Entertainment
8 Best Romantic Fantasy Movies Released Since ‘The Princess Bride’
When The Princess Bride was released in 1987, it quietly rewrote the rules of romantic fantasy. It proved that a love story could be sweeping without being saccharine, ironic without being cynical, and adventurous without losing emotional sincerity. Since then, filmmakers have chased that same 1980s alchemy—the delicate balance of magic, humor, danger, and devotion. And luckily, some have found it.
Many would argue that the best romantic fantasy films released in its wake understand one crucial thing: spectacle alone is not enough. Whether told through animated kingdoms, time-traveling meet-cutes, or sky-bound ships, these stories endure because they treat love as transformative. They remind us that romance, at its best, feels both impossible and inevitable (like destiny, but still chosen). And in a genre built on magic, that sincerity is the most powerful spell of all.
8
‘Tangled’ (2010)
After a magical flower grants her healing powers, baby Princess Rapunzel is stolen from the palace by the vain and manipulative Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), who locks her away in a hidden tower for 18 years. Now, on the brink of adulthood, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) finally seizes her chance at freedom when charming thief, Flynn Rider (Zachery Levi), stumbles into her tower, and promises to escort her to see the floating lanterns she’s long dreamed of.
Tangled feels like a direct descendant of The Princess Bride in the best way: it gives us swashbuckling adventure, razor-sharp banter, and a romance that builds through shared danger. The lantern sequence alone solidifies itself in the Disney hall of fame as it’s not only visually stunning, but emotionally significant as it showcases a true moment of vulnerability. Throughout the film, Flynn’s bravado softens, Rapunzel finds her courage, and the fairy-tale becomes deeply human. It’s a classic romance polished with modern wit, and a true underrated addition to Disney’s animated collection.
7
‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990)
In a pastel suburban town, an unfinished artificial man named Edward (Johnny Depp) is discovered living alone in a gothic mansion. Taken in by a well-meaning family, Edward struggles to adapt to suburban life, all the while forming a tender connection with their daughter, Kim (Winona Ryder). Unfortunately for him, his scissor-bladed hands and gentle strangeness quickly make him both a fascination and target to others.
Tim Burton’s melancholic masterpiece transforms a simple love story into something hauntingly tragic. Like in The Princess Bride, Edward and Kim’s romance is defined by distance—physical, emotional, and societal. It’s a story about loving someone you can never quite hold. However, where many fantasy romances promise happily-ever-afters, Edward Scissorhands lingers in the longing. Its bittersweet devotion, quiet sacrifice, and gothic atmosphere give it the emotional weight of a modern myth made legendary in the 90s.
6
‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004)
When Sophie (Chieko Baishô), a shy young woman working in her family’s hat shop, is cursed by a jealous witch and transformed into an elderly woman, she has no means to tell anyone of her plight. So, seeking a way to break the spell, she finds refuge in the magical, ever-shifting castle of the mysterious wizard Howl (Takuya Kimura). But as war looms and curses intertwine, Sophie and Howl slowly unravel each other’s defenses.
From the brilliant minds at Studio Ghibli and famed director Hayao Miyazaki, this romance is whimsical, strange, and yet still profoundly tender. Sophie learns confidence in a body she doesn’t recognize, while Howl learns bravery in a world he’s been avoiding. Together, their love unfolds through quiet acts of protection rather than grand speeches. In many ways, the magic externalizes their insecurities, making their emotional growth feel even more profound. Howl’s Moving Castle is fantasy at its most poetic.
5
‘Big Fish’ (2003)
As Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) nears the end of his life, his estranged son Will (Billy Crudup) attempts to separate fact from fiction in the fantastical stories his father has told for years—those being tales of witches, giants, mermaids, and impossible adventures. Threaded through every outlandish anecdote, however, is Edward’s unwavering devotion to his wife, Sandra (Jessica Lange), whom he claims to have loved from the very first moment he saw her.
While Big Fish operates as a father-son drama, its most enduring thread is romantic devotion. Edward’s love story unfolds like folklore—exaggerated, stylized, larger than life—yet grounded in something deeply sincere. Whether every detail happened exactly as told almost becomes irrelevant. What matters is that Edward’s love for Sandra feels mythic in its consistency. For many, this movie highlights how romance isn’t just about how love begins, but how it is remembered and retold. And in that sense, it’s one of the grandest love stories of all.
4
‘Enchanted’ (2007)
When animated fairy tale princess Giselle (Amy Adams) is banished by an evil queen into live-action modern-day New York City, she finds herself navigating a world without talking animals or instant happily-ever-afters. Taken in by pragmatic divorce lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey) after an accidental stumble, Giselle’s unwavering optimism begins to disrupt his carefully ordered life—especially when people (and creatures) from her world begin to creep in.
There’s no doubt that Enchanted thrives on its playful collision between sincerity and skepticism. Giselle’s belief in true love initially seems naive, but the film gradually proves that romance can survive even outside storybook rules. The love that develops between Giselle and Robert surely isn’t instant magic—instead, it’s built through partnership and growth. By lovingly poking fun at classic tropes while still embracing them, the film becomes both parody and love letter to the genre.
3
‘Shrek 2’ (2004)
After returning from their honeymoon, Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are invited to return to the Kingdom of Far Far Away to meet her royal parents. The only problem: they don’t know that she’s married to an ogre, nor that she’s fully become one. Throw in a scheming Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders), a swoon-worthy (and deeply smarmy) Prince Charming (Rupert Everett), and one unforgettable potion mishap, and you have a sequel that goes bigger in every possible way.
Underneath the meme-worthy one-liners and iconic needle drops lies a romance that feels shockingly grounded. Indeed, Shrek 2 dares to ask whether love should be reshaped to meet the world’s expectations—or whether the world should adjust instead. Fiona choosing Shrek again and again, even when offered conventionally “perfect” versions and alternatives, makes their relationship one of the most affirming in animated history. There’s no doubt that it’s truly one of the best movies (and sequels) to ever be made.
2
‘About Time’ (2013)
When Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) learns from his father that the men in his family have the ability to travel through time, he decides to use his newfound ability to improve his life—starting with finding love. Lucky for him, after a series of awkward first encounters, Tim finally meets Mary (Rachel McAdams), and their relationship unfolds with a mixture of do-overs, missteps, and small triumphs.
Directed by Richard Curtis, About Time transforms a high-concept premise into something incredibly intimate. In this world, time travel isn’t about spectacle, but about presence. Tim slowly realizes that perfection isn’t the goal—appreciation is, leaving the fantasy element to reinforce the film’s central truth: love lives in the ordinary days, messy conversations, and feeling moments you can’t rewind forever. It truly is romance in the most grounded way possible.
1
‘Stardust’ (2007)
In the quiet village of Wall, Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox) promises the woman he adores that he will retrieve a fallen star for her birthday. Needing to cross into a magical realm, Tristan soon discovers that the star is not a stone at all, but a woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes). But as dangerous forces close in, a reluctant partnership develops, alongside an unexpected love story.
Based on the famed Neil Gaiman novel, Stardust easily earns the crown in this list as it most faithfully channels the spirit of the grand, unabashed romantic fantasy. Between sword fights, sky pirates, wicked witches, and declarations that make your heart lurch—it never undercuts its own sincerity. Tristan begins the film by chasing the fantasy of love and ends it by choosing real partnership, while Yvaine proves she’s not a mere prize to be won, but a force in her own right. It’s funny, bold, and deliciously ridiculous in the best way. For any Gen Z, this is our Princess Bride.
Stardust
- Release Date
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August 10, 2007
- Runtime
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127 minutes
- Director
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Matthew Vaughn
- Writers
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Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn, Neil Gaiman
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