When audiences think of film adaptations of fairytales and fantasy stories, they tend to picture princesses, magic, and ancient curses, not skyscrapers and sportscars. The "modern fairytale", however, has emerged as a subgenre to show that the trappings of a fairytale can translate just as well to the present day instead of the past. From films like Enchanted, which poked fun at the Disney formula, to the psychological deconstruction of Swan Lake in Black Swan, these films have a lot to say by mixing the present with a fairytale sensibility.
While the term "modern fairytale" might sound like an oxymoron to some, many classic stories have received modern reimaginings in recent years. Some of these have even taken home film accolades, such as an Academy Award. With a little help from IMDb, those seeking out something magical in their modern kingdoms will find no shortage of interesting and imaginative fantasies to enrapture and enchant them.
Malice In Wonderland (5.9)
Somewhere, Lewis Caroll is turning in his grave. Despite the film's low rating, it does manage to take the term "modern fairytale' to a very literal extent. Viewers won't find any talking animals, living playing cards, or golden afternoons in this movie, but they will find a modernized Alice in Wonderland that's as mad as a hatter.
When an American law student is hit by a cab in the streets of London, she's sent tumbling head-over-heels into a wild night in a colorful underworld with seedy and strange characters and criminals. This movie may not be the best-reviewed, but it's one that those curiouser-and-curiouser types will want to check out.
Penelope (6.7)
Penelope is a very unusual film, but to say the premise isn't both original and fairytale-worthy would be untrue. This truly underrated fantasy film features an ancient curse passed down through the ages of lords and ladies to the modern era. Making an interesting way to introduce a traditional fantasy narrative to a more contemporary setting.
Cursed with the nose of a pig by an inherited magic spell, Penelope must find true love to end it. While the movie deals in the familiar archetypes of the cursed princess, family secrets, and true love's kiss, its methods and message are thoroughly modern and refreshing to those seasoned in the genre.
Enchanted (7.0)
When it comes to fairytales, one can never go wrong with something from Disney. Since they essentially invented many stereotypes associated with the genre, it makes this self-aware fantasy-comedy all the richer. The film spends nearly two hours poking fun at the studio's brand of fairytale flavor.
From animated musical segments, wicked queens, giant dragons, and singing princesses, Enchanted lampoons a multitude of cliches made iconic by the Walt Disney Company, and all with a phenomenal musical soundtrack. Simply put, it's a fairytale that knows it's a fairytale.
The Shape Of Water (7.3)
Though it technically takes place in the year 1962, The Shape of Water is more than worthy of an honorable mention. It's not every day a fantasy film takes home Best Picture at the Oscars, and this unconventional love story was worth every ounce of Oscar gold. A strange hybrid of Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, this film is one fairytale that won't soon be forgotten.
When a cleaner at a government facility discovers an amphibious humanoid being kept in an observation tank deep underground, a strange but beautiful romance occurs as both she and her monstrous companion speak in a love language only they can understand. Leave it to Guillermo del Toro to repeatedly make monsters beautiful.
Onward (7.4)
Pixar's take on the fantasy epic could be considered the golden ratio of fantasy to modern. Onward excellently blends familiar elements from traditional swords-and-sorcery tales with modern visuals and technologies. Ian and Barley's quest to complete their father's magic spell is akin to a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, but with such modern luxuries like cars, cellphones, and fast-food restaurants.
The entire film could be considered a love letter to all things fantasy, regardless of fairytale status. But there are many moments throughout the animated adventure that provide a sense of warm familiarity. It's simply an ideal balance of tropes that hits a certain sweet spot.
Upgrade (7.5)
The fable of Faust is one of the oldest recorded stories in history, but one doesn't necessarily need a book of rites, dark rituals, and a deal with the devil to create a Faustian bargain. Sometimes all one needs is a desperate man, some illegal experiments, and a rogue AI with an ax to grind.
Upgrade gives the tale of Faust and Mephistopheles a futuristic take. Many of the film's visuals and metaphors, however, could easily be mirrored by members of its modern audience. Reliance on technology, the constant need for bigger and better upgrades, and the questionable morality of certain procedures in the name of science are more than a few devilish details the film uses to a great extent.
Coraline (7.7)
There are few better craftsmen of the modern fairytale than the legendary Neil Gaiman, and nowhere is that better represented than in Coraline. This stop-motion fantasy film based on Gaiman's excellent book takes a few pages from Alice in Wonderland while also adding in its brand of dark flavor. In it, this modern fairytale gives children their first true introduction to the world of horror while also giving a relatable child protagonist.
All that glitters is not gold, and as Coraline soon figures out, sometimes it can even be dangerous. With its ghosts, ghouls, and doorways to other worlds, Coraline is a fairytale that's certainly a far cry from a trip down the rabbit hole. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Edward Scissorhands (7.9)
Tim Burton's gothic fairytale of an inventor's creation trying to fit in amongst the strange and unusual world of pastel-painted suburbia is one of the most cherished and emotional films in the director's filmography. The excellent blend of dark whimsy and an almost dream-like nostalgia gives Burton's 1994 film a wonderfully bittersweet feel that audiences fondly remember and gravitate towards.
Along with a twist on both the Beauty and the Beast and Frankenstein narratives, Edward Scissorhands weaves a relatable tale that will resonate with anyone who has struggled to fit in or find a place or sense of belonging. Going right for the heartstrings is a sure-fire way to make Edward Scissorhands leave a lasting impression.
Black Swan (8.0)
Taking heavy inspiration from both the story of the Swan Princess and the Swan Lake ballet by Tchaikovsky, this dark fantasy is a symphony of nightmare fuel as a gifted dancer winds her way through the ranks of her ballet company and deals with her demanding mother. Ultimately, she goes through a more than grueling metamorphosis as she tangles with a younger rival.
Dealing with themes of the shadow, mental fatigue, and hallucinations, this film is a twisted psychological thriller that not even fairytale magic can fully explain. Black Swan is simply one of those films viewers just have to experience to comprehend, but a little research into the original story certainly wouldn't hurt either.
Spirited Away (8.6)
Spirited Away is a remarkably beautiful fantasy that blends traditional Japanese folklore with a few universal tropes and ideas seen across a multitude of different stories. As Chihiro leaves her modern world behind, she and her family are soon swept away to a world of spirits, witches, dragons, and other strange and unusual creatures that continuously remind her that she is about as far away from her world as she can get.
With notes of Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, King Midas, and more, Hayo Miyazaki weaves an incredible tale worthy of the genre. Spirited Away is very fairytale-like as it deals with themes of growing up and moving on. The film has gorgeous animation, a timeless story, and emotional delivery that will linger with viewers long after the credits roll.