This post originally appeared on the DVD Netflix blog “Inside the Envelope.” That company folded in 2023, and the blog was shut down, but you might find some good stuff here.
When we are children, we believe in things that later we realize were just make believe. Once we grow up, and all of our very real responsibilities pile up, sometimes it’s nice to kick back and watch a film with themes containing magic, the supernatural, mythology, folklore, or even fantasy worlds. Fantasy films are cousins to science fiction and horror films, but they tend to be a bit more ethereal and often less logical. But that’s what we’re looking for, right? Here are seven fantasy movies from the 2010s that are worth watching.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World – 2010 (PG-13)
Michael Cera (Arrested Development) stars as the title character who meets the woman of his dreams. Unfortunately, she has seven exes who stand in his way. This slacker musician must vanquish every one of his rivals, if he’s to live happily ever after with dreamy Ramona.
Hugo – 2011 (PG)
Hugo takes place in 1931 Paris, and the story centers around a young orphan boy (Asa Butterfield) living in a train station, tasked with keeping all the clocks in sync as taught to him by his uncle. The boy yearns to solve a mystery about his late father, and his new friend, Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz), has a godfather who might be able to supply some answers.
Midnight in Paris – 2011 (PG-13)
At first glance, this appears to just another a travel movie involving irritating in-laws. Midnight in Paris, though, gently eases into a fantasy in which a young couple begins to wonder if they are truly meant for each other. While the husband, Owen Wilson, tries to sort it out, he discovers the city of lights by unconventional means, involving a bit of time travel.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – 2011 (PG-13)
Based on the last book in the Potter series, Harry and his friends have one last chance to do away with the evil Voldemort. The final book is nearly 800 pages long, explaining the necessity to present the contents in two parts. There are some twists and turns in this film that seem like conclusions, but most certainly are not.
About Time – 2013 (R)
The tagline for About Time is, “What if every moment in life came with a second chance?” At first glance, this seems to be a story of second chances, but a young time traveler finds that each action or decision made has unforeseen consequences that prevent him from winning the heart of the right girl and making the world a better place.
This is the End – 2013 (R)
Put the kids to bed before you pop This is the End into your player. Imagine how your favorite comedy stars would handle themselves in the wake of disaster. Six Los Angeles celebrities attend a party at James Franco’s house and find themselves stuck with each other after the apocalypse. Because they’re stars, their ways of coping differ from everyman in a pretty funny way.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – 2016 (PG-13)
Part of the J.K. Rowling collection, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, takes place in New York City, 70 years before the Harry Potter saga starts. Here, Newt Scamander who wrote one of Hogwart’s textbooks about magical creatures, loses his suitcase filled with creatures and is determined to reclaim them, some of whom have escaped.
