Magic, dragons and extraordinary beings populate the 7 best high fantasy movies of the last 10 years, ranked

What Counts as High Fantasy

The list uses a definition centered on stories set in another world, where magic and magical beings are present. Elves and dragons, for example, are more commonplace in these settings than in our own.

The Boy And The Heron is mentioned as an honorable mention because it begins in the real world and is more of a portal fantasy. Dune and James Cameron’s Avatar movies are excluded because they are primarily science fiction, despite sometimes entering discussions of high fantasy.

A Dragon Trilogy’s Finale

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World concludes the movie trilogy with an emotional, visually striking story. Its animation and art help give the finale a sense of scale.

Hiccup and Toothless face new obstacles, including the dragon hunter Grimmel the Grisly. The film also introduces the Hidden World, a concealed place where dragons may live without fear.

The story balances humor and emotional moments with the weight of an ending. Its expanded lore and detailed range of dragon species further develop the world of the series.

Hunters And Sea Beasts

The Sea Beast follows Captain Crow, a legendary hunter, as he takes young orphan Maisie Brumble on a quest to confront the Red Bluster. The adventure grows more complex as it challenges the hunters’ assumptions about the creatures they pursue.

The film’s fantastical world is populated by enormous, dragon-like sea beasts. Expressive characters and a grounded approach to imagining life alongside these creatures help carry the story.

Magic Meets Technology

Nimona presents a futuristic fantasy world where magic and scientific advancement exist together. That combination gives its setting both high-fantasy elements and a science-fiction dimension. The story centers on Nimona, a shapeshifter, and Ballister Boldheart, a former knight accused of killing the kingdom’s queen. Together, they try to uncover what really happened.