Best Fantasy Movies on Netflix to Watch Right Now

As a platform, Netflix has done its best to cater to a wide audience, and one of the genres that has seen the most love in original content and bringing classics to the platform is fantasy. The genre is known for giving its viewers a bit of escapism by transferring them to unique and beautiful worlds or creating darker landscapes reflective of real-life fears. The diversity of genre does not just stop there, as it can appeal to both old and young audiences. However, the best fantasy movies bridge all those gaps, blending various elements seamlessly to offer tales that are timeless and accessible to everyone.

These 10 fantasy movies on Netflix offer up that perfect blend of escapism and clever commentary that will appeal to both young people and adults. Whether you want an animated feature, live-action, or something in between, this list will cover you for that next movie night with the family or a partner.

10 Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Set in an alternative vision of feudal Japan, Kubo and the Two Strings follows the titular Kubo, a 12-year-old boy with a magical shamisen, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument. Caring for his ill mother, Kubo keeps them alive by entering the nearby town and telling fantastical tales of his father, the legendary Hanzo, with the help of his instrument. Yet Kubo’s life is overshadowed by the Moon King, who stole his eye as a baby and is trying to find him to steal the other. After being discovered, Kubo has to fight against the Moon King with the help of a Monkey born of his mother’s charm and a beetle with amnesia who believes himself a student of Hanzo.

A Heartwarming and Visually Stunning Fantasy Inspired by Japanese Folklore

Kubo and the Two Strings offers an ideal mix of fantasy, action, and drama, beautifully told through a different cultural perspective. Like any great fantasy, the movie tackles grander themes like the importance of family, grief, and the power of creativity, wrapping it up in lush visuals. The voice cast is also phenomenal, including the talents of Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, George Takei, and Ralph Fiennes. Kubo and the Two Strings will appeal to fantasy fans of all ages; there is a strong visual presence and outstanding storytelling elements for kids, but enough depth to appeal to mature viewers who want to dig deeper into the movie’s themes.

9 The Imaginary (2024)

Read our Review

Rudger is the imaginary friend of Amanda Shuffleup, and the two have an inseparable bond as they escape into a world of their imagination. However, when the sinister Mr. Bunting, who despises imaginary friends, catches a whiff of Rudger, he tries to separate the two. After an ‘accident’ that leaves Amanda unconscious, Rudger is sent to the land of forgotten imaginary friends, where he launches a quest with others to get his friend to remember him so he can help stop the evil Mr. Bunting.

The Power of Creativity and Imagination

A family film with heart and a beautiful visual direction,The Imaginary rivals Studio Ghibli’s best works. It is a highly emotional journey that taps into the imagination of youth with such exuberance that it is hard not to fall for its charms. The movie is also presented on Netflix with a solid English voice cast, so whether you want to watch it in sub or dub, you won’t miss out on this fantastic anime.

8 Damsel (2023)

Elodie believes she is destined for greater status after accepting a marriage proposal from a prince. However, she soon discovers that her marriage is a ruse to have her sacrificed to a dragon to repay an ancient debt the family has to the ferocious creature. This turns the typical ‘damsel,’ into a survivor as she must battle the dragon and those that destined her to die.

Action Oriented Fantasy

While not a critical smash, audiences fell for the charms of Damsel. The movie was praised for its subversion of fantasy and fairy tale tropes, which flipped the ‘damsel in distress’ aspect on its head. Millie Bobby Brown’s performance as the titular damsel, Elodie, also impressed many with the young actor’s maturity. The film did meet some mixed reactions regarding how it approached its feminist themes, yet the sharp visual direction and action mean that if you are looking for a nice piece of fantasy escapism, Damsel should fit the bill.

7 Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

This retelling of the classic story opens with Geppetto, a woodcarver in Italy, losing his son Carlo during a World War I bombing. Years later, the bereaved father carves a puppet from the pine that grew at his son’s grave, who soon comes to life. Pinocchio’s appearance catches the eyes of many, including a circus owner who eventually whisks the boy away from his father and forces him into work. This starts a long journey where Pinocchio attempts to return to his father with the aid of various eccentric characters along the way, including his most trusty companion, Sebastian J. Cricket, who was chosen by a wood sprite to be his moral guide.

A Wonderfully Poignant Re-imagining of a Classic

Guillermo del Toro has proven himself to be a master of creating dark fantasy stories, with his vision of Pinocchio going on to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. It is easy to see why. Not only does the movie boast a strong visual direction and use a mix of modern techniques and stop-motion, but it also offers a deeply introspective reimaging of a fan favorite. It deals with heavy themes like fascism, grief, and the concept of free will in a way that only del Toro can pull off.

6 Slumberland (2022)

Read our ReviewNemo lives a quiet life with her father at a lighthouse, with her favorite pastime being listening to her father tell her tales about his adventures with his fantastical friend Flip. When her father disappears, Nemo is set to live with her uncle in the city, but she soon longs for escapism in the face of a mundane rural existence. The young girl soon finds a way to visit an imaginative world with the help of her stuffed pig, who comes to life in her dreams. Here she meets Flip, an eccentric outlaw in the world of dreams being hunted by agents enforcing the rules of the dream world.

Dealing with Loss Through a Lush Fantasy Landscape

Slumberland explores heavy themes like loss and grief with meaning, making it a comforting experience for anyone who has felt the same profound sense of loss. The feature also presents a lush visual landscape that is a joy to visit. While Jason Momoa’s portrayal of Flip will be a draw for many, Marlow Barkley’s performance as Nemo is the real show-stealer here, with the young actor showing great emotional range.

5 The House (2022)

Three lives are chronicled, connected through the same house where the residents have called the space a home. The first story tells of an impoverished family who makes a Faustian deal with an architect to live a life of luxury but soon find themselves overly obsessed with material goods and losing their identity. The second tale tells of a mouse trying to fix the home but realizing his efforts are fruitless. The final story, which takes place in the future, sees the home surrounded by water, where it is owned by a cat whose tenants pay her in stones and fish.

A Fantasy Anthology Movie Like Nothing Else

Anthologies in the fantasy genre are few and far between, which makes the phenomenal Netflix Original The House such a cherish-worthy addition to their catalog. Visually, the stop-motion approach offers a rather surreal yet awe-inspiring portrait of various souls who meet turning points in their lives at the titular house. Yet, the profundity of each of these tales, which all act as cautionary tales, will make the work resonate with the viewer long after the credits roll.

4 Matilda (1996)

Matilda Wormwood is a bright and talented young girl who stays optimistic despite her selfish parents and enrollment in the ultra-strict Crunchem Hall. Matilda’s optimism puts her at odds with the principal, Miss Agatha Trunchbull, but the young girl soon finds solace in a young teacher, Miss Honey, who helps Matilda realize her gifts. When Matilda discovers she has powers, she decides to use them to help her fellow students out from under the repressive regime of the foul Trunchbull.

A Fantastic Tale of Overcoming Hardship

Matilda is a classic that still manages to entertain children and adults alike decades after its initial release. The movie has a sharp comedic wit, wonderful performances, themes of redemption, and an empowering message to children who may be struggling. Netflix certainly saw potential in Matilda and even released a musical remake that is also worthy of your time.

3 Nimona (2023)

Blending elements of science fiction and fantasy, Nimona opens with a knight, Ballister Boldheart, who is falsely accused of murdering the queen and forced to flee. During his escape, he meets a teenage shapeshifter named Nimona, and the two form an unlikely bond, both facing unwarranted persecution. Together, they look to clear Ballister’s name, with Nimona holding her own grudge against the knight who brandished her the “Great Black Monster.”

An Exciting Science-Fantasy Action Adventure

The unique world-building of Nimona should be enough to pique the interest of any fantasy genre fan, and the Netflix Original animation feature has a sharp visual direction to make this sci-fi/fantasy world come to life. The movie also balances heart with humor, with an endearing and often silly tale of friendship going up against the odds. This is one of Netflix’s most underrated original movies and is worth a closer look for those looking for something fresh and entertaining.

2 Nightbooks (2021)

A young boy named Alex loves to escape into a world of horror stories. At school, after he finds he is bullied for being different, he decides to conform and destroy all of his books, only to accidentally come across a witch named Natacha, who traps him in her apartment and forces him to tell her scary stories. Alex, joined by another child, Yasmin, must tell the witch horror stories every night or face punishment. While the two develop stories together, they also plot their escape.

A Fashionable and Macabre Fantasy Story

Besides Krysten Ritter’s macabre and memorable fashion as the witch Natacha, Nightbooksindulges in all things creepy and crawly to give a memorable, age-appropriate, macabre fantasy story. At the same time, the movie tackles the vital theme of self-acceptance, as Alex struggles with his love of peculiar things and fitting in, only to turn it into a strength that saves him and his friend. For adults who love horror, Nightbooks is a great film to introduce young ones to the genre, with enough substance to entertain them as well.

1 The School for Good and Evil (2022)

The lives of two best friends, Sophie and Agatha, are upended when they are taken from their village and thrust into a magical institution designed to train future heroes and villains. Thrust into opposite ends of the school, which was made to bring a proper balance of good and evil in the fairy tale kingdom, each begins to step into their roles. However, when Sophie falls in love with Prince Tedros, forces from both sides start to intervene and break down the divide between good and evil.

A Fantasy Story of Love and Friendship

It is easy to immerse oneself in the world of The School for Good and Evil with the gorgeous set design and costume work, particularly when considering the contrasting visuals of each school. Yet, what will most please viewers is the production’s endearing exploration of the power of friendship to overcome adversity. This, of course, is all backed by upbeat and comedic moments that perfectly balance drama and humor.