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The Best Live Action Kids Fantasy Movies

Updated November 26, 2019 8.7k votes 676 voters 15.8k views28 items

There's something especially magical about fantasy movies for kids. They spark young viewers' imaginations and encourage them to follow their hearts. The best kids live action movies feature young actors and actresses heading out into a world of adventure. This is a list of the greatest children's live action fantasy movies including everything from The Chronicles of Narnia to The NeverEnding Story to Hook.

What films will you find on this list of the best kids fantasy movies? In the 1971 musical Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Gene Wilder steals every scene he's in as the whimsical candy-maker. Johnny Depp put his own spin on the classic Roald Dahl story in 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Goonies features a misfit gang of kids going up against some villainous characters. Other great films featured here include Flight of the Navigator, Where the Wild Things Are, and Casper.

It's up to you to decide which movie deserves the top spot on the list. Give your favorites a thumbs up and please add any good live action fantasy movies for kids that are missing.

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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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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 2005 musical adventure film directed by Tim Burton. It... more
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The Goonies
Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin
The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Richard Donner. The... more
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Matilda
Danny DeVito, Mara Wilson
Matilda is a 1996 American fantasy comedy children's film directed and narrated by Danny... more
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Where the Wild Things Are
Mark Ruffalo, Forest Whitaker
Where the Wild Things Are is a 2009 fantasy drama film directed by Spike Jonze. Written by... more
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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Drew Barrymore, Erika Eleniak
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Liam Neeson, Tilda Swinton
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a 2005 fantasy adventure... more
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Casper
Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman
Casper is a 1995 American family comedy fantasy film starring Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman,... more
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Short Circuit
Steve Guttenberg, Ally Sheedy
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Flight of the Navigator
Sarah Jessica Parker, Paul Reubens
Flight of the Navigator is a 1986 comic science fiction film directed by Randal Kleiser and... more
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Dumbo
Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton
Dumbo is a 2019 American fantasy adventure film directed by Tim Burton, based on the story by... more
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Beasts of the Southern Wild
Quvenzhané Wallis, Jay Oliver
Beasts of the Southern Wild is a 2012 American fantasy drama film directed by Benh Zeitlin and... more
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Cinderella
Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter
Cinderella is a 2015 American romantic fantasy film directed by Kenneth Branagh, from a... more
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Jumanji
Kirsten Dunst, Robin Williams
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Hugo
Jude Law, Chloë Grace Moretz
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson
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The NeverEnding Story
Gerald McRaney, Limahl
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The Indian in the Cupboard
Steve Coogan, Richard Jenkins
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Hook
Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman
Hook is a 1991 American fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Peter... more
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Hocus Pocus
Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe
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The Spiderwick Chronicles
Nick Nolte, Seth Rogen
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Bridge to Terabithia
Zooey Deschanel, Josh Hutchersonm
Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 American-New Zealand fantasy adventure family drama film... more
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Labyrinth
Jennifer Connelly, David Bowie
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Charlotte's Web
Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey
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