6 Best Fantasy Movies Of 2024

Summary

• Notable fantasy movies of 2024 must have magic elements and outshine the competition in storytelling, box office success, and critical acclaim.
• IF and Orion and the Dark are unique and heartwarming fantasy films that balance dark and light.
• Kung Fu Panda 4 and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire are fantasy film sequels that have made the top of the best fantasy list.

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A number of fantasy movies have been released in 2024, but only a handful of them can be considered the best. The most notable fantasy movies of this year, first and foremost, must have elements of magic in them to be considered part of the fantasy genre. Secondly, they must stand out among the other 2024 fantasy films and the best fantasy movies in recent years. They have to excel in terms of storytelling, box office performance, and critical acclaim.

The following movies have been chosen and ranked by Screen Rant editors knowledgeable in the genre. These films have not only distinguished themselves among others in their genre, but they are also projects that come highly recommended. They come from the best fantasy franchises or are completely original stories. Viewers seeking out their new favorite fantasy movie should definitely check out these movies as they represent the best of the best of 2024 fantasy.

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6 IF

A Girl Reunites Imaginary Friends With Their Humans

IF (2024)
Comedy
Fantasy

IF, originally titled Imaginary Friends, is a comedic fantasy film written and directed by John Krasinski. A young girl who experiences a tragic moment early in her life discovers she can see the imaginary friends of others who leave them behind as they grow older.

Director John Krasinski Release Date May 17, 2024 Writers John Krasinski Cast Ryan Reynolds , John Krasinski , Cailey Fleming , Steve Carell , Matt Damon , Emily Blunt , Phoebe Waller-Bridge , Vince Vaughn , Sam Rockwell , Maya Rudolph , Jon Stewart , Awkwafina Runtime 107 minutes

One of the best fantasy movies to come out of 2024 is IF. Released in May 2024, this movie tells the story of a young girl who, with the help of her father, realizes that she can see imaginary friends. With this newfound power, she decides to help reunite imaginary friends with their former children. Mixing live-action with animation, IF is one of the more unique fantasy films to come out of 2024. The movie’s premise is interesting enough, but its execution via animation makes it even better. Plus, IF succeeds at balancing the silly world of imaginary friends with real issues surrounding grief and growing up.

Aside from its storytelling, IF has proven itself to be fairly profitable. Though the film did not break even on its $110 budget, it did gross a solid $160 million, and held the top spot at the box office during its opening weekend. Furthermore, IF has earned many average to positive reviews. Though the film’s pacing and worldbuilding has faced some criticism, the overall message of the movie has received the stamp of approval from critics. What really sets the movie apart is IF’s voice cast. John Krasinski directed the film, while the ensemble includes Ryan Reynolds, Matt Damon, Steve Carrell, Emily Blunt, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Awkwafina, among others. Though IF was not a critical or box office smash, its cast and heartwarming story make it a notable fantasy release in 2024.

IF is available to rent on Youtube.

5 Damsel

A Princess Saves Herself

Damsel
Action
Adventure
Fantasy

A dutiful damsel agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. Thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon, she must rely on her wits and will to survive

Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Release Date March 8, 2024 Writers Dan Mazeau Cast Millie Bobby Brown , Nick Robinson , Angela Bassett , Robin Wright , Ray Winstone , Brooke Carter , Shohreh Aghdashloo Where To Stream Netflix

A 2024 fantasy release that came in March of this year was Netflix’s Damsel. This fantasy adventure film follows Princess Elodie, who weds a prince but quickly discovers their marriage is a deadly trap. With only herself to rely on, she must escape a fire-breathing dragon and get revenge on her husband. Although Damsel uses fairly basic fantasy tropes like dragons and far-off medieval lands, the movie does have more depth than it seems. It flips the damsel-in-distress story completely on its head, and has a leading actor that embodies a perfect fantasy heroine. Damsel’s story may be simple, but it could spur an entirely new fantasy franchise that explores new lands and more complex tales.

For the most part, the film’s praise has gone to Millie Bobby Brown, who perfectly portrays Elodie’s transition from princess to survivor.

When it first premiered on Netflix, Damsel appeared to be a flop. The movie’s early reviews were mostly negative, with critics calling the film predictable and “fine enough.” However, the longer Damsel has been out, the better its reviews have become. Currently, the film has a 57% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 60% audience score. For the most part, the film’s praise has gone to Millie Bobby Brown, who perfectly portrays Elodie’s transition from princess to survivor. Regardless, Damsel’s fate has turned around so much that it is now Netflix’s 8th most popular movie ever. This breaking of records means Damsel is most definitely one of 2024’s stand-out fantasy flicks.

Damsel is available to stream on Netflix.

4 Kung Fu Panda 4

Po Faces Off With A Shape-Shifting Sorceress

Kung Fu Panda 4
Action
Adventure
Animation
Martial Arts

Kung Fu Panda 4 is the fourth film in the animated martial arts adventure franchise. The film will see Po leave his home and enter the city to search for his future Dragon Warrior replacement while dealing with a dangerous shapeshifting foe known as The Chameleon.

Director Mike Mitchell , Stephanie Stine Release Date March 8, 2024 Studio(s) DreamWorks Animation Cast Jack Black , Awkwafina , Viola Davis , Dustin Hoffman , James Hong , Bryan Cranston , Ian McShane , Ke Huy Quan Franchise(s) Kung Fu Panda prequel(s) Kung Fu Panda , Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) , Kung Fu Panda 3

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The fourth installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise premiered in March 2024, and unsurprisingly, it is one of the year’s best fantasy movies. Kung Fu Panda 4 centers on Po as he becomes the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace. Problems arise, however, when a mysterious shape-shifting sorceress arrives with the intention of taking his Staff of Wisdom. Since 2008, Dreamworks has always provided entertaining and enjoyable movies in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and Kung Fu Panda 4 is no different. With Jack Black reprising his role as Po, and a cache of new characters played by iconic actors, Kung Fu Panda 4 is a strong entry among 2024’s fantasy line-up.

First and foremost, Kung Fu Panda 4 has the most impressive box office performance on this list. With a budget of $85 million, Kung Fu Panda 4 grossed $544 million at the box office. This type of number is to be expected from the Kung Fu Panda franchise, but it is still an incredible success. Furthermore, Kung Fu Panda 4 garnered a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. Although critics noted that the fourth movie wasn’t much different from its predecessors, it still managed to provide a fun time. Kung Fu Panda 4’s cast additions of Awkwafina, Ronnie Chieng, and Ke Huy Quan certainly helped in this respect. Ultimately, Kung Fu Panda 4’s financial and critical success proves its a worthy fantasy watch.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is available to rent on Youtube and Amazon Prime Video.

3 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

New York City Is Haunted By An Ancient God

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Action
Comedy
Supernatural

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire continues the story of a new generation of ghost hunters composed of Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Podcast (Logan Kim), who received help from the original team in the previous movie. Paul Rudd returns as Gary Grooberson and franchise co-creator Ivan Reitman returns to write and produce.

Director Gil Kenan Release Date March 22, 2024 Writers Jason Reitman , Gil Kenan Cast Finn Wolfhard , Mckenna Grace , Logan Kim , Celeste O’Connor , Carrie Coon , Paul Rudd , Bill Murray , Dan Aykroyd , Ernie Hudson Runtime 115 Minutes Franchise(s) Ghostbusters prequel(s) Ghostbusters (1984) , ghostbusters 2 , Ghostbusters: Afterlife

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Another sequel to make the best fantasy films of 2024 list is Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. This is the fifth installment in the Ghostbusters franchise, and the fourth mainline movie. Frozen Empire centers on the Spengler family, who return to New York City, only to find that a powerful spirit is on the loose and intent on freeing the city’s captured ghosts. The movie includes the new era cast, including McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Paul Rudd, and Carrie Coon, along with members of the original film series, such as Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts. Ultimately, this mix of old and new is what makes Frozen Empire such an entertaining experience.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire did fairly well at the box office, earning about $200 million on a budget of $100 million. This is the lowest-grossing Ghostbusters film, yet it still topped the box office in its first weekend and pushed the franchise past the $1 billion mark. Critically, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire earned average reviews. The plot, though compelling, was criticized for being overcrowded. The movie’s greatest strength also proved to be its biggest weakness. Though critics found Frozen Empire’s cast to be too big, the return of original Ghostbusters characters gave the movie a huge boost. To see the old Ghostbusters unite with the new is enough to make Frozen Empire worth your time.

Every Ghostbusters Movie	Box Office Earnings	Budget
Ghostbusters (1984)	$296 million	$25-30 million
Ghostbusters II (1989)	$215 million	$30-40 million
Ghostbusters (2016)	$229 million	$144 million
See more : Jim Harbaugh Ethnicity, What is Jim Harbaugh’s Ethnicity? Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)	$204 million	$75 million
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)	$160 million	$100 million

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is available to rent on Youtube and Amazon Prime Video.

2 The Tiger’s Apprentice

A Young Boy Discovers He Is A Magical Being

The Tiger’s Apprentice
Animation
Action
Adventure

Based on the novel by Laurence Yep, The Tiger’s Apprentice is a 2024 animation action-adventure film. When Tom Lee discovers that his family has been protectors of a mysterious Phoenix Egg for centuries, he must learn from a new mentor named Mr. Hu, a tiger, to live up to his family’s legacy and save the world from a new threat.

Director Raman Hui , Yong Duk Jhun , Paul Watling Release Date February 2, 2024 Writers David Magee , Christopher L. Yost , Laurence Yep Cast Michelle Yeoh , Sandra Oh , Leah Lewis , Henry Golding , Bowen Yang , Patrick Gallagher , Sherry Cola , Brandon Soo Hoo

Despite being one of the very first fantasy movies released in 2024, The Tiger’s Apprentice still ranks high among this year’s fantasy films. The animated movie, released by Paramount+, tells the story of Tom Lee, a young boy who finds out his family comes from a long line of guardians who protect the magical Phoenix Egg. However, when Tom unexpectedly becomes the guardian, he must learn to follow in his ancestor’s footsteps with the help of a tiger named Mr. Hu. The Tiger’s Apprentice blends the modern era with Chinese mythology to make a visually thrilling adventure. Although it pulls on familiar concepts and stories, the film executes its plot, humor, and animation in a captivating way.

The Tiger’s Apprentice is based on a 2003 novel of the same name by Laurence Yep.

The Tiger’s Apprentice has an interesting Rotten Tomatoes profile, as the critics’ score is an average 53% while the audience score is a much better 72%. While many critics claimed the film was too predictable and bland, audiences found themselves invested in The Tiger Apprentice’s heartwarming story, which includes strong moments of friendship, family, and finding oneself. The addition of Chinese myth and lore also added an element of intrigue to the film. Overall, The Tiger’s Apprentice may follow a familiar path, but it is one that is still riveting.

The Tiger’s Apprentice is available to stream on Paramount+.

1 Orion and the Dark

A Boy Faces His Fear Of The Dark

Orion and the Dark
Animation
Comedy
Family

Orion and the Dark is an animated family comedy film by director Sean Charmatz, released in 2024, based on the book by Emma Yarlett. Orion, a boy with a powerful imagination, is thrown into a gauntlet of all his fears when he is dragged along by his greatest fear, the Dark, to discover that his fears of the night may be unfounded.

Director Sean Charmatz Release Date February 2, 2024 Writers Charlie Kaufman , Lloyd Taylor , Emma Yarlett Cast Jacob Tremblay , Paul Walter Hauser , Werner Herzog , Angela Bassett , Colin Hanks , Ike Barinholtz , Natasia Demetriou Runtime 92 Minutes Where To Stream Netflix

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What could be considered the best fantasy movie of 2024 is Netflix’s Orion and the Dark. The movie follows Orion, a little boy whose biggest fear is the dark. That is until Dark pays him a visit and proves that there is nothing to fear about nighttime. Based on this premise alone, Orion and the Dark has a sweet and powerful story that is perfect for children and adults alike. With a strong cast behind it and stunning visuals, this movie is a joy to look at. Plus, it successfully walks the line between exploring serious topics while also maintaining its sense of wonder, adventure, and light.

Critics were impressed with the movie’s ability to effectively navigate big ideas about childhood and fear

Of the best fantasy movies of 2024, Orion and the Dark is the most critically acclaimed. The film earned a 91% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a 61% audience score. For the most part, critics were impressed with the movie’s ability to effectively navigate big ideas about childhood and fear. Audiences also mentioned how the Orion and the Dark’s dialogue was particularly inspiring and thought-provoking. One of Orion and the Dark’s only critiques was the personality of the main character, which could be grating at times. Overall, Orion and the Dark is a hidden gem and the best of 2024’s fantasy releases.

Orion and the Dark is available to stream on Netflix.

Source: https://www.lsu.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment