When it comes to film and TV genres, none quite fit the rooster archetype like speculative fiction. In the Chinese Zodiac, the rooster is known to be fickle and picky in all areas of life, and demand entertainment that’s both engaging and challenging. This makes fantasy such a great genre for roosters to explore. Fanciful worlds, colorful locales, and incredible creature design are all sure to leave roosters hooked.
That is, just as long as the films don’t rely too heavily on tropes or heavy-handedness. Roosters are smart and know when they’re being led on, and they hate being spoon-fed. While they may be difficult to please, in the end, they have an eye for quality and originality.
Love: The Dark Crystal (1982)
A cult movie from the mind of Jim Henson, The Dark Crystal is an incredible masterwork in puppeteering. Amazing creature designs, a colorful atmosphere, and an ingenious magic system will keep roosters engaged from beginning to end.
Roosters are likely to forgive the movie’s narrative shortcomings and manage to appreciate the film for the work of art that it is. Those who enjoyed The Dark Crystal should also check out Labyrinth, another one of Jim Henson’s underrated classics.
Hate: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
If there’s one thing roosters hate, it's being condescended to. No one likes being treated like a child, but roosters can get extremely insulted when their intelligence is questioned or if a finger is wagged at them. This makes children’s fantasy especially difficult because they know children aren’t stupid, and can’t stand it when kids films skimp out on complexity out of an abundance of caution.
Special effects aside, many roosters would agree that The Wizard of Oz hasn’t aged well in of writing and storytelling. Sure, it may have been made for children, but roosters also know that kid’s entertainment has matured so much in the last eight decades. It would be difficult for them to get over a mature Judy Garland acting like she’s a decade younger than she actually was at the time. Young roosters will feel like they’re being patronized, while older roosters will wonder what all the fuss was about. Instead, opt for flicks like The NeverEnding Story, which will entertain hatchlings on a multitude of levels.
Love: Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Guillermo del Toro should be on the mind of every potential rooster film buff. Known for his vivid imagination, expository themes, and grotesque monsters, del Toro’s films challenge minds and dazzle senses. Often considered his best film, Pan’s Labyrinth blends horror and fantasy to create a visual spectacle that plays out like an adult fairytale.
Those who like Pan’s Labyrinth should also check out del Toro’s best picture winning masterpiece, 2017’s The Shape of Water. While not nearly as ired as the former, The Shape of Water is a romance unlike anything most audiences have seen before.
Hate: Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Weaving a complex tale is one thing, but taking one that’s simple and basic and making it as convoluted as possible is another. The latter of these can often leave roosters rolling their eyes, as they’ll likely see it as a cynical move to make a movie more ‘complex.’
Case in point, 2010 live-action Alice in Wonderland. Not only will roosters lament Tim Burton’s regression as a filmmaker, but they’ll also find the changes made to the source material tacky. No one wants a bleak, violent Wonderland, and roosters would rather sit down and read the original novel, rather than sit through an extended Hot Topic ad.
Love: Highlander (1986)
Roosters are prone to enjoying cult movies, and no discussion on cult fantasy flicks is complete without mentioning Highlander. While this urban fantasy may not have the strongest plot, the dynamics of ‘The Game,’ where immortal worriers fight for control of the world, will leave roosters intrigued and get their minds rolling.
If not that, then they should at least come for the crazy sword fights and captivating soundtrack, created by the legendary rock band Queen. Far too many fantasy flicks rely on regular orchestral scores, so it’s refreshing to see one that isn’t afraid to rock out.
Hate: The Hobbit Trilogy (2012-2014)
The Hobbit trilogy is one of the most polarizing movie sagas in recent memory. Bashed by critics for being bloated and overproduced, the movies did find appreciation among some Tolkien die-hards. As stated before, roosters judge movies with little regard for sentimentality or love of a previous movie, and with The Hobbit, their opinions likely echo those of its harshest critics.
If there’s a constant criticism about The Hobbit trilogy, it’s that the movies drag on for far too long, with filler that’ll leave roosters bored out of their minds. Moreover, the fact that The Hobbit was such a small book in the first place will leave roosters annoyed to no end.
Love: The Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)
It isn’t just cult movies that roosters should check out. After all, a quality movie is a quality movie, regardless of the size of its budget, and nowhere will roosters agree more with this sentiment than with the Harry Potter series.
Because roosters thrive off of other’s attention and recognition for their work, the whole ‘hero’s journey’ arc is extremely attractive. Harry Potter is essentially a study in that motif, done on a massive scale, with seven movies and an entire universe under its belt. It may be rooster comfort food, but it’s good to indulge every now and then.
Hate: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Just because roosters may like Harry Potter doesn’t mean they’d be invested in the entire Wizarding World. Roosters don’t fit in well with unflinching fandoms, because when there’s something they don’t like, they will not hide it, not even out of respect for a franchise or a brand.
With Fantastic Beasts, roosters may not understand why so much time and effort was spent building a character whose impact on the Harry Potter series is marginal at best. Worse still is that the second film in the series, The Crimes of Grindelwald, devoted a significant chunk of its story to expository filler, which will leave roosters annoyed and wishing they’d just go back to Hogwarts.
Love: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
This is an obvious pick for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest movie trilogies in recent memory. It’s got everything a rooster could ask for: a fellowship of heroes who each other in different ways, a deep, complex lore, and fantastic cinematography and effects.
One would be hard-pressed not to find a better series for a rooster, let alone anyone hoping to dip their feet into the wonderful world of high fantasy.
Hate: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
Never preach to a rooster. They hate being ordered around, and heavy-handed allegories will turn a rooster off. Despite what series creator C.S. Lewis claimed until the day he died, there’s no hiding the fact that the first installment in The Chronicles of Narnia is a Christian allegory. Aslan is Jesus, the White Which is the Devil, Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve anyone?
While it may appeal to some, roosters will be able to see right through the haze of mystique and see the message in all its glory. In the end, the rooster’s religious beliefs will determine how they react. If they are a Christian, or of a different faith they may appreciate it for what it is and perhaps apply their own beliefs to the narrative. But roosters who don’t take kindly to guilt-tripping and taking orders will almost certainly leave the movie with a bad taste in their mouths.