Escaping the real world is best when you’re also building memories
There are dishes in the sink, clothes in all the hampers, and groceries on the counter. And all you and your family want to do is get away. We have the perfect solution: escapism. A great fantasy movie has the power to transport you from anywhere and drop you into world-building wonderlands inhabited by fire-breathing dragons, spell-wielding wizards, and charming Cockney performers just by pressing play. So forget the chores for now, and instead, escape on an adventure with your family with our list of the best fantasy movies. If you want something to watch when the kids go to sleep, be sure to check our list of the best fantasy shows for parents.
"Slumberland"
Families went nuts over Slumberland, a visually stunning fantasy movie starring Marlow Barkley and Jason Momoa when it hit screens in 2022. They loved the story about the little girl named Nemo who traverses an enchanted dream world hoping to reunite with her late father. And we're pretty sure you and your family will love it too. Heads up, though, this one includes some heavy themes—as the characters grapple with grief and loss. Perhaps this one would be best appreciated with older kids.
Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Netflix
"Star Wars" Series
Way back in 1977, the very first Star Wars film, A New Hope, hit theaters and ignited a sci-fi fandom that would never flicker out. Decades later, there's a wealth of sequels, series, and spin-offs about the galaxy far, far away. And for good reason. Star Wars is a saga the whole family can enjoy. Not only does it feature the classic good vs. evil narrative, making it an easy setup for kids to follow, but there are iconic characters, thrilling space battles, and epic musical interludes courtesy of John Williams that make watching any installment in the franchise a whole experience.
Rating: PG to PG-13
Where to Watch: Disney+
"Harry Potter" Series
Eight Harry Potter movies trail your favorite wizards and muggles through their time at Hogwarts battling demons, bullies, and puberty. The series is brimming with strong role models for kiddos, beginning with The Sorcerer's Stone and ending with the two-part Deathly Hallows. That being said, the Potterverse is vast, and it includes the Fantastic Beasts trilogy prequel, so if you don't have Harry's ability to manipulate time and watch all the above, go with our fave: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban directed by Alfonso Cuarón.
Rating: PG to PG-13
Where to Watch: Max and Peacock
"Bridge to Terabithia"
Before The Hunger Games, Josh Hutcherson was starring in this family-friendly fantasy with AnnaSophia Robb. The two play Jess and Leslie, best buddies who spend their time after school putting their imaginations to work in the great outdoors. Together, they imagine a magical land called Terabithia, where they rule as king and queen and revel in supernatural powers. Heads up: Serious plot twists pop up, but levity comes in the form of friendship, courage, and creativity.
Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Disney+
"The Lord of the Rings" Series
It's the granddaddy of all fantasy movies, so we'd be silly to leave it off a fantasy movie roundup. But because of the franchise's complexities, both in world-building and character development, it might be best to share this spectacle with the older kids in the household. About a sincere Hobbit who sets out with his friends to destroy a malevolent gold ring and save Middle-Earth, the series offers a guiding moral compass wrapped up in a thrilling grand adventure.
Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Max
"Where the Wild Things Are"
Based on the 1963 classic children's book written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak (the same one you read with a flashlight under the covers as a kid), this fantasy creature feature tags along with a little boy named Max as he trades the comforts of home for an island an ocean away where the Wild Things play. Parents will appreciate the emotional resonance from writer/director Spike Jonze; the little ones will love the gentle giants Jonze borrowed from Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Apple TV
Related: All the Family Movies Hitting Theaters in 2024
"The Secret Garden"
The 1993 adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's same-name novel stars Maggie Smith alongside Kate Maberly for a lovely and rewarding film we imagine would make Burnett proud. The story begins with Mary Lennox (Maberly), an orphan, being sent to live in a mansion in England with a cold housekeeper (Smith). To occupy her time, she befriends a bedridden boy and explores a secret garden. If the enchantment doesn't win over hearts, the themes of empathy, love, and kindness will.
Rating: G
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
"Mary Poppins"
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke make this Walt Disney classic jump off the screen as the magical Mary Poppins and the oh-so-charming Bert. Together, they whisk two children, who have been a bit neglected by their parents, away on a string of whimsical adventures–their sunny dispositions and joyful tunes infectious from the very first note. If ever there was a film that could inspire a sense of wonder in kid viewers and wake up the dormant spark in the older ones, it's this timeless gem.
Rating: G
Where to Watch: Disney+
"The Wizard of Oz"
No one is too old or too young for a trip down the yellow brick road. As captivating, entertaining, and, well, bizarre today as it was upon first viewing, this musical fantasy just gets better with age. Based on the novel by L. Frank Baum, the tale unfolds with protagonist Dorothy getting dropped by a twister in the middle of a Technicolor dream. From there, the story offers some of the most timeless tunes, iconic characters, and valuable lessons about self-discovery.
Rating: G
Where to Watch: Max, Amazon Prime, and Hulu
"The Neverending Story"
A story within a story, this '80s classic begins with a kid who retreats to the attic of his school to get lost in a book about a fantasy land called Fantasia. Inhabited by wondrous creatures like Nighthobs, Nothings, Luckdragons, and Rockbiters, this other-world casts a spell on its reader, requiring the reader's interaction to save the characters in the book. But the best part of TNS is that it has cross-generational appeal. Parents who grew up with Atreyu and Falkor can now share them with their kids.
Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Apple TV
"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"
Any classic adapted from a Roald Dahl tale will do when you want a good fantasy to enjoy with your family: The BFG, The Witches, Matilda. But nothing beats Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Especially if you pair the 1971 film about a poor boy whose luck changes when he finds one of five golden tickets with a spread of whipples, fudgemallows, and everlasting gobstoppers. Plus, there's no time like the present to introduce your little ones to the zany genius that is the late Gene Wilder.
Rating: G
Where to Watch: Max, Amazon Prime
"Stardust"
Love makes people do crazy things. For Tristain, the hopeless romantic at the center of this Neil Gaiman fantasy, this translates to venturing into a neighboring magical realm to retrieve a fallen star for his true love. Brimming with star power—Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Claire Daines—Stardust was a bit of a sleeper hit when it was released in August 2007 and has remained under the radar since. But if you ask us, it belongs at the top of the pantheon of great family-friendly fantasies.
Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
Related: 100 Movies Every Kid Needs to See Before They Grow Up
"Hugo"
When you really want to wow the family unit, queue up Martin Scorsese's only family-friendly film, Hugo. A love letter to cinema, this feast for the eyes and heart is set in a 1930s Parisian train station and follows an orphan boy named Hugo on a mysterious journey through his past. Because of the setting, there are definitely historical and educational elements for little ones, but even better, Hugo encourages young dreamers to revel in their passions and always believe that anything is possible.
Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Apple TV, Amazon Prime
"Wolfwalkers"
You can probably guess that we were trying to stay away from animation for this roundup—talk about Alice in a fantastical rabbit hole —but Wolfwalkers, animated Irish folklore, is too good not to tout. Awash in vibrant greens and oranges, the story follows Robyn, a young apprentice hunter, who happens upon a magical wolf pack and befriends a little wolf girl named Mehb. The story, so beautiful in its execution, offers an emotional take on the power of female friendship and caring for Mother Nature.
Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Apple TV
Guillermo Del Toro's "Pinocchio"
Filmmakers have tried and tried again to craft a tale as magical as Disney's original Pinocchio, an animated adventure about a wooden doll who wants to be a real boy. Finally, we have a winner. Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth) reimagines Italian writer Carlo Collodi's classic story, delivering a brilliant new iteration that embraces the original, elevates diverse voices, and paints a more multidimensional take of Pinocchio the whole family will love.
Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Netflix
"Jungle Cruise"
Can't make it to Disneyland? Here's the next best thing! And bonus, it comes with two of the screen's biggest stars: Emily Blunt and Dwayne "The Rock'' Johnson. Jungle Cruise is an action-packed fantasy comedy inspired by the theme park's eponymous ride, but the fun, humor, and charm are all thanks to the film's winsome pair. About an English botanist and a cocky skipper who ventures down a supernatural Amazon River, this exciting riverboat cruise from the comfort of your couch is exactly what the family ordered.
Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Disney+
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