Fantasy  films are films that belong to the fantasy genre with
fantastic themes, usually magic, supernatural events, mythology, folklore, or
exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered a form of speculative fiction
alongside science fiction films and horror films, although the genres do
overlap.[1] Fantasy films often have an element of magic, myth, wonder,
escapism, and the extraordinary.[2]

Subgenres

Several
sub-categories of fantasy films can be identified, although the delineations
between these subgenres, much as in fantasy literature, are somewhat fluid.

The most
common fantasy subgenres depicted in movies are high fantasy and sword and
sorcery.[according to whom?] Both categories typically employ quasi-medieval
settings, wizards, magical creatures and other elements commonly associated
with fantasy stories.

High fantasy
films tend to feature a more richly developed fantasy world, and may also be
more character-oriented or thematically complex. Often, they feature a hero of
humble origins and a clear distinction between good and evil set against each
other in an epic struggle. Many scholars cite J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of
the Rings novel as the prototypical modern example of high fantasy in literature,
and the recent Peter Jackson film adaptation of the books is a good example of
the high fantasy subgenre on the silver screen.

Sword and
sorcery movies tend to be more plot-driven than high fantasy and focus heavily
on action sequences, often pitting a physically powerful but unsophisticated
warrior against an evil wizard or other supernaturally endowed enemy. Although
sword and sorcery films sometimes describe an epic battle between good and evil
similar to those found in many High fantasy movies, they may alternately
present the hero as having more immediate motivations, such as the need to
protect a vulnerable maiden or village, or even being driven by the desire for
vengeance.

The 1982
film adaptation of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian, for example, is a
personal (non-epic) story concerning the hero's quest for revenge and his
efforts to thwart a single megalomaniac—while saving a beautiful princess in
the process. Some critics refer to such films by the term Sword and Sandal
rather than sword and sorcery, although others would maintain that the Sword
and Sandal label should be reserved only for the subset of fantasy films set in
ancient times on the planet Earth, and still others would broaden the term to
encompass films that have no fantastic elements whatsoever. To some, the term
Sword and Sandal has pejorative connotations, designating a film with a
low-quality script, bad acting, and poor production values.

Another
important subgenre of fantasy films that has become more popular in recent
years is contemporary fantasy. Such films feature magical effects or
supernatural occurrences happening in the "real" world of today.

Films with
live action and animation such as Disney's Mary Poppins, Pete's Dragon,
Enchanted, and the Robert Zemeckis film Who Framed Roger Rabbit are also
fantasy films although are more often referred to as Live action/animation
hybrids (2 of those are also classified as musicals).

Fantasy films
set in the afterlife, called Bangs Ian fantasy, are less common, although films
such as the 1991 Albert Brooks comedy Defending Your Life would likely qualify.
Other uncommon subgenres include historical fantasy and romantic fantasy,
although 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
successfully incorporated elements of both.

As noted
above, superhero movies and fairy tale films might each be considered subgenres
of fantasy films, although most would classify them as altogether separate
movie genres.