What are the best fantasy movies on Netflix to watch right now? The streaming service's vast catalog can be overwhelming sometimes, and, with new releases arriving every week, the scrolling can feel endless. That's why we're here to help you make the right decisions when it comes to choosing a film to watch at home.
Whether you're looking for inspiring films for kids or brutal R-rated monster tales with lots of action, we've found movies that cover all moods, tastes, and audiences. And they're all fantastic too.
We’ve dug deep (and greedily) into the best Netflix movies to find stories set in distant worlds, realms filled with magic, and spellbinding mythology. As one of the best streaming platforms out there, Netflix offers plenty of options within the fantasy genre.
From critically-acclaimed gems like Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio to action flicks like The Old Guard, we've curated this ranking to highlight some of the best fantasy movies on Netflix right now.
This genre has limitless potential, so in this list you'll find everything from cozy rom-coms to family movies. Buckle up and get ready for some streaming whimsy.
10. Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
Year: 2018
Director: Andy Serkis
Available on: Netflix US/UK
Andy Serkis, arguably the king of motion-capture acting, turns his attention behind the camera in this live-action spin on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book stories. Most of us are familiar with Disney's animated take on the books, but Mowgli sets a more mature tone.
With a nuanced understanding of how to get the best out of mo-cap technology and voiceover performances, Serkis uses the experience he gained from being Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, Snoke in the Star Wars timeline, and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes movies to shape a new adventure. Legend of the Jungle follows the classic beats and is about a child raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. It has familiar characters like Baloo the bear, top-notch action sequences, and stretches its budget to the max to create a tense adaptation.
9. Afterlife of the Party
Year: 2021
Director: Stephen Herek
Available on: Netflix US/UK
Something a little lighter, perhaps? We can benefit from a dose of silliness on occasion, and Afterlife is a good antidote to those Monday blues. It's an easy-watch and trope-filled story about a social butterfly who dies but is given a second chance to right her wrongs before moving on.
If you're a fan of watching the best Netflix comedies and films about fixing things on a timer – think Happy Death Day and any film about Ebenezer Scrooge – this will scratch an itch you weren't even aware of. It stars Victoria Justice, too, which is an extra point for those of us who grew up on a Nickelodeon and Disney Channel diet. The narrative itself isn't much to write home about, but it's good vibes all around here if you're not in the mood for something weightier. The best fantasy movies are often expansive and attached to longer running times, but not this one.
8. The Old Guard
Year: 2020
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Available on: Netflix US/UK
A Charlize Theron action vehicle with surprising amounts of world-building, The Old Guard follows a group of four immortal warriors who protect humanity from the shadows. Everything hits the fan when they are targeted because of their unyielding life force.
The plot isn't the most cohesive in the world, and if you're looking for the best action movies starring its lead, you'll be better served by Mad Max: Fury Road or Atomic Blonde, but Theron stills punches a lot of people in this. What more can we ask for? It's based on the Greg Rucka comics of the same name, and the undying mercenaries with hearts of gold hook does a lot of heavy lifting. Now's a good time to jump into it, ahead of The Old Guard 2 release date.
For more information check out our The Old Guard review!
7. Over the Moon
Year: 2020
Director: Glen Keane and John Kahrs
Available on: Netflix US/UK
Driven into action by memories of her mother, an optimistic young girl called Fei Fei builds a rocket to fly to the moon. She's on a mission to prove a legendary moon goddess exists, but finds lots of trouble on the journey. Over the Moon struggles to stand tall among the countless animated kids movies that deal in similar topics, but it's a heartfelt adventure to kick back with nonetheless.
It has musical numbers, a vibrant aesthetic, and a tear-jerking plot about grief and acceptance. Even if it feels like you've seen versions of its story before, Over the Moon nails its emotional stings enough for it to be a worthy addition to your watchlist, especially if you are after the best kids movies on Netflix to watch with your family. There's also a bunny rabbit in this that is simply begging to be bought in plushie form.
6. The Sea Beast
Year: 2022
Director: Chris Williams
Available on: Netflix US/UK
We’re hitting the high seas now for an inspirational tale of standing up for what’s right, even when the odds seem insurmountable. When young Maisie stows away on the ship of the sea monster hunter Jacob Holland, they end up coming face to face with a legendary creature. But all is not as it seems… maybe this monster ain't so bad.
The Sea Beast’s themes aren't unique, especially not in the children's genre, but it has a bit more teeth to it and refreshingly doesn't water its ideas down. The characters are what make it sing, with complicated people littered around the story. Fantasy is a great genre to find heroes in, and The Sea Beast lets its young and brilliant protagonist, Maisie, shine. That's no easy feat next to a Karl Urban-voiced character.
5. Nightbooks
Year: 2021
Director: David Yarovesky
Available on: Netflix US/UK
There are some stunning kids horror movies out there, Studio Laika's Coraline and Paranorman to name a couple, and Netflix did not come to play with its contender. Nightbooks utilizes a hammy Krysten Ritter as a witch for a Hansel and Gretel-style tale. When a spook-loving young boy named Alex gets trapped in her magical apartment, he must band together with other captives to find a way to escape.
It's got lots of creepy moments, respects its young audience's capacity to understand the darker themes, and features a colorful production design to boot. The magical elements are a lot of fun, and the running time makes it an efficient choice for a family movie night. The sub-genre is dark fantasy, so if you like all things supernatural, Nightbooks is a fantastic bet.
If you are after something a bit more mature than Nightbooks, read our list of the best Netflix horror movies.
4. Suzume
Year: 2022
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Available on: Netflix US/UK
It would be almost impossible to outshine Makoto Shinkai's 2016 masterpiece Your Name, but Suzume is still an absolute triumph that feels both epic on a grand scale and deeply emotional within the main character's own journey. It's a movie with outstanding ambitions that manages to deliver by juggling numerous elements from fantasy to romance, and emerges victorious as one of the best anime movies of the last few years.
The plot follows 17-year-old Suzume as she opens a mysterious door that unleashes a catastrophic event across Japan. Similar doors are being opened all around the country, and anything near them meets with destruction. The teenager will have to team up with a guy-turned-chair to close all the doors and save everyone. Shinkai is often called Hayao Miayazaki's heir, but his style is absolutely unique, and deserves to stand on its own.
For more information, read our complete review of Suzume.
3. Pinocchio
Year: 2022
Directors: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
Available on: Netflix US/UK
Two Pinocchio movies were released in 2022. One was a Disney Plus remake as flavorful as oatmeal with no toppings; the other was a reimagining for Netflix, spearheaded by fantasy filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. He and Mark Gustafson abandoned the safety net of the traditional Pinocchio fable for something more politically charged, adventurous, and stylized.
Del Toro told Total Film, "When we started this journey, we said, 'Well, what can we shake, in terms of story, and what haven't we seen before?'" And shake they did. Pinocchio is a labor of love, which is obvious in every painstakingly animated frame. From the story's additional bite to the visual storytelling, it's the finest adaptation of the story since Disney's classic.
Read our Pinocchio review if you fancy learning more about the latest Disney take on this classic story. But be warned, Guillermo del Toro's movie is far better, in our opinion.
2. Nimona
Year: 2023
Directors: Troy Quane, Nick Bruno
Available on: Netflix US/UK
Nimona has a frenzied and explosive spirit that makes it a delight. The visual language is fast-paced and dynamic; the world moves quickly, and there are details in every corner. That being said, the heart of the narrative in this Netflix fantasy movie is delicate and complex. Like many movies aimed at youngsters, Nimona teaches us to embrace our uniqueness.
It casts a light on how we 'other' people out of fear or ignorance, dehumanizing them. These are heavy topics, but the delivery makes it digestible. The characters are lively, the animation marches to the beat of its own drum, and it addresses important topics without hamfisting the execution. Watching the relationships and people in the story grow is super rewarding, too.
1. Love and Monsters
Year: 2020
Director: Michael Matthews
Available on: Netflix UK
We're headed into an apocalyptic world now for Love and Monsters, which sees an unprepared survivor leave his underground shelter to reunite with his ex-girlfriend.
Love and Monsters feels original in a genre that doesn't have a lot of that anymore. There's more to it than meets the eye, with likable characters, a memorable soundtrack, and great VFX for all those over-sized creepy crawlies.
It's like multiple movies rolled into one, with romance and adventure making sure there’s something for everyone. If it weren't so much fun, you might notice it's a bit unfocused. But luckily, it's an exciting and imaginative fantasy flick that provides a much needed break from Netflix's animated conveyor belt and modern Hollywood's IP-focused tentpoles. It's also one of the best Netflix action movies, along with being our top pick for the best fantasy movies on Netflix, so yeah, it's a must-watch.
After more streaming recommendations? Well, you can head over to our lists of the best Netflix TV shows, the best Netflix sci-fi movies, and the best anime on Netflix for more binge-worthy titles. Or read our guide on everything you need to know about The Sandman season 2!
