Critics may have dismissed these fantasy movies, but they offer more to the genre than the bad reviews might suggest. The fantasy genre has given us some of the best and most iconic movies of all time, from true classics like The Wizard of Oz to massive franchises like The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, it is also a difficult genre to get right, with the otherworldly elements, the necessity for significant world-building, and heavy effects often leading to disastrous results.

Indeed, when a fantasy movie is bad, critics don't hesitate to jump all over it, sometimes with good reason. However, there are some notable fantasy movies that stand on their own as great entries in the genre, no matter what critics say. From genre-mashing comic book stories to wild horror movies to classic adventures with fantastical twists, these fantasy movies overcome their bad reputations.

10 Dracula Untold (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 26%

While Tom Cruise's The Mummy is often seen as the critical and commercial bomb that killed the plans for the Dark Universe, another failure came first and was largely ignored. Dracula Untold served as an original story about the most iconic vampire in pop culture, with Luke Evans taking on the role of Prince Vlad, who willingly becomes the powerful monster in order to protect his people from an invading army.

Critics complained about the movie removing the intrigue of the character of Dracula and making him an all-powerful superhero, which offered little suspense to the CGI battle scenes. The movie earned 26% on Dracula Untold's success on streaming in recent years.

9 Reign Of Fire (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 41%

Dragons have always been a big part of the fantasy genre, but Reign of Fire is one of the few movies with the brilliant idea to transplant these vicious beasts into a modern setting. The movie is set in a post-apocalyptic world in which society has crumbled after dragons awoke and began burning the world. Christian Bale stars as the leader of a community of survivors who partners with Matthew McConaughey's eccentric general to take down the dragons.

With a 41% Rotten Tomatoes score, Reign of Fire was ridiculed for its humorless tone and lackluster third act that squanders a good premise. While the movie does take itself a little too seriously given the plot, it is a terrific popcorn movie with some great action sequences, like the HALO jump to battle a dragon in midair. McConaughey's wild performance also helps inject some fun into the film.

8 Hocus Pocus (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 41%

From a box office bomb to a Halloween family-friendly favorite, Hocus Pocus' legacy has defied its initial critical reception. The fantasy-comedy stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as a trio of witch sisters put to death in the 1600s in Salem, only to accidentally be brought back by modern children to carry out their sinister plans on Halloween night.

Critics largely dismissed the movie as a messy family-friendly comedy undone by a meandering plot and uninspired moments of humor, earning 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, you need only look at the performances of the three lead actors to find the humor, with Midler especially hilarious as the charming villain. Modern audiences are likely unaware of Hocus Pocus' poor critical reception, as it is now regarded as a nostalgic classic that spawned a much-anticipated sequel with 2022's Hocus Pocus 2.

7 The Black Cauldron (1985)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 56%

The animation world has been a great avenue for dark fantasy stories, but one of Disney's attempts at the genre nearly resulted in disaster for the studio. The Black Cauldron draws from the fantasy novel series The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, following a group of unlikely heroes, led by a brave pig herder, as they attempt to stop an evil emperor from acquiring a magic cauldron that would help him conquer the world.

The movie has gained more appreciation for the very reasons critics initially hated it.

The Black Cauldron was unfortunately compared to other Disney classics by critics who felt it lacked the brightness, humor, and fun of those previous movies. Along with its poor critical reception, The Black Cauldron nearly ruined Disney as a company with its disappointing box office. However, the movie has gained more appreciation for the very reasons critics initially hated it. Its darker tone stands out among Disney animated movies, giving it a fun edge that seems like the more mature fantasy adventure movies.

6 Constantine (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 46%

While Keanu Reeves seems to be fancast for countless comic book movies these days, he already starred as one of the genre's great anti-heroes in a sorely overlooked movie. Based on the Hellblazer comic books, Constantine stars Reeves as John Constantine, a bitter demon hunter seeking to fight his way out of his destiny of going to Hell. He finds a shot at redemption in helping a police officer (Rachel Weisz) investigate her sister's apparent suicide that may be linked to a demon's plan for conquering Earth.

Sporting a disappointing 46% on plans for a Constantine sequel with Reeves returning.

5 Red Sonja (1985)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 21%

Following the success of the Conan the Barbarian movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, a new fantasy action flick was developed to take place in the same universe but focus on a female hero. Red Sonja stars Brigitte Nielsen as a fearless warrior in search of the evil queen who killed her family. Schwarzenegger also appears in the movie in a ing role as Kalidor, a warrior who helps Sonja in her quest.

With 21% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics did not hold back on calling the movie a silly, cheesy, and poorly-made adventure. The film also earned three Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Actress for Nielsen. While it is hard to deny that there is a cheesy factor to the movie, that is part of its charm. There is also some solid action and fun characters. Nielsen doesn't give an award-worthy performance, but she is solid as the great hero of the story.

4 Wishmaster (1997)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 25%

Wishmaster not only delivers on the fantasy genre but it's also one of the more underrated and gruesome horror movies of the 1990s. The movie focuses on an evil spirit known as The Djinn who grants people's misses, only to turn them into terrible nightmares. When he is awakened in modern days, he seeks to force his unwitting subject to make her wishes, thus freeing the Djinn so he can use his dark magic on the entire world.

Wishmaster's 25% Rotten Tomatoes score is filled with reviews mocking its flimsy script and bad special effects. Wishmaster had the misfortune of coming out during a time when Scream had revitalized the slasher genre, and suddenly, a fantasy horror movie seemed outdated. However, looking back, it is a fun and wildly gory horror movie that is elevated by a great villain and an even better villain performance from Andrew Divoff.

3 Clash Of The Titans (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 27%

Clash of the Titans is a nostalgic gem for many fantasy fans, so it was only a matter of time before Hollywood gave it a big-budget remake. Sam Worthington stars in the 2010 update as Perseus, the demigod son of Zeus, who leads a quest to stop Hades and his forces from the Underworld from conquering Olympus and the known world.

Clash of the Titans' box office was solid enough to earn a sequel, Wrath of the Titans, but critics weren't impressed with the blockbuster. The post-production 3D conversion was at the center of a lot of the criticism aimed at the movie, while the script and Worthington's lead performance also contributed to the 27% Rotten Tomatoes score. However, the mix of CGI and practical effects makes for a fun adventure and a great retelling of the legend on a large scale, while the star-studded ing cast adds a lot of fun, with standout performances from Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.

2 Willow (1988)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 52%

Willow is another movie that has such a strong following that it will likely surprise many fans that it wasn't received well initially. Willow is Ron Howard's foray into the fantasy genre, starring Warwick Davis as a young dwarf farmer who agrees to protect a small baby on a dangerous adventure with an evil queen seeking to get her hands on the child. The late Val Kilmer also has a standout role in the movie as the disgraced yet brave swordsman who s the mission.

Years later, the movie enjoys a strong cult following that even led to a short-lived sequel series on Disney+.

Despite coming from a story by George Lucas, Willow didn't impress critics as it earned 52% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some felt that Howard was the wrong director for the fantasy story, and the plot dragged rather than engaged. Years later, the movie enjoys a strong cult following that even led to a short-lived sequel series on Disney+. It is a nostalgic treat with the strong special effects holding up and contributing to the strong fantasy world-building.

1 Legend (1985)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 43%

While not one of Ridley Scott's best movies, Legend is a dark fantasy adventure that showcases the filmmaker's stunning visual style and stars Tom Cruise in an early role. Legend stars Cruise as a young hero who must go on a perilous quest into a magical forest in order to stop the Lord of Darkness from killing the last remaining unicorns and plunging the world into eternal night forever.

Scott was coming off of Alien and Blade Runner, so it is no wonder critics were let down by the far sillier and less complete fantasy offering. However, Legend's 43% on Rotten Tomatoes doesn't do justice to the fun weirdness of the movie, nor the stunning look of some of the sequences. However, the real reason to see Legend is for the villainous Darkness with an incredible character design bolstered by an iconic performance from Tim Curry.