventional scientist (Willem Dafoe) who cares for her as a combination science experiment and daughter. Bella’s brain development clashes with the maturity of her already mature physical body. She runs away with an unscrupulous lawyer (Mark Ruffalo) to see the world and learn about life. Bella’s adventures are quite risqué, but if you watch to the end you will discover there is so much more to this film than promiscuity. Stone won an Academy Award for her performance. Available to watch on Hulu.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) – This film won seven of the eleven Academy Awards it was nominated for in 2023. When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) becomes an unlikely hero. Evelyn must channel her new-found powers to fight unexpected dangers from the multiverse as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Available to watch with a subscription to either Netflix, Showtime, YouTube, Hulu, fuboTV, Sling TV, Paramount+, or Amazon Prime Video. Available to watch for a fee on Apple TV, Viki, Google Play Movies & TV, Fandango at Home, or YouTube TV.
Ready Player One (2018) - In 2045 the planet is near chaos until Jaes Halliday ( Mark Rylance) unveils his creation, OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe where people can find an escape. When Halliday dies he promises his fortune to the first player able to find the digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS program. Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) enters the competition and becomes an unlikely hero in the reality-bending treasure hunt. Available to watch with a Netflix subscription.
The Shape of Water (2017) – In 1962, Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is a mute, socially isolated woman working as a cleaner at a high-security government lab in Baltimore. She discovers a mysterious scaled creature (played by Doug Jones) from South America living in a water tank. Elisa and the creature develop a close relationship over time. When she learns the creature’s existence is in danger, she must decide how to help. Also stars Octavia Spencer and Richard Jenkins. Available to stream for a fee on Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video.
About Time (2013) Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) is 21 when his father (Bill Nighy) tells him a family secret. The men in the Lake family can travel through time, but they can’t change history. When Lake decides to find a girlfriend, he meets Mary (Rachel McAdams). He uses time travel and his wits to win her heart, but discovers there is no escape for the problems of everyday life and heartache. Available to watch for a fee on YouTube, Fandango at Home, Google Pay Movies & TV, Apple Tv, or Aazon Prime Video.
The Last Airbender (2010) – The four nations of Air, Water, Earth, and Fire lived in harmony until the Fire Nation declared war a century ago. With the war still raging, an Avatar named Aang ( Noah Ringer) discovers that he has the power to control all four elements. He joins forces with Katara (Nicola Peltz) a Waterbender, and her brother, Sokka to end the war and restore peace to their world. Available to watch for free on Pluto TV.
Big Fish (2003) Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) and his son William (Billy Crudup) have a strained relationship. William is a journalist who values truth and fact and can’t reconcile these values with the tall tales his father insists are fact. When Edward becomes ill, William travels to be with him. On his deathbed, Edward is still telling tall tales about his life. When William starts to investigate these tales, he begins to understand his father. Available to watch for a fee on YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video.
What Dreams May Come(1998) – After Chris Nielson (Robin Williams) dies in a car accident, he’s greeted at the after life by his spirit guide, Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.). Albert introduces Chris to a beautiful paradise that can be whatever Chris imagines. He can even be with his children. When Chris’ wife, Annie (Annabella Sciorra) dies by suicide, she is sent to hell and Chris cannot be with her. Chris’ love for her is so strong that he defies Albert’s warnings and journeys to hell to save her, But, rescuing the love of his life proves even more difficult than he expects. Available to watch for a fee on YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video.
Matilda (1996) – in the film adaption of this Roald Dahl classic, Matilda (Mara Wilson) is a gifted child who is mistreated by her uncaring parents (played by Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman) and her uber-strict bully of a principal, Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris). When Matilda realizes she has the power of telekinesis, she begins to fight back to save herself and her friends from these horrible adults. Available to watch for a fee on YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
Edward Scissorhands (1990) – A scientist played by Vincent Price builds an animated human being, Edward (Johnny Depp). The scientist dies before he can completely humanize Edward’s appearance leaving him with scissor-like hands. Peg, a kind salesperson who lives in the suburbs, finds Edward, and because of his gentle and sweet disposition, she takes him home to live with her and her family. Edward is intelligent and tremendously talented. Edward falls in love with Peg’s daughter played by Winona Ryder. His freakish appearance is a novelty at first, but people begin to fear him. It’s a sad story, but well worth watching. Available to watch with a subscription to Max, YouTube, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. Available to watch for a fee on Google Movies &TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, or YouTube TV.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) – A private eye named Eddie (Bob Hoskins) is hired by R.K. Maroon (Alan Tilvern), who is a cartoon producer, to investigate an adultery scandal involving Jessica Rabbit (Kathleen Turner) the wife of Maroon’s biggest star Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer). When Jessica’s alleged lover Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye) is found murdered, Roger Rabbit is the prime suspect, and the villainous Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) is out to get Roger. Available to watch on Disney+ with a subscription. Also available to watch for a fee on YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video.
The Princess Bride (1987) – based on the William Goldman book of the same name. Diego Montaya searches for his one true love. After years of being apart, they must battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florian to be reunited. Available to watch on Disney+ with a subscription. Also available to watch for a fee on Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) – Several variations of this Roald Dahl classic have been made, but I decided to feature this film starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Wonka is an eccentric and reclusive inventor who owns a chocolate factory. He decides to let a few children tour his factory. He hides golden tickets in the wrappers of a few bars. Only children with the golden tickets will be allowed in. They each have a life-changing adventure and only the purest of hearts will succeed. Watch for free on Sling TV. Available to watch for a fee on YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video.
Image of The Princess Bride:
By 20th Century Fox - Impawards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22290625