Want to get away? Of course you do. After all, the real world isn’t exactly giving most of us too many reasons to want to stay put. Film is a powerful tool for escaping reality, and no genre can transport you to a different place better than fantasy. Need to forget all the war and oppression and violence and learn some spells, slay dragons or just get stuck in a time loop, repeating the same day over and over until you discover the true meaning of love? Just refer to walk with elves and orcs? A great fantasy film won’t just show you a different universe – it will take you there.
Yes, fantasy is the ultimate form of escapism. But for the purposes of this list, we’re not limiting the definition of ‘fantasy’ to epics set in alternate dimensions and faraway planets. You’ll also find movies of a more surreal bent, and some that reimagine our own planet as a place where magic, mystery and adventure is hiding in plain sight.
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