Fantasy is a wide-reaching genre that covers an endless number of different worlds, but there are some special gems that I can never up watching on repeat. As a kid, some of my absolute favorite films were fantasy, or at least crossed over into the fantasy genre in some way. Just like in fantasy novels, there are several categories of fantasy, but all of them share an essential characteristic in common, the presence of fantastical things.

Whether the fantasy is set adjacent to our own world, or slap bang in the middle of it, it introduces elements of magic, wonder, and generally awe-inspiring events. These stories can be small, with subtle things that are different to reality, or entirely new worlds with new rules and conditions. But no matter what, fantasy is inspiring, it is creative, and it expands the imagination.

10 The Mummy

Classic Monster Movie Magic

First up, The Mummy. A film starring one of my childhood favorite actors, Brendan Fraser. Having swung through his role as the goofy George of the Jungle, Fraser tackled a more suave and mature character when he appeared as the hero, Rick O'Connell, in The Mummy.

Due to growing up in the 1990s, this movie became my Indiana Jones, and like the many people who probably became inspired to become archaeologists because of Harrison Ford, I developed a keen interest in the ancient because of Fraser.

The movie sparked a whole franchise, and it blended together thriller action with fantastical intrigue that captured my imagination immediately. Today, it's great to look back on some of the highlights of Brendan Fraser's career now that the actor is finally in the limelight again. In addition, the movie features some great comedy beats that help to lighten the tone when things get especially dark.

9 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

A Swashbuckling Adventure on the High Seas

Next up, Pirates of the Caribbean leaned so much more into the comedy, along with an action-packed adventure story about pirates in the golden age of piracy. Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the most remarkable characters to ever come out of Disney, and Johnny Depp played the role perfectly. From the first film, The Curse of the Black Pearl, it was an instant classic, and it's no wonder it went on to become one of the most profitable franchises by Disney.

Again, the beauty of these stories is their ability to blend elements and make them constantly engaging and entertaining. The fight scenes are brilliant, the CGI on the dead pirates was mind-blowing at the time, and the story is incredibly compelling. It's impossible to watch this movie and not root for the drunken buffoon that is Captain Jack, but despite his less than legitimate lifestyle, he's still the hero who stands up to the snobbery of the British Imperialists.

8 The Nightmare Before Christmas

A Tim Burton Halloween and Christmas Crossover

Potentially my first introduction to Tim Burton, despite Burton actually having very little to do with the finished product, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a wonderfully enchanting film perfect for the holidays. The film is based on a story by Tim Burton, which the director hoped to produce for Disney, but he was let go prior to developing it further.

However, Disney retained the rights to his story, and eventually made it into a feature film when the director gained notoriety elsewhere. The film follows Jack Skellington, a resident of Halloween Town who longs for a life with more depth and meaning than his own singular holiday.

Combined with the magical music of Danny Elfman, the movie is extremely addictive and fun to sing along to. While this movie tends to circulate again around Halloween and Christmas because of the themes, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't watch it at any time in the year.

7 Hook

A Nostalgic Journey to Neverland

Another favorite actor, Robin Williams, forever earned a spot at the top of my list due to his incredible performance in Hook. While I was already familiar with the story of Peter Pan, and I watched the earlier animated film from 1953, Hook was an incredibly novel take on the story.

With Peter a fully grown man who left Neverland behind many years earlier, he lost a part of himself in those magical memories. However, now a responsible adult, it takes time for Peter to come to with who he really is. Robin Williams was the perfect casting for the role of an adult Peter Pan, because his remarkable sense of humor, physical comedy, style of performing and every other detail made him feel like a kid who never grew up.

Hook taps into the inner child in all of us, and since Williams ed, it's only become more special and significant.

He is frantic, wild, and hilarious, and in Hook, he taps into all of these elements to play a role that feels like it was written just for him. Hook taps into the inner child in all of us, and since Williams ed, it's only become more special and significant.

6 Hercules

A Disney Animated Classic with a Greek Mythology Twist

Going back to the Disney classic animated films, Hercules is my absolute favorite movie from that entire genre. As a kid, I wore out the VHS tape of this movie twice over, meaning we had to buy three separate copies in total. And while I should have gotten my fill of watching it as a kid, I clearly didn't because I will watch it again anytime the opportunity presents itself.

Stories of gods and mortals, overcoming insurmountable odds, and reaching your full potential all seem to resonate on a deeper level that keeps me coming back. And while the movie is fun, frantic, and wacky as a kid, with age, the hidden meanings and moral stories all become crystal clear. As a result, it still remains one of my all-time favorite movies, and one that I love to revisit with my kids now.

5 Who Framed Roger Rabbit

A Groundbreaking Blend of Live-Action and Animation

Crossing over between the worlds of animation and live-action, Who Framed Roger Rabbit may be from 1988, but the blending of real world actors with animated cartoon characters was beyond its time. The story has incredibly contrasting elements, with a brutal murder being investigated by a noir-style detective, paired with the wackiness and cartoon comedy antics of a bunch of animated looney toons. It also presented the first and only time that animated characters such as Bugs Bunny from Warner Bros. shared the screen with Disney classic cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse.

This crossover was a brilliant mashup of two incredibly popular worlds, and it remains a spectacular movie. If anything, I feel that I haven't watched this film enough, as it is deeply deserving of praise and acknowledgment as a landmark moment in movies for several reasons. The comedy, the crime, the wild adventure is all too much to up, and I'd highly advise anyone who has yet to see it to give it a shot.

4 Monty Python And The Holy Grail

A Hilarious and Absurd Medieval Comedy

Going back further in time to a classic and one of my dad's favorite fantasy flicks, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This British gem of comedy from some of the greatest actors East of the Atlantic and features the remarkable dry and dark humor that the Brits are famous for. The movie can be described as absurd, outrageous, ridiculous, and incredibly clever.

While the performers are utterly willing and ready to make fools of themselves in the name of comedy, their charm, wit, and brilliance is easy to see in their performance and their cleverly crafted jokes. To date, the Monty Python movies remain some of the most quotable films of all time, and they have been parodied endlessly, but it's always a treat to go back to the original and ire where it all started.

3 Jumanji

A Thrilling Adventure Game Comes to Life

Another film starring Robin Williams, and surprisingly in a role that is not too dissimilar from his appearance in Hook. Jumanji is an incredible adventure fantasy film where the magical breaks into the real world through a mystical board game. The movie is full of twists and turns that keep the audience on the edge of their seats, and from the moment that Williams s the cast, the comedy and emotion turn up to 11.

This imaginary world that lives right alongside reality became an incredible prospect for me as a kid, and even now, I can't look away when the film comes on. Comedy, action, fantasy, and magic that seemed so real because it was just as mysterious and new to the kids experiencing it, Jumanji is a spectacular story, and it's easy to see why the films were rebooted and brought up to date for a modern audience.

2 Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

A Darker and More Mature Entry in the Harry Potter Series

While I could have picked a few Harry Potter movies to include her, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban stands out in my imagination. It was early enough in the series that I hadn't begun reading the books yet, which I did for Goblet of Fire and intensely tarnished the experience, but also felt like a turning point in the series. Harry meets his godfather, Sirius Black, werewolves, animagus' and time-travel are all explored, and it just felt distinctly more magical than the earlier entries.

This movie was the point that I was well and truly hooked on Harry Potter mania, and it's the reason I began reading the books after to get a more comprehensive picture of the stories being told. While I might fall asleep for some of the other entries in the series, Prisoner of Azkaban continues to hold a special place in my heart. Definitely one of the best in the series, and the point where the actors in the main roles stopped being kids, and became genuine performers for me.

1 The Princess Bride

A Romantic Fantasy Adventure with a Touch of Humor

Finally, The Princess Bride. This was another movie that my dad put me onto once I was old enough. The Princess Bride is by far one of the best and most hilarious fantasy films that has ever been made, and the cast were absolutely perfect in each individual role. The movie contains more absurdist and bizarre humor, but it's also one of the most fantastical movies listed here. With the presence of giants, angry kings, fortune-tellers, and a maiden who has need of rescuing, this movie has it all.

Again, this is another highly quotable film, and remains one of the most popular to quote among my family personally, but the story is a genuine pleasure and delight to watch. If you have any interest in the fantasy genre, and comedy films, or movies that blend genres, this is a perfect watch. And, it's highly likely that you've already seen and shared memes from this movie without ever having watched it.