Sometimes the state of big-budget, blockbuster movies is lamentable. For productions with such resources, they can fall short of the audience's expectations. This is especially true when it comes to fantasy films, when a large budget seems like a sure way to make quality entertainment. But this isn't always the case.
There have been some amazing fantasy films to come out of smaller or independent studios with much smaller budgets. Some of these may not always have the best special effects, but fantasy isn't always about the fanciest effects. Fantasy is about fun and engrossing storytelling, and these movies succeed.
The Head Hunter (2019)
In this gruesome horror fantasy, a medieval warrior wanders the earth hunting monsters that mean to cause harm to mankind. But his true foe is the monster that killed his daughter so many years ago.
It's the only head missing from his collection. The story veers a little too close to showing and not enough telling at times, but it still creates a compelling tale that keeps the audience hooked.
Available on: Google Play, YouTube, Shudder, Amazon Prime
Born Of Hope (2009)
This independent, fan-made feature film takes on the material from J.R.R. Tolkein's appendices. Telling the story of Arathorn, who takes refugees to Taurdal in preparation for the oncoming orc attack, any fan of The Lord of the Rings would appreciate the classic fantasy feel of this film.
Its timeline falls between the Rings and The Hobbit films. For a movie with such a low budget, the costumes and makeup design fit well into the established world.
Available on: YouTube
The Sword And The Sorcerer (1982)
As a product of its time, some of the gender dynamics are suspect, but getting past that, this film contains all the classic elements of fantasy. It's right there in the title.
Talon works as a mercenary knight until he finds out he's really a prince who forgot his royal heritage. He must fight to overthrow an evil sorcerer that has taken over his kingdom and save the damsel in distress in the process.
Available on: YouTube
Hawk The Slayer (1980)
This is another cheesy 80s flick that passes with a "so bad it's good," rating. As the title implies, it is about a protagonist named Hawk, who is a slayer.
He seeks "The Power," which is a magical flying sword, but his evil brother Voltan also covets the enchanted weapon. A slow-motion battle to the death between protagonist and villain solidifies this movie's place in classic fantasy history.
Available on: Tubi, Amazon Prime, YouTube
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
Jaded film director Toby, played by Adam Driver, gets pulled into a surreal world when a delusional Spanish shoemaker believes himself to be Don Quixote, and Toby his Sancho Panza.
Along the way, Toby contends with the consequences of a movie he made in his youth that changed the hopes of a small Spanish village. The fantastical romp through fabulist storytelling pays homage to the culture's literary tradition.
Available on: Crackle, Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
It might surprise many to find such a popular fantasy film with a cult following and headed by the renowned Guillermo del Toro is a low-budget film.
This dark fantasy follows the heroine Ofelia through 1944 after the Spanish Civil War, as she navigates between the real world and a mythical universe centered around a magical faun's labyrinth. Del Toro's fantasy world both captivates and frightens with its entrancing visuals and unforgettable creatures.
Available on: Vudu, YouTube, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon Prime
The Fall (2006)
The combined work of director Tarsem Singh and star Lee Pace alone should pique the interest of many. But the moving tale of a little girl recovering in a hospital after a fall befriending a bedridden man who tells her stories is enough to pull on any heartstrings.
Vibrant and outlandish costumes and sets make this fantasy film a feast for the eyes, even if the story sometimes gets lost in itself.
Available on: iTunes
I Am Dragon (2015)
This Russian film has a Beauty and the Beast feel to it. Mira, a young lady whose family thinks her immature for believing in fairy tales, gets kidnapped by a dragon on the day of her wedding to a man her family betrothed her to.
Imprisoned in a cave, she meets a young man named Arman, who cannot remember who he is. Spoiler alert: he's the dragon. It's an oddly captivating love story.
Available on: YouTube, Tubi, Vudu, Google Play, Amazon Prime
The Last Warrior (2018)
This movie also goes by the title The Scythian in its original language. Set in medieval times, the movie takes inspiration from the high fantasy films of the 1980s, with less of the cheese.
It's still a fun movie about warriors fighting for their way of life, but with enough drama and stakes to make it a more emotionally relevant story. Like most good fantasy, the clash of swords keeps the audience entertained.
Available on: Tubi, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime
I Kill Giants (2017)
Adapted from the graphic novel by Joe Kelly and Ken Nimura, the movie follows Barbara Thorson, a teenager with an overactive imagination who believes giants are coming to destroy her town.
She creates a magical world in her head influenced by her favorite game, Dungeons & Dragons, and she preps for the oncoming attack. Along the way, she develops a complicated friendship with a new girl in town named Sophia.
Available on: Amazon Prime, Hulu, Vudu, Google Play, YouTube