Fantasyis an often maligned cinematic genre, and there are plenty of movies that didn’t fare well upon release that are actually better than their critical reputation. Attempting to create new and imaginative worlds on the big screen, fantasy movies are known for taking big swings that don’t always work out.
Some can be magnificent blockbusters, like Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy, but many simply fade into the background if they fail to grab the audience right away. That could be because their ideas were ahead of their time, or it could be any number of behind-the-scenes factors that held the film back.
Genre cinema wasn’t as big in the past as it is now, and only a select few fantasy films were able to get great reactions from critics and win big at the box office. The highest-grossing fantasy films are often an anomaly, and the genre is surprisingly poor at turning out blockbusters.
Critical reaction is a bit more flexible in retrospect, and there are plenty ofexcellent fantasy moviesthat have earned better reputations in the years since their release. Even if they aren’t the best that the genre has to offer, plenty of fantasy epics are serviceable or better, and deserve a reevaluation through a modern lens.
Unlike a lot of other poorly-reviewed fantasy films,Willowbombed in theaters but immediately became a cult classicon home video. The 1988 Ron Howard movie was a big risk becauseit wasn’t based on an established bookor story, and built its interesting fantasy world from the ground up.
Warwick Davis turns in a career-making performance in the title role, and the movie offers faint glimpses into a much larger universe that was ripe for exploration in future stories. WhileWillowis hardly the greatest fantasy film of all time, it is ambitious and well-made, and even earned a follow-up TV series from Disney in 2022.
The early ’80s was awash in sword and sorcery movies that attempted to cash in on the popularity ofConan the Barbarian.The Beastmasteris one of the few hidden gems from the oft-forgotten subgenre, largely because it tries to introduce new ideas that offer some added intrigue.
1982
50%
1991
33%
1996
23%
Indie horror auteur Don Coscarelli helmed the movie, andThe Beastmasterhas a bit more fantasy than many of its sword and sorcery counterparts. It wasn’t a big hit when it debuted, but it found more success on television, which spurred interest in the character. The unfairly hated fantasy flick spawned two sequels and a TV series throughout the ’90s.
Ridley Scott’s filmographyis filled with projects that should have been hits, andLegendis the director’s stab at the fantasy genre that didn’t work out. The Tom Cruise vehicle is a stock-standard fantasy plot that is supplemented by a few clever ideas and state-of-the-art makeup effects.
Tim Curry’s Darkness is a highlight of ’80s genre cinema, and the character design is perhaps the movie’s lasting legacy. The film bombed at the box office, and wasn’t particularly popular with critics at the time either. Fortunately, it has garnered cult status as more and more viewers discover the hidden gem that never got the chance to shine.
Legendgrossed $16 million against a $25 million budget (viaBox Office Mojo).
1982’sConan the Barbarianhelped to make Arnold Schwarzenegger a household name, butthe sequel was something of a dud when it arrived two years later.Conan the Destroyercontinued the adventures of the heavily-muscled hero, and it teamed him up with multi-hyphenated star, Grace Jones.
It still stands head and shoulders above most Conan-inspired movies.
Borrowing from the tone of Robert E. Howard’s classic stories, it’s standard sword and sorcery fare. It got poor reviews, and wasn’t a big hit financially either. However,the sequel is mostly on par with its predecessor, but suffers from trying to be too family-friendlyfor its own good. It still stands head and shoulders above most Conan-inspired movies.
One of the more notoriousflops of the 1990s,The 13th Warrioris a textbook example of a fantasy film that’s way overhated. Based onEaters of the Deadby Michael Crichton, the movie stars Antonio Banderas as a Muslim ambassador who finds himself among Viking warriors.
Stuffed with action,The 13th Warrioronly becomes fantasy as things progress.The historical fiction epic is opulent in its production design, and the performances are strong. It’s far from perfect, and certainly stumbles with pacing, but it deserves better than a 33% score onRotten Tomatoes. Over 25 years later, the movie is finally getting a positive reevaluation.
The 1990s were a golden period for family adventure films, but 1994’sThe Pagemasteris an odd chapter in the decade’s storied history. Macaulay Culkin stars as an anxious child who finds himself entering the worlds of famous novels, and the movie blends live-action and animated scenes.
The Pagemasterbombed at the box office and got putrid reviews. The movie is still divisive over 30 years later, and it’s either loved or hated.The biggest issue is the tone, and it’s just a bit too weirdand frightening for kids. On the other hand, the animation is beautiful, and it’s one of the most imaginative movies ever.
It’s hard to believe that a Steven Spielberg movie could get such poor reviews, butcritics hated his 1991 family adventure filmHook. The reimagining ofPeter Panwas a big-budget extravaganza with Robin Williams as Peter, Dustin Hoffman as Hook, and Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell.
It didn’t struggle financially, and could be considered a hit, but it drew a lot of hate that has since been revised. Extremely popular with fans of a certain age,Hookis now a beloved piece of 1990s cinema, and for good reason. The production design is top-notch, and Spielberg’s whimsical direction gives the film a fun and sincere atmosphere.
Disney’s animation division struggled mightily throughout the ’70s and ’80s, andThe Black Cauldroncan be considered the company’s low point. The uncharacteristically dark fantasy film changed the animation style andwent for a more contemporary look seen infilms by artists like Don Bluth. While the change was interesting, it was not well-regarded.
The Black Cauldronwas the first animated Disney film to earn a PG rating.
The Black Cauldronwas such a financial disappointment that it nearly derailed Disney’s animation division completely. Once it finally arrived on home video, the film’s reputation began to improve. It clearly wasn’t meant for the younger children, but upon further examination it’s a pretty good fantasy epic.The Disney magic is there, it’s just darker than audiences were expecting.
War of the Rohirrimwas hardly the firstLord of the Ringsanimated movie, but the 2024 release was not well-regarded by those that saw it. Expanding one small part of the lengthy history of Middle-earth,War of the Rohirrimmarks the next chapter in a new direction for the New Line Cinema franchise.
Unfortunately,the overlong film was a flop that didn’t get particularly good reviews. However, there is some good to be taken from the bad when it comes to theLOTRsmovie. It’s tailored for big fans of the franchise, which is why it probably flopped. The animation style is bland, but it’s still a serviceable story for Middle-earth lovers.
It’s impossible to overstate the impact thatStar Warshad on the fantasy and sci-fi genres, and plenty of movies tried to cash in on its success.Krullarrived in 1983, andthe big-budget movie hit nearly every trope of the aforementioned science fantasy franchise.
Magical powers, roguish heroes, and even a mystical weapon populate the world ofKrull, and there’s charm in its sincerity. Unfortunately, the movie bombed spectacularly, and didn’t even get good marks from critics. It has since become a cult classic, and deserves its place among thefantasymovie greats of the past.Krullisn’t perfect, but it’s never boring.
