10 Greatest Fantasy Movies From the Golden Age of Hollywood
From around 1930 to around 1960, Hollywood went through what is now known as its Golden Age. This was the era of stars, the studio system, the Hays Code, and some of the greatest American films in history. Genre films didn’t go without the blessing of this classic period; fantasy, in fact, delivered some of the most iconic films of the entire era.
Whether it’s a legendary Disney movie or an underrated gem, a magical Christmas classic or a paragon of the kaiju genre, the best fantasy movies of Classical Hollywood are proof of why these tales of magic, mystical lands, and talking animals have remained as timeless as they have over the years. It doesn’t get much better than these Golden Age Hollywood fantasy classics, which forever redefined the genre.
10
‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937)
Logically, it was much easier back during the ’30s to make a film that was the first-ever something. Even still, Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was, and still remains, one of the most admirable cinematic achievements in history. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t actually the first animated movie ever, but it was the first cel-animated feature, the first widely-released animated film made in Technicolor, and the first true mainstream animated feature of all time.
There are some fantasy classics whose impact was so strongly felt and whose legacy has remained so mythically timeless that they can be said to be absolutely legendary. Snow White is one of them. Even after nearly 90 years, there’s not a single element of this movie that feels primitive or outdated. Its classic look and sound have a unique charm to it, its colors and character designs haven’t aged a day, and its beautiful story remains one of the most entertaining of any family film.
9
‘All That Money Can Buy’ (1941)
Originally titled The Devil and Daniel Webster, but later renamed All That Money Can Buy in order to avoid confusion with The Devil and Miss Jones, another RKO release from that year, this supernatural play adaptation is one of the most underappreciated fantasy movies from Classical Hollywood. There are plenty of films about deals with the Devil, but few are as effective as this one about a man who sells his soul to the Prince of Darkness.
Walter Huston is so exceptionally imposing as the Devil that he earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance, and his chemistry with Edward Arnold is electric. The best films of the ’40s were often the ones that most cleverly danced around the limitations imposed by the Code, and few movies do it with more stylish dexterity than All That Money Can Buy.
8
‘Alice in Wonderland’ (1951)
Disney made several incredible movies throughout Hollywood’s Golden Age, and Alice in Wonderland is easily their weirdest. A quasi-psychedelic adaptation of Lewis Carroll‘s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, it was initially a box office flop that performed poorly with critics. Alas, with the passage of time, audiences and critics alike have warmed up to it tremendously.
Alice in Wonderland isn’t just odd: It’s gorgeously colorful, delightfully creative, and a thoroughly fun time for the entire family that allows itself to be as wacky as possible. Its characters are memorable, its villain is entertaining yet intimidating, and its ending is one of the best executions of the “it was all a dream” trope in movie history. Alice in Wonderland is an enchanting Disney classic that oozes charm and energy.
7
‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947)
Hollywood sure does love their Christmas films, and every time a new one comes out, it can only hope it’ll have an impact and legacy as long-lasting as that of Miracle on 34th Street. This beloved dramedy, one of the best movies of the ’40s, is so sweet and emotionally stirring that it should be perfectly able to win over the heart of any cynic.
Sentimental, yet never melodramatic, Miracle on 34th Street is proof that, when done right, Christmas films can be universally relatable and lovable. Edmund Gwenn‘s Oscar-winning portrayal of a man who claims to be Santa Claus is unforgettable, balancing honesty and vulnerability to great effect, and the heartwarming tone of the story remains delectable throughout the whole year.
6
‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir’ (1947)
One of the best-ever ghost movies that isn’t horror, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is another legendary fantasy classic that’s not talked about nearly as much as it deserves nowadays. A romance as mature and bittersweet as it is amusing and charming, this tale about the unlikely friendship between a widow and a deceased sea captain is one of the most hard-hitting romantic films of Classical Hollywood.
The film, which carries an admirable 100% rate of approval from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, has aged just about as well as a fantasy classic can. Decades later, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is still a remarkably pleasurable watch, with a balance between pathos and whimsy that’s worthy of praise and a haunting use of fantasy genre elements that just doesn’t get old.
5
‘King Kong’ (1933)
People who love kaiju films are quite likely to have already seen the original King Kong from 1933. The fact of the matter is that King Kong is one of the most influential fantasy films in history, a must-see for a cinephile of any persuasion. The fact that it can be read as an allegory of the slave trade is old news, but there’s also so much more that this film has to offer, both thematically and in terms of entertainment value.
These stop-motion creatures don’t seem particularly realistic to the modern eye, but they’re supported by such strong direction and such a nuanced script.
The set pieces are grand and exciting, the effects have aged with surprising grace, and the breathtaking “Beauty and the Beast” story is so compelling that this is perhaps the most rewatchable King Kong movie of all. Sure, these stop-motion creatures don’t seem particularly realistic to the modern eye, but they’re supported by such strong direction and such a nuanced script that the result is a masterpiece, no less.
4
‘Fantasia’ (1940)
Many refer to the revolutionary Fantasia as the single greatest film that Disney made during Hollywood’s Golden Age, and it’s difficult to disagree. This one-of-a-kind musical, consisting of eight segments set to Leopold Stokowski‘s classical music, is one of the best animated features ever made, and after adjusting for inflation, it’s the 23rd highest-grossing movie at the American box office in history.
Whether it’s the playful whimsy of Mickey Mouse’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, the solemn beauty of the Nutcracker scene, or the genuinely scary bleakness of Night on Bald Mountain, Fantasia benefits from having some of the most timeless visual beauty imaginable. An unsurprisingly terrific score and a sense of fantastical allure unlike anything Disney had offered before or has offered since further enhance the film’s reputation as a trailblazing gem of the animated medium.
3
‘Harvey’ (1950)
One of the most beloved cult classics of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Harvey stars the always-phenomenal James Stewart as a man whose best friend is a two-meters-tall puca named Harvey. If the premise sounds goofy, that’s because it very much is, yet it results in one of the sweetest and most endearing dramedies of the decade and a wonderful character study using one of cinema’s most offbeat protagonists.
Funny, gentle, and anchored by a phenomenal performance by Stewart, Harvey is the kind of film that feels absolutely impossible to hate. Quotable, bizarre, and disarming in all the best ways, it may sometimes go a bit too heavy on the sweetness, but never enough to alienate any viewers. Everyone craves a lighthearted fantasy flick every now and then, and for those who haven’t seen it, Harvey is a perfect pick.
2
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
A fantasy film so iconic and massively influential that it’s hard to find someone who’s never seen it, The Wizard of Oz is far and away one of the biggest classics of Hollywood’s Golden Age, regardless of genre. Based on Frank L. Baum‘s iconic book, the film is a classic unlike any other, the most timeless of timeless musicals, and one of the best adventure films the whole family can enjoy.
Whether it’s the gorgeous three-strip Technicolor visuals, the catchy and unforgettable tunes, the simple yet delightful character arcs, or the hugely entertaining story, there’s something in this movie for any and all kinds of viewers. The Wizard of Oz is entertaining, funny, magical, and it can even be a little bit scary. No matter their age or where they’re from, all movie fans should check out this classic at least once in their lives.
1
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)
Frank Capra was one of the most influential and important filmmakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age, an auteur who wasn’t just willing, but happy to trick and dance around the rules imposed by the Hays Code and the strict studio system. His cinema was never devious, quite the contrary. He offered some of the most sincere and emotionally riveting films of the era, and the best and most popular of them is arguably It’s a Wonderful Life.
Far more than just a legendary Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life is a character drama that was far ahead of its time, dealing with themes of suicide and men’s mental health that have aged like fine wine. And yet, it can also be a funny, hopeful, and absolutely delightful family tale, culminating in one of the best feel-good movie endings ever. Magical, poignant, and beautiful in every sense of the word, It’s a Wonderful Life is by far the best fantasy movie of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
