Fantasy Movies That Blend Fun and Imagination on the Big Screen Fantasy movies have endured for decades thanks to imaginative storytelling and special effects. Discover how films like Dragonheart and Time Bandits keep the genre fun. Fantasy movies have been a part of cinema since its earliest days, and the genre remains beloved for turning the mundane into the magical. Titles such as Dragonheart, Rise of the Guardians, Missing Link and Time Bandits show how special effects, constructed sets and animatronics let filmmakers bring imaginative stories to life. As technology has improved, filmmakers have grown more experimental, and more fantasy movies continue to reach the big screen. One reason for the lasting appeal of these films is simple: they are fun. Even when a movie is not a masterpiece, enough creative ideas can blend into a narrative that entertains with engaging worlds and memorable characters, leaving viewers with a smile.Dragonheart and Its Unlikely PartnershipIn Dragonheart, released in 1996, rebels mortally wound Prince Einon, played by Lee Oakes and David Thewlis. His mother, Queen Aislinn (Julie Christie), seeks out a dragon voiced by Sir Sean Connery, who uses half of his heart to save Einon's life.Einon grows into a horrible tyrant, and his mentor Sir Bowen (Dennis Quaid) blames the dragon for corrupting him, vowing to hunt dragons down. Twelve years later, Bowen fights to a stalemate against the dragon that saved Einon, whom he names Draco, and the two form an unlikely partnership.Dragonheart may not rank among the best fantasy movies in writing, but it is an entertaining and fun time. Much of that comes from Draco, whose design makes him powerful yet approachable, while Connery gives him dignity, wisdom and a little sass. Bowen's story about rediscovering his faith in chivalry adds depth, and side characters such as the monk Brother Gilbert (Pete Postlethwaite) bring levity and jokes.Rise of the Guardians and the Fight Against FearRise of the Guardians, released in 2012, follows Jack Frost (Chris Pine), a spirit of frost and winter fun who roams the Earth unseen by humans while trying to recover his lost memories. He is approached by the Guardians of Childhood: Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher) and the Sandman.The Guardians warn that the Boogeyman, Pitch Black (Jude Law), has returned. Using an army of Nightmares, Pitch plans to infect all the children of the world with fear and weaken the Guardians enough to usher in a new Dark Age.The film may not be among the best DreamWorks movies, but it is easily one of their most fun. Bright colors and captivating visuals evoke joy, from creative designs such as the Tooth Fairy resembling an anthropomorphic hummingbird to the beautiful workshops of the Guardians. Each Guardian stands out through strong personalities and unique powers shown in gorgeous action sequences.Missing Link and a Journey of BelongingMissing Link, released in 2019, centers on Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman), an explorer dedicated to proving the existence of cryptids so he can join the Society of Great Men. His search takes him to the Pacific Northwest, where he meets a sasquatch (Zach Galifianakis) who asks for help traveling to the Himalayas to find his cousins, the yetis.Meanwhile, the society's leader, Lord Piggot-Dunceby (Sir Stephen Fry), learns of the discovery and hires a bounty hunter to kill Frost. The film is lighter in tone than Laika's previous outings but keeps the studio's strengths.It pays homage to classic adventure stories such as Around the World in 80 Days, while the core relationship between Frost and Mr. Link is a touching friendship exploring found family and belonging. The stop motion ranks among the best seen, with detailed character movement and impressive action sequences.Time Bandits and the Power of ImaginationTime Bandits, released in 1981, follows Kevin (David Rappaport), a young history buff shocked to find six dwarves materializing in his room. They explain that they once worked for the Supreme Being (Tony Jay and Sir Ralph Richardson), using a map of the universe to fix portals in space-time, but have gone rogue to rob history blind.The bandits bring Kevin along on their misadventures, unaware that they are watched by the manifestation of Evil (David Warner), who plans to use the map to escape his prison and remake reality. The film is the first in director Terry Gilliam's Trilogy of Imagination and is as weird and captivating as expected from a Monty Python member.It captures the whimsical nature of a child's imagination, blending real history with surreal comedic moments and presenting the bandits as a dysfunctional family that loves and fights itself in equal measure.