Entertainment
15 Fantasy Movies Like ‘Lord of The Rings’ for When You’re Seeking an Escape From Reality
Directed by Peter Jackson and based on J. R. R. Tolkien‘s legendary novel series, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the pinnacle of fantasy cinema, a mesmerizing immersion into a magical world of wonder brought to life by one of the most astonishing feats of filmmaking the medium has ever seen. Understandably, many fantasy fans will have no objection to using the pending November release of Season 3 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as an excuse to rewatch the ravishing original trilogy for the umpteenth time.
However, while revisiting The Lord of the Rings is always a rewarding conquest, it must be said that there is a vast array of fantasy films out there that can deliver a similar sense of escapism and wonder. From other blockbuster sensations that have carved out their own niche in 21st-century cinema to cult gems from decades ago that live on through their passionate fanbases, and even to classics of international cinema, these fantasy movies are perfect for The Lord of the Rings fans looking for something different but familiar.
15
‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy (2012–2014)
If one were to feel as though they had watched The Lord of the Rings too many times of late but still felt the desire to be engulfed in the majesty of Middle-earth, then the most obvious tonic to their ailment would be to revisit The Hobbit trilogy. It may not live up to the utter perfection of LotR, but the prequel series does capture that same tone of wonder and magical whimsy, even if its storytelling isn’t quite as sharp. That being said, it has become a trend to dismiss The Hobbit as a poor and unworthy endeavor, which is an egregious overreaction to what the trilogy actually offers up.
Following Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he is recruited by a company of dwarves to aid them in their conquest to reclaim their mountain kingdom from the dragon that snatched it from them decades earlier, the trilogy is a dazzling dose of adventurous spirit and fantasy excellence. The first two films in the trilogy are particularly excellent as rollicking and absorbing adventures that overcome their narrative faults with beautifully resonant characters, a strong grasp on propulsive momentum in storytelling, and a healthy zest of nostalgia for Tolkien’s source material and the splendor of Middle-earth.
14
‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ Series (2005-2010)
Like The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia takes inspiration from a popular novel series from the 20th century to deliver a stunning high-fantasy adventure. Based on the works of C. S. Lewis, the trilogy adapts the first three novels of the author’s seven-book series, following the four Pevensie siblings as they are sent to a countryside mansion to escape the Blitz. In an innocuous wardrobe, they discover a doorway to a magical realm full of mythical beasts, talking animals, magical weapons, and warring rulers. In their adventures, the four children influence the social order of Narnia, restoring goodness and hope to the realm.
Presenting fantasy adventure through the eyes of four kids, The Chronicles of Narnia exudes an inviting energy of unbridled wonder that immerses viewers in an air of childlike excitement. Furthermore, its deep sense of mythology, dazzling fantasy world-building, strong sense of good vs. evil, and even the tight-knit real-life connection between authors Lewis and Tolkien make it ideal for LotR fans. While Walden Media’s three-part adaptation from the 2000s is a treat for fantasy lovers, the 2027 release of Netflix’s and Greta Gerwig’s adaptation should be eagerly anticipated as well.
13
‘Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons’ (2013)
In addition to flaunting a breathtaking sense of scale, a wealth of mythology and lore, and a resounding tale of good and evil powered by monumental battle sequences and astonishing filmmaking craft, The Lord of the Rings trilogy also thrives because it understands that, at times, fantasy should be fun. The perfect fantasy recommendation for those who love the inflections of comical charm of LotR, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons takes a sillier approach to the genre in its adaptation of Wu Cheng’en‘s 16th-century classic of Chinese literature.
It depicts the origin of Tang Sanzang (Wen Zhang), a humble Buddhist monk who sets out on a journey to find his destiny and hunt demons despite having no special abilities or powers. Hilarity triumphs over heart-stopping, high-octane suspense, and it imbues the movie with a unique identity that is surprisingly transfixing, especially as it complements its comedic verve and dazzling action lunacy with an endearing tone of friendship, discovery, and wide-eyed adventure.
12
‘The Monkey King’ (2014) & ‘The Monkey King 2’ (2016)
Another interpretation of Wu Cheng’en’s 16th-century fantasy novel, “Journey to the West,” The Monkey King has the capacity to appeal to The Lord of the Rings fans through its large-scale storytelling structure, epic conflict between good and evil, and the heavy use of Western-style filmmaking techniques to realize its stunning fantasy world. Donnie Yen stars as Sun Wukong, a legendary monkey God who, after falling to Earth, embarks on a journey to learn his purpose in life that sees him voyage to Heaven and Hell.
Interestingly, while the sequel did lose the brilliance of Donnie Yen in the leading role, it does still excel as an enrapturing fantasy journey, with many critics suggesting it even surpasses its predecessor courtesy of its more enthusiastic approach to its story, more commanding visual effects, and a more exuberant sense of action-driven blockbuster spectacle. Both films hit at the heart of fantasy storytelling, especially in a cinematic sense, and anyone who loves the genre purity of The Lord of the Rings will surely find plenty to enjoy in The Monkey King and its sequel.
11
‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ (2017)
In the realm of high fantasy adventure, there is perhaps no tale as defining or timeless as the legend of King Arthur. It has been a driving inspiration behind so many movies, characters, and fantasy worlds cinema has seen, while it has also been adapted to the screen in its own right on several occasions. Guy Ritchie‘s highly stylized King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is one of the more recent and accessible interpretations of the story, even if it isn’t the outright best.
Charlie Hunnam stars as Arthur, who, after being robbed of his birthright as a child, has grown up in the city’s back alleys and gutters. When fate intervenes and sees him withdraw Excalibur from the stone, he embraces his true calling by standing against the usurper, King Vortigern (Jude Law), and vowing to become king. Despite its box office failure, the film’s interest in notions of good and evil, imbuing traditional fantasy ideas with elements of Ritchie’s trademark, hard-edged style, and its entertaining array of characters makes for an easily enjoyed gem of fantasy cinema, even if it isn’t necessarily an outright masterpiece.
10
‘Bridge to Terabithia’ (2007)
With fantasy-adventure awe, a beating heart of friendship, and a brilliant ability to explore both the imaginative thrill of childhood and the brutal heartache of loss, Bridge to Terabithia is a shining light of 21st-century family fantasy cinema that has become something of a modern classic due to its profound emotional might. Based on Katherine Paterson‘s novel of the same name, it revolves around the tragic story of two outcast kids who manifest their real-life problems of isolation, bullying, and troubles at home in an imaginary fantasy land filled with all manner of mythical beasts.
It is a touching ode to friendship that also provides a deep and emotionally intelligent perspective of child psychology, particularly regarding how kids use their imagination to combat the complexity of issues they can’t fully comprehend. While its story has more real-world connotations and perhaps less dramatic stakes than The Lord of the Rings, it does match the epic trilogy’s ability to deliver a meaningful and immersive story defined by the incredible scope of its emotional range, spanning from the innocence and glee of playful fun to the soul-crushing despair of grief.
9
‘Warcraft’ (2016)
Fantasy cinema in the wake of The Lord of the Rings has been interesting to observe. While the 2000s saw plenty of attempts to recapture the allure of epic, otherworldly adventure, many such endeavors fell flat—both critically and commercially—and by the time the 2010s had come around, studios seemed hesitant to invest big money in such pursuits. Granted, fantasy cinema still thrived through creative spins on the genre that range from dark drama to animated family gems, but 2016’s Warcraft stands as one of the few pictures that actively strives to mimic that sense of awe-inspiring enormity and high-stakes heroism.
Granted, the movie is far from a faultless masterpiece, but it does offer a suitably entertaining spectacle of fantasy warfare as it follows the uneasy alliance that is forged between a group of dissenting orcs fleeing their tyrannical brethren and human survivors hoping to repel the invading force from their land. Its unique perspective on orcs gives it some intriguing ideas, and its ambition to deliver grandiose world-building, conflicts, and character arcs imbues it with a cozy familiarity, even if it doesn’t always come together as elegantly as possible.
8
‘Solomon Kane’ (2009)
Based on the pulp magazine character created by Robert E. Howard way back in 1928, Solomon Kane is a dark historical fantasy rife with thematic ideas of heroism, morality, and redemption. In fact, it is incredibly easy to draw parallels between the journey of Solomon Kane (James Purefoy) and LotR‘s Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) due to the nature of their arcs and the reserved nobility of their demeanors. The 2009 movie follows Kane, a former privateer damned to Hell who has renounced violence in favor of faith, as he realizes he must resort to his old ways in order to rescue an innocent girl from an evil sorcerer and his followers.
Battles with everything from sneaking minions to demons, witches, ghouls, and even powerful wizards dominate the runtime, granting Solomon Kane an appetite for fantasy action that fans of The Lord of the Rings are sure to appreciate, even if the violence in this case is more horrific and bloodthirsty. Buoyed by Kane’s internal struggle to redeem his soul through a life of righteous action, sacrifice, and duty, Solomon Kane holds a similar morality to LotR as well, making it a treat of an underrated gem for all fans of fantasy cinema, especially ones who enjoy a dark, horror edge.
Loosely based on Jacques Tardi‘s comic book series of the same name, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec is an appropriately extraordinary concoction of period allure, fantasy excess, absurdist fun, and invigorating adventure that stands as an underrated gem of French cinema in recent decades. Its appetite for stylish indulgence is present in everything from the delightfully over-the-top performances to its narrative tone of whimsy and wisecracks, making for a richly immersive dose of unfiltered, unashamed entertainment.
It follows Adèle Blanc-Sec (Louise Bourgoin), a bold adventurer and journalist in early 20th-century Paris, as she attempts to find a way to save her comatose sister by reviving an Egyptian mummy, but her endeavor grows complicated when her mentor faces the death penalty when his hatched pterosaur terrorizes the city. Embracing its chaotic sense of mayhem, and complementing it with enticing production value, sharp visual effects, and a litany of picturesque locations, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec flaunts an unrestrained commitment to fantasy excess that is perfect for those who love The Lord of the Rings when it is operating at its most charming and characterful.
6
‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)
As one of the greatest and most iconic fantasy movies ever made, The Seventh Seal is a quintessential viewing experience for all who adore the genre. However, its style and tone are fiercely different from that of The Lord of the Rings. Viewed by many as being the defining masterpiece of Ingmar Bergman‘s career, the Swedish release follows Antonius Block (Max von Sydow), a knight who returns to his homeland from the Crusades only to find it devastated by the Black Death. As he navigates the ruins of the nation with a small group of travelers, he also faces Death (Bengt Ekerot) in a game of chess that will determine his fate.
Rather than unfolding as a dashing adventure, The Seventh Seal runs more as a thematically rich and deeply meditative think-piece that explores the nature of faith and doubt, the fragility of mortality, and concepts of suffering and redemption. Complimented by its striking and ceaselessly gorgeous black-and-white cinematography and an arresting atmosphere of existentialism and medieval doom, The Seventh Seal is a compelling masterpiece of mindful fantasy cinema that, while completely different to The Lord of the Rings, still deserves to be explored by anyone who enjoys fantasy storytelling.
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