15 Best Dark Fantasy Movies Of All Time
6. The Shape Of Water (2017)
If you thought Tim Burton was the master of dark fantasy, then you haven't familiarised yourself with Guillermo del Toro. The Mexican director has built a career on genre movies, and frequently makes use of practical effects for his many otherworldly creatures.
Guillermo's most recent, and most successful film, is 2017's The Shape of Water. Unlike many on this list, The Shape of Water is actually a romantic love story with dark fantasy elements. It tells the story of a mute cleaner working within an underground government base in 1962 who falls unexpectedly in love with an imprisoned amphibian man.
The film has everything from government conspiracies, to heartbreaking themes of prejudice and injustice, and many moments of horror.
The Shape of Water has a stellar 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a respectable $195 million gross at the worldwide box office. But what sets The Shape of Water apart from all the other entries on this list is the fact that it is the most awarded film here.
Remarkably, The Shape of Water won four academy awards, including best picture and best director. The film beat the likes of Dunkirk, Get Out, Lady Bird, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri to win the coveted Oscar. This alone proves that the dark fantasy sub-genre can have a welcome audience and produce highly praised films.