10 Most Rewatchable Fantasy Movies of the 2000s, Ranked for Their Lasting Appeal

Fantasy’s 2000s Revival

Fantasy films have moved through periods of popularity and change. The 1980s were remembered for practical effects and dark moods, while that style receded during the 1990s. In 2001, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring helped usher in a new wave. The decade’s films covered a broad range, from light adventures to darker tales and grand acts of bravery.

Twilight’s Divisive Appeal

Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, moves to Forks, Washington, to live with her father, Police Chief Carlie, portrayed by Billy Burke. At school, she meets Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson, who saves her from a van with unusual strength and speed.

Bella discovers that Edward and his family are vampires, but pursues a relationship with him despite the danger. The film draws both praise and criticism; its pacing, unintentionally funny dialogue and performances, and early roles for Stewart and Pattinson can make it worth revisiting.

Corpse Bride’s Gothic Tale

Victor Van Dort, voiced by Johnny Depp, is due to marry Victoria Everglot, voiced by Emily Watson, but disrupts their rehearsal. While practicing his vows in the woods, he puts a ring on a skeletal finger, bringing Emily, voiced by Helena Bonham Carter, back to life; she takes him to the underworld.

Directed by Tim Burton, Corpse Bride draws on Jewish folklore and pairs its gothic fantasy with themes of love, regret and mortality. Danny Elfman’s music includes “Remains of the Day,” a colorful jazz song that recounts Emily’s tragic story.

Stardust’s Whimsical Adventure

On his deathbed, Stormhold’s king, played by Peter O’Toole, sends a ruby into the sky and says the first of his three living sons to claim it will inherit the throne. The ruby knocks the star Yvaine, played by Claire Danes, from the sky; Tristan Thorn, played by Charlie Cox, finds her and hopes to bring her back to win Victoria, played by Sienna Miller.

The witch queen Lamia, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, also pursues Yvaine, seeking her heart to restore her and her sisters’ youth. Adapted from Neil Gaiman’s dark satirical fairy tale, Stardust takes a more whimsical, family-friendly approach, including Captain Shakespeare, played by Robert De Niro, a sky-pirate captain who hides his love of English culture from his crew.

Coraline’s Unsettling Other World

Coraline Jones, voiced by Dakota Fanning, feels unhappy after her parents move to the Pink Palace apartment complex. She finds a small door leading to an alternate world, where the Other Mother, voiced by Teri Hatcher, has created a place tailored to Coraline’s wishes.

As Coraline explores, she realizes something wicked lies beneath the world’s inviting surface. The film stands out as a dark family story for its animation, eerie atmosphere and sympathetic central character, who is struggling to adjust to a new home.