Historical Fantasy movies are films that occur during some sort of major point in human history with an added fantastical twist. They may be based on real events, real people, or real places and eras, just with more magic, monsters, and other fantastical creatures. This allows audiences to see a more exciting and imaginative retelling of events, though it goes without saying that these movies aren’t exactly historically accurate.
Covering a wide range of topics and times, the historical fantasy genre has produced some absolute marvels of cinema throughout the decades, many of which are considered the best movies ever made. These journeys through time tell stories of love and laughter, or alternatively, death and destruction, as they weave intricate webs of mystical intrigue into some of humanity’s most notable eras. From certified classics to more modern hits,these are the best movies that combine history and fantasy.
10'300' (2007)
Directed by Zack Snyder
300is based on a graphic novel of the same name byFrank Miller, which follows the Spartan King,Leonidas I(Gerard Butler), as he leads an army of just 300 Spartans on a mission to delay an invasion from the Achaemenid Empire during the Greco-Persian Wars. The Battle of Thermopylae resulted inthe deaths of nearly every Spartan heroin attendance, Leonidas included. But every single Spartan was fully ready to die – they all knew going in that this was a sacrificial mission, which would buy time for the rest of Greece to prepare for the invasion.
The movie is highly stylized but features some really sweet action. On top of that,300is a heroic tale of sacrifice with a lot of quotable moments. There are also some fantastical themes thrown in to, such as the Oracle of Delphi, fantastical creatures, and other tidbits of Greek mythology. It may not be the most historically accurate film, but it successfully showcased one of history’s most important battles with undeniable flair.
9’The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1996)
Directed by Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise
The Hunchback of Notre Dameis yet another Disney animated musical, this time taking place in Medieval Paris. Among the immense bell towers of the Notre Dame Cathedral is a reclusive man named Quasimodo (Tom Hulce), whose sole job is to ring the bells at certain times. His only company is three sentient stone gargoyles perched atop the bell tower until, one day, he leaves his home and runs into a Romani woman named Esmeralda (Demi Moore).
One ofDisney’s most underappreciated movies,The Hunchback of Notre Dameis possibly the studio’s darkest effort while remaining fun and heartfelt, with a stronger historical presence than others of its kind. The film lets go of princes and princesses tofocus on ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. It’s also got great messages about never judging anyone based on appearance, and getting to know people by who they are within instead, which is a super important message for kids.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
8’Midnight in Paris' (2011)
Directed by Woody Allen
Midnight in Parisis a comedy movie that opens up in a rather modern, non-historical setting. It centers on Gil (Owen Wilson), a struggling writer who adores the artistry and architecture of 1920s Paris. After a long night of drinking, he finds himselfmagically transported through timeto that exact period, meeting many historical figures along the way.
Gil jumps back and forth between eras several times throughout the film, never quite understanding or caring how it’s happening. This premise really could have crashed and burned because it could have turned out ridiculous. Instead,Midnight in Parisgrapples with a lot of existential themes whileshowcasing a romantic and comedic adventure through timeto a period that is highly romanticized across film and literature.
Midnight in Paris
7’The Northman' (2022)
Directed by Robert Eggers
The Northmantakes place during the Viking Age, which ran from roughly 800 to 1050. A considerable dose of Old Norse mythology dominates the film, mixing heroes of legend with real historical figures to produceone of the best Viking moviesin recent years. It comes with a star-studded cast ofWillem Dafoe,Ethan Hawke,Björk,Alexander Skarsgård,Nicole Kidman,Anya Taylor-Joy, andHafþór Júlíus Björnsson, among others.
The elements of Norse mythos pictured in the movie range from creatures to symbols and even to the realm of Valhalla. But where it really shines is in its gritty action, perfect for fans ofVikings.The Northmanis one of the most brilliant and interesting historical fantasy filmsto come out in recent years and is one that should definitely be seen by fans of the genre.
The Northman
6’Pan’s Labyrinth' (2006)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Pan’s Labyrinthcomes from the creative mind ofGuillermo del Toroand takes place shortly after the Spanish Civil War. This movie debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, where itbroke the record for the longest standing ovationreceived at the festival, a whopping 22 minutes. That alone should be enough to attest to its quality.
Story-wise, it follows a young girl named Ophelia (Ivana Baquero) who meets a mythical faun in the heart of an ancient labyrinth and is sent to embark on a series of trials that will allow her to become a legendary princess. Combining some of the most unique visuals ever committed to film along with an often-overlooked historical setting,Pan’s Labyrinthis a dark fantasy like no otherand del Toro’s crowning achievement.
Pan’s Labyrinth
5’The Boy and the Heron' (2023)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
The Boy and the Heronis themost recent in a long list of Studio Ghibli masterpieces. The movie takes place during the Pacific Theatre of World War II, during which a young Japanese boy named Mahito (Luca Padovan) is left scared and alone upon the death of his mother and the remarriage of his father. He is visited by a strange, sentient Heron (Robert Pattinson), who leads him to an alternate dimension shared between the living and the dead.
Like many other Ghibli movies,The Boy and the Heronwas extremely well-received and evenwon the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. As per usual with Ghibli films, critics raved about its whimsical energy, beautiful animation, and thought-provoking concepts that aren’t always present in animated movies.The Boy and the Heronproved to be a work of art, blending surreal fantasy with a classic coming-of-age story to shine a light on the scars left by the war on those too young to fully understand it.
The Boy and the Heron
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4’Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' (2000)
Directed by Ang Lee
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonis awuxiafilm starringMichelle Yeohas Yu Shu Lien,one of the best sword wielders in cinema. She is assigned to deliver a sword of legend to one of her benefactors, but this is no easy task, as many others are also looking to acquire the sword using any means necessary.
Wuxiafilms are martial arts movies set in Imperial China, so of course,there’s a lot of stellar action amidst the historical backdrop of the Qing Dynasty. However, there are some fantastical aspects of it, too, namely the iconic airborne fight amongst the tops of bamboo trees. The fantasy elements aren’t exactly subtle, but they serve to makeCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonthat much more exciting, setting it apart from otherwuxiafilms.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
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3’Throne of Blood' (1961)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Throne of Bloodis a Japanesejidaigekifilm that is based onMacbethbyWilliam Shakespeare. It follows an ambitious warrior who is told by witches (or, in the case of this movie, a forest spirit) that he will one day be king, causing him to murder his liege lord and usurp the throne for himself. Like many other Japanese period dramas,Throne of Bloodtakes place during a period of great turmoil in Japan when multiple lords were feuding with each other.
Despite featuring all-new characters and acompletely different genre,Throne of Bloodis probably the best adaptation ofMacbethout there.It features a historical setting as well as some great fantastical aspectswith the forest spirit, who also happens to be gifted with foresight. On top of that, it’s directed byAkira Kurosawa, who is known for making some of the greatest movies of all time, not just in Japanese cinema but in world cinema, too.
Throne of Blood
2’The Tale of the Princess Kaguya' (2013)
Directed by Isao Takahata
The Tale of the Princess Kaguyais a Japanese animated film that utlilizes an art style that really hasn’t been used very often before, if at all. The movie looks like a moving wall scroll, with the characters and places pictured in a traditional Japanese style. This visual approach is absolutely stunning to look at, which makes it easy to dive right into and become fully immersed.
Kaguya is a young woman living some time in the Middle Ages and is constantly pursued by five noble suitors, none of whom she truly loves. To get them off her back, Kaguya sends them on wild goose chases, but it is only a matter of time before she will have to face the consequences of her actions. Normally, Studio Ghibli has a particular animation style for its films, and while it is pretty, it’s nice to see a departure from the norm to create something truly special.The film earned a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which speaks to its quality. Beyond that,The Tale of the Princess Kaguyais a bittersweet look at a particular moment in time, with a sorrowful story enhanced by breathtaking visuals.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
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1’The Seventh Seal' (1957)
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
The Seventh Sealtakes place in Medieval Sweden nearthe end of the Crusades. An exhausted knight (Max Von Sydow) returns home from his voyage to the Holy Land to be met with Death himself (Bengt Ekerot). Death challenges the knight to a game of chess, which the knight accepts, hoping that the longer the game goes on, the more time he will have to live.
This movie’s version of Death and his love of board games has been endlessly parodied in comedy films. Beyond that, its unique approach has cementedThe Seventh Sealas one of the greatest films ever made. While extremely polarizing at the time, it has grown in standing and become a certified classic, with many now appreciating it for its artistic style and dark themes. The National Society of Film Critics rated it as being amongtheir 100 essential films, which is no easy list to make. Beautifully framing its darkly creative story in the sociopolitical context of its setting,The Seventh Sealremains a near-perfect blend of history and fantasy.
