For a sense of uncovering new magic, ancient lore, and unforgettable companions at the end of the Harry Potter books, the fantasy genre has a lot of amazing worlds waiting to be explored. These movies will stir the imagination again, from secret parallel worlds to magical schools.
The Chronicles of Narnia
This gorgeous adaptation captures the ultimate childhood dream of discovering a secret gateway to another world. Following four siblings who step through a wardrobe into a frozen, magical land.
Stardust
This is a witty adventure tailored from a Neil Gaiman novel, in which a young man goes into a walled, magical kingdom and must find a fallen star. It’s a stunning rendition of the magic found in the Harry Potter movies and a completely original fairy tale.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter films, does a fantastic job in this urban fantasy that seamlessly brings together teenage life and Greek mythology. It’s the tale of a boy who finds his divine roots and trains at an exclusive demigod training institute.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Tim Burton’s signature gothic style is added to this tale of a lonely time-looped estate for kids with superpowers and weird skills. It is a wonderfully moody, atmospheric cousin to Hogwarts, with a hidden society, monstrous dark forces, and a protective headmistress!
Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki’s animated masterpiece is a journey into an unknown world with an intricate system of magic rules. A young girl accidentally stumbles upon a bathhouse designed for ancient gods, spirits, and witches, and she must summon her courage to survive and save her family.
The Lord of the Rings
This legendary movie is the next obvious step if you’re looking to move from a secret wizarding world to a large-scale, fully fleshed-out epic fantasy realm. Magic on a grand scale, its incredible level of world building, ancient history, and a fellowship of friends that cannot be broken, captures this.
Pan’s Labyrinth
If you’re a fan of the darker, more dangerous side of the latter Harry Potter films, then this dark fairytale is a visual masterpiece. It is a tale set in a gritty historical period, and one in which a young girl faces three trials from a mysterious faun, all of which are haunted by a mythical entity.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
The film focuses on an ordinary physics student who finds out that he will be the next heir to the legendary magical abilities, and has a great mentor-student relationship, while there are also many imaginative and energetic battles using magic.
Labyrinth
It’s a fantasy adventure that’s both visually spectacular and classic, with David Bowie as the charismatic Goblin King who seduces a creative teenager into a gigantic, constantly changing maze. The film unfolds surprising elements and magical thrills along with an immersive story in the end.
Matilda
It doesn’t feature fancy wand battles, but this fantastic Roald Dahl take on the story is exactly like Harry Potter, where every little wish is fulfilled. It’s about an unusually bright but misunderstood young girl who learns she possesses super powers and harnesses her magic to take on the bullies and tyrannies of adulthood.
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