Three fantasy – The Lord of the Rings remains a milestone for fantasy cinema—but three other movies capture the genre’s purest magic: The Wizard of Oz (1939), The Princess Bride (1987), and Spirited Away (2001).
For years, people have said it so often it almost sounds like law: Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is the apex of fantasy cinema.
Jackson’s trilogy adapted J. R. R. Tolkien’s massive literary work into a generation-defining epic that became a phenomenon at the time—so big it spilled off the big screen and became a cultural event. It didn’t just win commercially and critically; it helped revitalize the fantasy genre on film. and it went on to define the 2000s. shaping what came afterward through the next decade or so.
And yet, there’s a strong counterargument. If Lord of the Rings is equally made of epic scale and action-adventure. then three films make a different kind of claim on the genre—offering pure. undiluted fantasy instead of something blended with spectacle. In that debate, these three masterpieces come out ahead.
The first is The Wizard of Oz (1939), which remains the gold standard for cinematic fantasy. The film is directed by several men but is mostly credited to Victor Fleming. It’s based on Frank L. Baum’s works, specifically the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Judy Garland stars as Dorothy. a young girl from Kansas who’s transported to the magical land of Oz alongside her dog. Toto. via a tornado. Once there. Dorothy follows the yellow brick road with the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger). the Tin Man (Jack Haley). and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) as they head toward the Wonderful Wizard of Oz—who has the power to send Dorothy home. Along the way. their journey draws the attention of the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton). who pursues them through the story.
Released during Hollywood’s “golden year. ” The Wizard of Oz was a success but not an instant classic in the moment. It wasn’t until the advent of television that it became the fantasy mainstay it is today. Even so. its reputation is now secured as a giant of the silver screen and as one of the pillars on which modern fantasy rises. The case for its staying power is simple: every post-1939 fantasy movie is
described as being directly indebted to The Wizard of Oz. and the argument doesn’t stop at influence—it goes as far as claiming it’s the reason you “wouldn’t have The Lord of the Rings” without Fleming’s masterwork. Garland’s Dorothy is framed as arguably the ultimate fantasy hero. while Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the West is described as living on among the great movie villains. In terms of depicting the fantasy genre honestly and faithfully, the film
is presented as hard to beat.
Then comes The Princess Bride (1987), a fantasy movie that is charming without trying to hide its joy. Directed by Rob Reiner, it’s based on the 1973 novel by William Goldman, who also adapted it for the silver screen.
The film begins with a framing device: a grandfather (Peter Falk) tells a story to his sick grandson (Fred Savage). Inside that story, farmhand Westley (Cary Elwes) goes on a quest to rescue his love, Buttercup (Robin Wright), from Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), who is described as odious.
The Princess Bride is presented as equal parts thrilling. charming. hilarious. and romantic—less a gradual promise and more a full-on burst. It’s endlessly quotable and packed with set pieces that stick in memory. Its central love story between Westley and Buttercup is called enchanting. while the villains get specific praise: Sarandon is “perfectly loathsome. ” and Christopher Guest’s Count Rugen is credited as even more effective and memorable. The supporting cast is also singled out as filled with scene-stealers.
Mandy Patinkin’s Inigo Montoya is described as cinema’s best swashbuckler. and his noble quest to avenge his father’s death is framed as embodying the genre’s ideals of courage. honor. and righteous justice. The conclusion in this lineup is blunt: The Princess Bride is fantasy at its purest—“most unabashedly honest.”.
The third entry is Spirited Away (2001), and it belongs to Studio Ghibli rather than Hollywood’s live-action tradition. Hayao Miyazaki reigns over the pantheon of brilliant fantasy auteurs. and in a career spanning over sixty years. Miyazaki is said to have made some of the genre’s most timeless gems through Studio Ghibli—pointing to films including My Neighbor Totoro. Princess Mononoke. Howl’s Moving Castle. and The Boy and the Heron. In that catalog, Spirited Away is argued to be Miyazaki’s best.
The story follows Chihiro (Daveigh Chase). a young girl whose parents are turned into pigs after accidentally entering the spirit world. To rescue them, Chihiro agrees to work for the witch Yubaba (Suzanne Pleshette) at her bathhouse, tending exclusively to spirits. She loses her name and has to work hard to reclaim it. while also trying to save her parents from a cruel fate.
Spirited Away is described as Studio Ghibli’s magnum opus: an ambitious fantasy tale built in the shape of a classic coming-of-age story. It’s also described as immersive and visually rich. with animation that’s striking. fluid. slightly off-putting. and vibrant—creating a whimsical yet eerie realm. The film’s tone is said to be melancholy throughout. capturing the sensation of growing up and leaving behind childhood’s carefree magic for a more uncertain future.
Beyond mood and visuals, the movie’s fantasy is framed as thoughtful. It’s described as offering environmental messaging alongside themes of self-discovery. purpose. identity. and finding one’s place in the world. And then comes the long view: twenty-five years after its initial release. the film is said to have aged beautifully. with its legacy secured as one of animation’s greatest triumphs.
Taken together. the argument isn’t that Lord of the Rings failed to define an era—it’s that fantasy can mean something even closer to its “pure” promise. The Wizard of Oz leans into a live-action gateway to wonder through Dorothy’s path to Oz; The Princess Bride turns fantasy into a sincere fairy tale built for laughs. romance. and adventure; Spirited Away turns fantasy inward. using the spirit world to track growing up and reclaiming identity.
One way or another, these three films are positioned as the clearest embodiments of what people come to fantasy for—exactly the kind of magic that makes audiences look up from their seats and believe.
Lord of the Rings fantasy movies The Wizard of Oz The Princess Bride Spirited Away Peter Jackson J.R.R. Tolkien Judy Garland Hayao Miyazaki
So is this just clickbait saying LOTR isn’t the best? Sounds like it.
Princess Bride and Wizard of Oz both slap, but I feel like they’re comparing apples to… like, wizards. LOTR literally changed movies though, no?
Spirited Away always felt overrated to me. Like I watched it and was waiting for the battle scenes or whatever and it didn’t have any obvious “action” so I guess it’s “pure magic”?? also Wizard of Oz is fantasy but that’s more like a dream thing than fantasy cinema idk.
I can’t believe they said LOTR got “spilled off the big screen” 😂 like what does that even mean. But yeah, I get the point that some movies are more whimsical than giant battles. Still, LOTR is the only one I’ve seen on repeat at people’s houses like for years. If they wanted “pure fantasy,” why not add more stuff like Harry Potter? feels random.