20 Fantasy Films You Must See Before You Die

1. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)

Undoubtably the greatest achievement in fantasy filmmaking to have graced our cinema screens, the first - and without question the best - chapter in Peter Jackson's immensely popular adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's seminal fantasy novels, The Fellowship of the Ring, is our pick for the most essential fantasy flick. There were those who said Jackson was mad to undertake such an extensive project, of course, and indeed he filmed all three Lord of the Rings films back to back; all great in their own ways, Fellowship is the best paced and most creative of all. The story picks up 60 years after the events depicted in The Hobbit, as Frodo Baggins inherits the "One Ring" from his uncle Bilbo, and sets out on a perilous journey across Middle-Earth to destroy it within the fires of Mount Doom. He's joined by a cast of perfectly cast companions, including the likes of Gandalf (Ian McKellen in a role he was born to play), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen, and likewise), and Samwise Gamgee (a shockingly good Sean Astin as the real hero of the saga). The SFX are groundbreaking; the story is enthralling, gritty and humorous. The true success of the movie as a fantasy tale, however, stems from Jackson's decision to up the action quota, using Tolkien's novels as a jumping off point whilst crafting a unique cinematic world of his own in the hack and slash action movie vein. Indeed, for three hours, we find ourselves invested in Frodo's quest, as he is thrown from brilliantly-rendered locations, inspiring set-pieces, and interacts with a whole host of wonderful characters. It's a dizzying, awe-inspiring achievement that defined our times and made fantasy cool again. A masterpiece. Like this article? Which movies have we missed? Let us know in the comments section below.