Many good films get lost in the variety of content released on a regular basis. Let's explore some of the most underrated fantasy movies based on book
Fantasy is a highly popular genre with a huge variety of content, ranging from romance like Twilight to masterpieces like Harry Potter and the LOTR series. Since a large number of fantasy movies are released every year, it is not possible to keep up with all the content. This is the reason why many great fantasy films have been forgotten over the years.
It is also common for many mythical adventures to go unnoticed because they don't have a good critical or commercial performance at the release time but age well. So, let's explore some of the most underrated fantasy movies based on books.
16 Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Beautiful Creatures
Release DateDirectorRichard LaGraveneseRatingPG-13Runtime123Main GenreDramaCastEmmy Rossum, Alice Englert, Emma Thompson, Jeremy Irons, Thomas Mann, Viola Davis
Beautiful Creatures is a romantic fantasy film based on the novel of the same name. Richard LaGravenese directed the adaptation. It follows Ethan Wate (Alden Ehrenreich) falling in love with Lena Duchannes (Alice Englert), a girl belonging to a mysterious family with supernatural powers, and how they team up to break a centuries-old curse.
Why Is It Underrated?
On the surface, Beautiful Creatures had all the necessary elements to become a box office hit and lead to a franchise, as the novel had three sequels. Despite being a fun and sort of entertaining film for many people, it was a box office bomb and received criticism from critics for having a complex and dense plot.
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15 Seventh Son (2014)
Seventh Son
Release DateDecember 12, 2014DirectorSergey BodrovRatingPG-13Runtime102Main GenreAdventureCastJulianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, Olivia Williams, Kit Harington, Ben Barnes, Antje Traue
The Spook's Apprentice is a children's fantasy novel, and the director Sergei Bodrov loosely adapted it as Seventh Son. The film used the characters and some elements of the novel but modified the storyline to cater to an adult audience.
Nevertheless, the film failed to impress the critics and fans as its plot was similar to many other fantasy-adventure films. Seventh Son revolves around Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges) and his apprentice Tom Ward (Ben Barnes) embarking on a journey to defeat a malevolent witch, Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore).
Why Is It Underrated?
Seventh Son had the immense baggage of being a loose adaptation, so it failed to impress the audience. Nevertheless, it is still a well-written film with an immersive fantasy world full of magic, swords, legends, myths, and a prophecy at the core of the plot.
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14 Dracula Untold (2014)
Dracula Untold
Release DateOctober 1, 2014DirectorGary ShoreRatingPG-13Runtime92Main GenreActionCastLuke Evans, Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper, Art Parkinson, Charles Dance, Diarmaid Murtagh
The plot of Dracula Untold immediately sets it apart from the rest of the Dracula movies and TV shows. Gary Shore directed the film in a unique way by creating the origin story of Dracula, played by Luke Evans. The film shows how Vlad III was a just ruler who had to lose his humanity and become an immortal vampire monster to protect his people and loved ones.
Why Is It Underrated?
Great war scenes, action, tragedy, and, of course, the magic that turns Vlad III from being a fair and strong ruler to a bloodthirsty monster made Dracula Untold a box-office success. But the film was heavily panned by critics. It shows that despite being a creative and unique take on Dracula stories, Dracula Untold did not get enough credit from the critics. The criticism also killed the chances of any sequel or the franchise, unofficially called the Dark Universe, that Universal Pictures was planning before the film's release.
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13 The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
The Forbidden Kingdom is a loose adaptation of the classic novel Journey to the West. The film was mounted on a massive scale, particularly because it was the first film that brought Jackie Chan and Jet Li together in a project. The film follows a young Western man, Jason Tripitikas, who is transported to ancient China and forced to acquire a magical staff for the Monkey King (Jet Li).
What Makes it Underrated?
The Forbidden Kingdom was released around the time when wuxia films were quite popular among the audience. Yet, the film failed to achieve the same kind of popularity that movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Hero enjoy in this genre. The film was primarily criticized for having too much filler content. Nevertheless, The Forbidden Kingdom is a fun film to watch because of its visual appeal and the iconic fight scene between Jet Li and Jackie Chan.
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12 Return to Oz (1985)
Return to Oz
Release DateJune 21, 1985DirectorWalter MurchRatingPGRuntime1hr 53minMain GenreFantasyCastFairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, Tim Rose
The Wizard of Oz (1939) is one of the most iconic films of all time. The film was a huge commercial and critical success for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production company. Walt Disney tried to recreate this success by making an unofficial sequel to the film called Return to Oz and based it on several Oz novels by L. Frank Baum.
Return to Oz follows Dorothy, now back in Kansas, who is highly depressed over the fact that nobody believes her when she tells them about the adventures she had in the land of Oz. Even when she gets back to Oz, she finds that an evil empire has destroyed Emerald City.
Why it Makes the List
It is not surprising that Return to Oz turned out to be a critical and commercial failure because, instead of being a colorful and happy film like The Wizard of Oz, the unofficial sequel changed the genre to dark fantasy.
However, over the years, the film has managed to acquire its own cult following, as these fans say that the dark content of the film is more faithful to Baum's novels. It shows that the film is underrated because not many people have understood the complex themes of Return to Oz, which deal with the trauma of growing up and facing real-life challenges to find happiness.
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11 Stardust (2007)
Stardust is a romantic fantasy film with a highly impressive cast of Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, and many others. The film follows Tristan (Charlie Cox) entering a magical world in the Wall of England to capture a fallen star for his beloved, when he finds that the star is actually a woman called Yvaine (Claire Danes), who is also being hunted by Witches and Princes.
Why it Belongs Here
Hardcore fans of the fantasy genre are unlikely to believe that Stardust is an underrated film, as it is often considered one of the best fantasy movies based on books. However, not many people in the general audience are familiar with the film, particularly because the film's plans for a sequel were canceled because of its underwhelming box office earnings. The film's director, Matthew Vaughn, has also criticized the film's marketing style but has expressed satisfaction over its "evergreen title" on DVD.
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10 The Lord of the Rings (1978)
the lord of the rings
Release DateNovember 15, 1978DirectorRalph BakshiRatingPGRuntime132Main GenreAnimationCastChristopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt, Simon Chandler, Dominic Guard
While the live-action Lord of the Rings film series is considered to be one of the most iconic films in history, not many people know about the animated The Lord of the Rings (1978), directed by Ralph Bakshi. It follows a group of fantasy races forming a fellowship in the Middle-earth to destroy Dark Lord Sauron's magical ring.
Why Is It Underrated?
Considering the fact that the animated version of LOTR only adapted the first two novels from the classic novel series, it is not surprising that the film is a highly underrated project. It even received a lot of criticism and hostility from the fans at the time of its release, as they considered the project to be incomplete. Nevertheless, the audience should still watch the film and enjoy Bakshi's take on the iconic adventures in Middle Earth.
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9 A Monster Calls (2016)
A Monster Calls
Release DateJanuary 1, 2016DirectorJuan Antonio BayonaRatingPG-13Runtime108Main GenreFantasyCastLewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Ben Moor, James Melville
J. A. Bayona directed A Monster Calls and received critical acclaim for the way he depicted different aspects of grief. The film follows a young man, Conor O'Malley (Lewis MacDougall), burdened by his mother's cancer diagnosis. Conor is regularly visited by the Monster (Liam Neeson), a large tree that tells him stories that help him face his emotions and make peace with reality.
Why Does it Make the List?
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a highly rated book, and rightly so, because it deals with complex topics in an entertaining manner. The film adaptation has also done a great job of bringing the novel's sad, emotional, but uplifting story to life.
Yet, it has been lost in the massive fantasy genre over the years, particularly because it underperformed at the box office at the time of its release. Nevertheless, it is a great film to watch, with the perfect blend of emotion and fantasy.
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8 Treasure Planet (2002)
Treasure Planet is one of those films that blurs the lines between fantasy and science fiction. The film follows a 15-year-old Jim Hawkins (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) going on an intergalactic journey to find the greatest treasure in the universe. The world created in Treasure Planet is full of futuristic technologies, aliens, and captivating environments, which is also the reason why it is the most expensive traditionally animated film with a budget of $140 million.
What Makes it Underrated?
Treasure Planet had a great storyline, high visual appeal, and amazing direction, but still, it was a box office bomb. The film even received positive reviews from critics, but it was not enough to make it a successful project. Nevertheless, fans of the fantasy genre will enjoy Treasure Planet, as it excellently captures the journey of Jim Hawkins through the universe to find the treasure. The film also has a highly emotional plot surrounding the relationship between a surrogate father and son.
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7 Big Fish (2004)
Big Fish
Runtime125Main GenreAdventureCastEwan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison LohmanGenresAdventure, Documentary, Drama, Fantasy
While most fantasy films are known for their over-the-top storylines and magical elements, Big Fish is a highly underrated fantasy film directed by Tim Burton that perfectly combines the emotional and fantasy elements.
The plot of Big Fish revolves around the strained father-son relationship between Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) and William (Billy Crudup). When Edward is on his deathbed, Will tries to reconcile with him by learning about his father's past and whether there is any truth to his exaggerated stories about his life.
Why it Makes the List
Big Fish received critical acclaim and was a moderate success at the box office. Yet, the film does not get enough credit for the way it has handled the complexities of a strained father-son relationship in an entertaining manner. Magical elements like the witches and werewolves are definitely there in the film, but the film's uniqueness is in its emotional core plot.
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6 Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
Zathura
Release DateNovember 6, 2005DirectorJon FavreauRatingPGRuntime101Main GenreActionCastJonah Bobo, Josh Hutcherson, Dax Shepard, Kristen Stewart, Tim Robbins, Frank Oz
The original Jumanji (1995) has a cult following, but not many people know that it had a spin-off called Zathura: A Space Adventure. The film shows Walter (Josh Hutcherson), Danny (Jonah Bobo), and Lisa (Kristen Stewart) being transported into outer space, along with their house, after the two brothers find a mysterious board game. The siblings and an Astronaut (Dax Shepard) must survive the game to get back to Earth.
Why Is It Underrated?
Zathura failed to impress the audience and turned out to be a box office failure. The film's writer and some critics attributed the failure to the studio's decision to market Zathura as a spin-off of Jumanji in the same universe. Nevertheless, the film itself is quite enjoyable, as it has convincing visual effects and a good storyline.
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5 John Carter (2012)
John Carter
Release DateMarch 7, 2012DirectorAndrew StantonRatingPG-13Runtime139Main GenreActionCastTaylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church, Mark Strong
John Carter is an adaptation of A Princess of Mars, the first novel in the Barsoom series. Andrew Stanton directed this highly expensive film mounted on a budget of about $350 million. The film follows John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) waking up on Mars (also called Barsoom) and getting involved in a conflict between Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins) and Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) while he is going through the personal journey of rediscovering his humanity.
Why Does it Belong Here?
John Carter was one of the most ambitious projects of Walt Disney Pictures as the production giant was planning to adapt the Barsoom novel series since the 1930s. However, the film failed to impress the audience and critics due to many reasons, especially poor marketing decisions.
Nevertheless, it does not mean that John Carter is a poor adaptation. The film has an impressive cast with an intriguing plot that captures the overall look and feel of civil unrest described in the novel. Too many controversies and box office disappointment surrounding the film led to the cancellation of any sequels, but the film is still a good fantasy adventure film to watch and have a good time.
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4 The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
Eli Roth directed the adaptation of The House with a Clock in Its Walls with an impressive ensemble cast including Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Owen Vaccaro, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sunny Suljic, and Kyle MacLachlan.
The film follows a young boy, Lewis, who moves in with his uncle Jonathan in a strange house that was once occupied by an evil warlock. As the story progresses, Lewis learns that his uncle and the neighbor are actually magicians themselves, and there is a whole secret world full of witches and warlocks.
What Makes it Underrated?
The House with a Clock in Its Walls was successful commercially and critically. Nevertheless, it is still an underrated film that does not get enough credit for being a faithful adaptation of the novel. Jack Black has also become synonymous with another popular adaptation, Goosebumps, but he is certainly not appreciated enough for his role as the powerful warlock in The House with a Clock in Its Walls.
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3 The Green Knight (2021)
The Green Knight
Release DateJuly 29, 2021DirectorDavid LoweryRuntime125Main GenreFantasyCastDev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie
David Lowery directed, wrote, edited, and produced The Green Knight, an epic fantasy film, and he certainly did not disappoint in any area. The film is led by Dev Patel as Gawain, who goes on an adventure to test the limits of his courage and face the Green Knight (Ralph Ineson). The Green Knight had an impressive cast with an amazing plot and high visual appeal.
Why it Makes the List
Despite the universal critical acclaim for its cinematography, music, and Dev Patel's acting, the film did not receive any Academy Award nominations. People who have watched the films have only good things to say about it, but not many people are familiar with this epic adventure.
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2 Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
Journey to the Center of the Earth
DirectorEric BrevigRatingPGRuntime92Main GenreActionCastBrendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem, Seth Meyers, Jean Michel Paré, Jane Wheeler
The 1864 novel Journey to the Center of the Earth has been adapted several times. The most prominent adaptation is the 2008 film that depicts Professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser), his nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson), and their guide, Hannah (Anita Briem), getting trapped in a cavern when they are on an expedition to Iceland. They try to escape by going deeper into the Earth's surface and come across different kinds of creatures and environments.
Why Is It Underrated?
The film was successful enough to lead to a sequel. However, none of the main cast members returned in the sequel, except Hutcherson. Mixed reviews from critics are also the reason why Journey to the Center of the Earth is typically not considered to be a great fantasy film. However, it is a highly entertaining film that has all the ingredients you would expect from such a genre, including highly appealing visuals and great direction.
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1 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Release DateDecember 16, 2004DirectorBrad SilberlingRatingPGRuntime107Main GenreAdventureCastJim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Kara Hoffman, Shelby Hoffman, Jude Law
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is the adaptation of the first three novels of the series A Series of Unfortunate Events. The film had a solid screenplay that captured the essence of these novels and depicted the journey of the three young Baudelaire siblings and how their distant relative, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), makes evil schemes against them after they get orphaned.
Why You Should Watch it
The film had an impressive cast with some big names like Jim Carrey, Catherine O'Hara, Jennifer Coolidge, and Meryl Streep, who all received critical acclaim for their roles. The movie itself had impressive direction and captivating storylines. However, the film has become an underrated name in the fantasy genre because it never told the full story of the Baudelaire siblings, and plans for the film series never came to fruition. The good thing is that the audience has the option to watch Netflix's TV series adaptation of the complete novel series to enjoy the story from
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