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The Best Classic Fantasy Movies, Ranked

Updated April 13, 2021 34.3k votes 1.3k voters 22.3k views140 items

List RulesVote up your favorite old fantasy movies released before 1990.

This list contains information on the best classic fantasy movies, ranked from best to worst by user votes. The best classic fantasy films come in many forms. Some good old fantasy movies follow princesses as they look for love while other good classic fantasy movies feature epic battles. Many of the best classic fantasy films have been beloved for generations.

What films will you find on this top classic fantasy movies released before 1990 list? Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has to be near the top. Gene Wilder had whimsy to spare as the candy-loving title character in this 1971 movie. Fantastical plot twists and catchy songs helped to make this musical a classic. Ghostbusters is another good movie that includes elements of fantasy.

Movie-goers found a fairytale fit for the big screen in the 1987 film The Princess Bride. Other good classic fantasy films featured on this list include Mary Poppins, The NeverEnding Story, and The Wizard of Oz.

Do you have a favorite classic fantasy film? Give the best movies a thumbs up and please add any good features we may have missed.

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The Princess Bride
Billy Crystal, Robin Wright
The Princess Bride is a 1987 American romantic comedy fantasy adventure film directed and... more
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Ghostbusters
Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American sci-fi-fantasy comedy film, directed and produced by Ivan... more
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Beetlejuice
Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder
Beetlejuice is a 1988 American fantasy-comedy-horror film directed by Tim Burton. The spirits... more
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Willow
Val Kilmer, Kevin Pollak
Willow is a 1988 American fantasy film directed by Ron Howard, produced and with a story by... more
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Labyrinth
Jennifer Connelly, David Bowie
Labyrinth is a 1986 British-American musical adventure fantasy film directed by Jim Henson,... more
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The Dark Crystal
Jim Henson, Frank Oz
The Dark Crystal is a 1982 American–British fantasy film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz.... more
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The NeverEnding Story
Gerald McRaney, Limahl
The NeverEnding Story is a 1984 West German epic fantasy film based on the novel of the same... more
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Alice in Wonderland
Ed Wynn, Heather Angel
Alice in Wonderland is a 1951 American animated musical fantasy comedy-adventure film produced... more
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Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Kathleen Turner, Christopher Lloyd
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a 1988 American live-action/animated fantasy-comedy film directed... more
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The Sword in the Stone
Alan Napier, Sebastian Cabot
The Sword in the Stone is a 1963 American animated musical fantasy comedy film produced by... more
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The Little Mermaid
Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney... more
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Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke
Mary Poppins is a 1964 American musical fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced... more
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Gremlins
Steven Spielberg, Corey Feldman
Gremlins is a 1984 American horror comedy film directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros.... more
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Billy Gilbert, Pinto Colvig
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated musical fantasy film produced by... more
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Cinderella
June Foray, Mike Douglas
Cinderella is a 1950 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney and... more
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Peter Pan
June Foray, Bobby Driscoll
Peter Pan is a 1953 American animated fantasy-adventure film produced by Walt Disney and based... more
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Sleeping Beauty
Marvin Miller, Mary Costa
Sleeping Beauty is a 1959 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney based... more
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Legend
Tom Cruise, Tim Curry
Legend is a 1985 British-American fantasy adventure film directed by Ridley Scott and starring... more
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An American Tail
Christopher Plummer, Madeline Kahn
An American Tail is a 1986 American animated musical adventure film directed by Don Bluth and... more
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The Jungle Book
Clint Howard, George Sanders
The Jungle Book is a 1967 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions. Inspired... more
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Monty Python and the Holy Grail
John Cleese, Terry Gilliam
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The Secret of NIMH
Shannen Doherty, Wil Wheaton
The Secret of NIMH is a 1982 American animated fantasy adventure drama film directed by Don... more
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Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Boris Karloff, June Foray
This special is a 1966 American animated television film special directed by Chuck Jones. It... more
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The Wizard of Oz
Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and... more
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The Witches of Eastwick
Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer
The Witches of Eastwick is a 1987 American comedy-fantasy film based on John Updike's novel of... more
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