With House of the Dragon just underway and the highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power releasing, the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Fantasy Franchises.
Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films/series in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. SHREK
It may not be the first franchise you think of when you think of fantasy, but Shrek deserves its place in the Bitesize Top Five. Featuring superb performances from Mike Myers & Eddie Murphy, memorable quotes & one liners, and a killer soundtrack, this fairy tale is one of the greatest animated film series of all time. And it’s not even from Pixar. Give me a fifth installment, like now. - Nick
4. THE PRINCESS BRIDE
Let me explain why The Princess Bride is damn near a perfect movie, fantasy or otherwise…no, there is too much. Let me sum up… It has romance, action, adventure, humor, memorable characters, and quotable line after quotable line. It’s also a timeless tale of true love, revenge, and friendship told through pirates, giants, princesses, and literal miracle workers. To paraphrase our hero: there’s a shortage of perfect movies in the world. It would be a pity to overlook this one. - Quentin
3. THE WIZARD OF OZ
Although both of Victor Fleming’s 1939 films have left significant legacies, it's the all-time fantasy classic The Wizard of Oz that has truly endured (Gone With the Wind is the other). Judy Garland’s impeccable performance and the film’s timeless music are only out-classed by the film’s technical wizardry and sheer imagination. More than 80 years later, the reveal of technicolor remains the definition of pure movie magic. - Jacob
2. HARRY POTTER
The Harry Potter universe allows fans to leave their ordinary lives behind for a world that brings a sense of magic, comfort, and love. I mean, we all need a little magic in our lives, and who doesn’t want to be a wizard or receive a letter from Hogwarts? The adventures and culture of this fantasy world - with all its magical creatures, potions, and spells - is the perfect escape from our own reality. At the same time, it provides a wonderful sense of belonging through all the lovable characters. - Paige
1. THE LORD OF THE RINGS
A Beautiful Mind should not have won 2001’s Best Picture Oscar, and Chicago FOR DAMN SURE shouldn’t have won in 2002. There should have been a three-peat sweep for Peter Jackson’s magnum opus trilogy of world building, adaptation, and storytelling. The Lord of the Rings is the best fantasy series, best trilogy, and, straight up, three of the best movies of all time. Riots would have broken out if Mystic freakin’ River had won in 2003. - Amarú
HONORABLE MENTIONS
GAME OF THRONES
HOOK
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE SWORD IN THE STONE
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Dreamworks Pictures; Photo 2 - 20th Century Studios; Photo 3 - MGM Studios; Dreamworks Pictures; Photo 4 - Warner Bros; Photo 5 - New Line Cinema