The 90s are a legendary time for many people. The company embraced VHS tapes, Nintendo 64 video game consoles, grunge style and Crystal Pepsi. The 90s also ushered in the internet age, as BuzzFeed pointed out, and changed the evolution of technology, including the movie industry. One genre that became even more prevalent in the 90s is that of fantasy films. In fact, many of the best fantasy films ever made were released in the 90s. The films also used more mixed genres and subgenres such as fantasy adventure or fantasy comedy, which tied in well with the fantasy elements.
Epic tales of adventures, comedic moments of life, amazing talking dragons, love stories with a fantasy twist, technical martial arts, emotional supernatural stories and dark stop-motion movies have taken over in the 90s. The movies of the 90s were in a league of their own and brought to life the changes society was going through. Many 90s teens didn’t want to grow up, yearned for epic love, and took their emotions to a whole new level. Throughout the 90s, the film genre reflected the basic ideas society embraced, a connected lifestyle of change and moments of growth. Let’s take a look at some of the best fantasy films of the 1990s.
ten To hang up
To hang up is a 1991 fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film continues the story that began in author JM Barrie’s novel, Peter and Wendy, and focuses on what happened when Peter grew up and forgot his childhood adventures. This movie features the classic characters of Peter Pan (played by Robin Williams), Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman), Tinker Bell (Julia Roberts), Mr. Smee (Bob Hoskins) and Granny Wendy (Maggie Smith). To hang up received five nominations at the 64th Academy Awards. Since its release, it has gained a strong cult following, including the release of merchandise, video games, action figures, and comics.
9 The beauty and the Beast
The beauty and the Beast became a classic animated feature from Walt Disney Animation. The 1991 film is based on the fairy tale of the same name written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. The beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle (Paige O’Hara), a young woman imprisoned by a beast (Robbie Benson) who is actually a prince cursed to remain a beast until he finds true love. The beauty and the Beast was so successful that a live-action version was released in 2017 and is currently available on Disney+.
8 dragon heart
dragon heart is a 1996 fantasy adventure film directed by Rob Cohen which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 1996 and 1997. The film tells the story of a dragon slayer named Bowen (Dennis Quaid) who s allies with the last remaining Dragon named Draco (Sean Connery) to take on a tyrannical king named Einon (David Thewlis) who shares a part of his heart with Draco.
seven mortal combat
mortal combat is a 1995 fantasy martial arts film based on the video game franchise of the same name. The film shows a group of heroes (played by Linden Ashby, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Robin Shou, Bridgette Wilson, Talisa Soto and Christopher Lambert) trying to compete in a tournament to protect the Earth from evil forces. The film received mixed reviews, but spawned four sequels. In 2021, the series was rebooted with a 2021 movie, also called mortal combat.
6 Borrowers
Borrowers is a 1997 fantasy comedy that tells the story of Pete Lender (Bradley Pierce), who thinks the missing household items in his home have been stolen. Pete eventually learns that people are secretly living in a clock in the house and taking the items. The film also stars John Goodman, Jim Broadbent, Mark Williams, Celia Imrie, Hugh Laurie, Ruby Wax, Flora Newbigin, Tom Felton and Raymond Pickard. Borrowers is a great story about why we should care about everyone, even little guys.
5 Phantom
Phantom is an iconic romantic fantasy film released in 1990 that tells the story of a man named Sam (Patrick Swayze), who is killed and remains as a ghost to save his wife named Molly (Demi Moore) from the person who killed him. murdered using a psychic named Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg) as an intermediary. Phantom earned five nominations at the 63rd Academy Awards, with Goldberg winning Best Supporting Actress.
4 The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 stop-motion animated dark fantasy musical produced and created by Tim Burton. The story is about Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), the King of Halloween Town, who accidentally stumbles into Christmas Town and becomes too obsessed with the new holiday. The incredibly talented voice cast also includes Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page, Paul Reubens, Glenn Shadix and Ed Ivory. Since its initial release, the film has garnered a huge cult following, even earning a 91% viewership rating from Rotten Tomatoes.
3 Jumanji
Jumanji is a 1995 fantasy adventure film based on a Chris Van Allsburg picture book of the same name. The film tells the story of a boy named Alan Parrish, who becomes trapped in a supernatural board game in 1969 while playing with his friend. Several years later, siblings named Judy and Peter, played by Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce, find the game and start playing. They free an adult Alan, played by Robin Williams, and an adult Sarah, played by Bonnie Hunt, who must then continue playing the game to reverse all the chaos that was unleashed because of it. Jumanji has since had several sequels and become a franchise in its own right.
2 The green Line
The green Line is a 1999 fantasy drama film based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The film, set during the Great Depression, stars Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb, a supervising caretaker who works in the death row in a prison. Paul witnesses a series of supernatural events after a new convict named John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) arrives at the facility. The film’s emotional ending and themes of morality, humility, and truth are something to behold.
1 Matilda
Matilda is a 1996 fantasy comedy film directed by Danny DeVito, who also plays Matilda’s father. The film is based on Roald Dahl’s novel of the same name. The film tells the story of Matilda, played by Mara Wilson, who develops psychic abilities that allow her to influence the world around her with just her mind. Matilda uses these abilities to care for her family, who don’t care much for her, and her school principal, Miss Trunchbull (Pam Ferris). The film also stars Embeth Davidtz as Matilda’s teacher, Miss Honey, who ends up caring for Matilda. The film’s unique childlike quality and treatment of serious subject matter lends itself to a wonderful story about standing up to the bullies of the world.