When it comes to fairytales and fantasy, there are few studios who do the genre better than Disney. With Snow White, Aladdin, and even King Arthur on their payroll, it makes sense that the house of the mouse would have the biggest iron in the fire. But what if you’ve seen them all and want something more?
Fortunately, fairytales have transitioned wonderfully over to our modern era, and the film world isn’t afraid of venturing into fiction and fantasy. If you’ve been on a Disney+ binge and still want more, here are ten fairytale films every Disney fan needs to see.
Beastly
Although the book that inspired this film is legions better than the film, there’s still something to be said about this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It’s one of those so-bad-it’s-good movies, but at least we get a little Neil Patrick Harris for our troubles.
Seeing a modern interpretation of Beauty and the Beast with actual magic is definitely a nice change of pace, but it does tend to get lopped into the standard romantic chick-flick pile. Watch to sate your curiosity, but keep reading for some more impressive entries.
Jack the Giant Slayer
Jack the Giant Slayer may have been a flop on its release, but honestly, we can’t say it’s as bad as critics declared. Granted, it’s by no means the deepest or thought-provoking film on our list, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. If you’re looking to take a break from the princess flicks, this is a good way to do it.
This retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk definitely features more comedy and action than your standard reimagining. With crude humor and gross-out visuals from the giants of Gantua, but features some pretty strong actors like Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, and Ewan McGreggor.
Tale of Tales
If you know anything about fairytales, you know that Disney’s versions aren’t exactly the most accurate. Tale of Tales is not that kind of movie. This European fantasy film is essentially a blend of different fairytales from across the continent, all with the dark, strange, and even gruesome elements intact.
Yes, it has its beautiful royals, romance, and adventure, but it also has dragons, witches, and even an ogre to the table. It might be darker than most of its kind, but it’s impressive nonetheless. It’s definitely not Sleeping Beauty, but it’s still a fairytale flick that no fan of the genre should skip.
The Tempest
From the mind behind Across the Universe and The Lion King on Broadway, The Tempest might come from the famous play by Shakespeare, but it’s fairytale influences are heavily felt. With a romance between a prince and princess, a sorceress’s spell, and one mischievous imp, The Tempest has all the works of a Disney fantasy.
Easily one of the better adaptations of Shakespeare’s final play, Julie Taymor’s Tempest is one of those films that is sorrowfully underrated but adored by the right audience. If you enjoy sorcery, Shakespeare, or just want some strange magic in your life, have a look at this fantasy flick.
Pan’s Labyrinth
When it comes to dark fantasy films, the shining jewel in the genre’s crown has to be Pan’s Labyrinth from Guillermo del Toro. Not only is this a modern fairytale flick, but the theme of fairytales is such a prevalent force in the film’s plot and visuals. From the creatures to the dark and beautiful story, there’s a lot to love here.
There’s a little bit of Alice in Wonderland, a little bit of Narnia, and even a bit of Grimm’s fairytales sprinkled in for good measure. If you want a fairytale flick with a more adult audience in mind, you can’t go wrong with Pan’s Labyrinth.
Snow White and the Huntsman
Now here’s a fairytale film that blends wonderfully with the epic fantasy genre. If you’re looking for a familiar plot, say Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but with the scale and gigantic quality of Lord of the Rings or Excalibur, we highly recommend Snow White and the Huntsman.
If you think the tale of the Fairest One of All needed more swords, sorcery, and Charlize Theron, then you’re in the right place. It’s definitely a more action-packed retelling of the classic story. Fewer poison apples, more hack-and-slash, if you get the picture. Definitely, one we’d watch over and over again.
Howl’s Moving Castle
Yet another tale by way of Beauty and the Beast graces our list, this time by the magnificent mind of Hiyo Miyazaki with Howl’s Moving Castle. Loosely based on the book of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones, this magical adventure ropes a cursed hatmaker named Sophie in with a mysterious wizard and his wandering castle.
Easily one of the most visually enchanting on our list, Howl’s Moving Castle not only gives us a charming fairytale story but one of the most beautiful fantasy worlds featured on our list. Come for the fire-demon voiced by Billy Crystal, stay for all the magic and wonder Miyazaki has on display.
Spirited Away
Of course, we can’t talk about Miyazaki without mentioning his Oscar-winning animated feature, Spirited Away. Where Alice went down the rabbit hole into the acid trip that was Wonderland, Chihiro gets pulled in to the arguably stranger and more hostile spirit world. With witches, dragons, and more than a few monsters, we’re definitely not in Kansas anymore.
The characters can be both enchanting and frightening, the visuals range from beautiful to grotesque, and the plot is definitely somewhat heavier than most animated flicks get. If you’ve not seen this fantasy gem, definitely put it on as soon as you can to experience this trip into another realm.
Penelope
Definitely one of the most underappreciated films on our list, Penelope is a delightful fairytale with a contemporary style. Though it uses old magic, its setting is definitely more modern than most tales of its breed. In a gender-reversed take on Beauty and the Beast, a girl with a pig’s snout must find love in order to break her family curse.
The cast members are all unique and charming and though the plot is a tad mixed, it’s still a very enchanting feature. This movie is a quirky alternative to your standard romantic-comedies, we’d spend some time with Penelope any day.
The Shape of Water
On the subject of Guillermo Del Toro, we can’t talk about fairytale films and not bring up his Oscar-winning masterpiece, The Shape of Water. Part Beauty and the Beast, part Little Mermaid, all fantastic and visually stunning. Once again, del Toro wows us with his gift for creature features, but at the same time gives us an enchantingly beautiful love story.
Granted, it’s by no means the most conventional romance, but del Toro’s gift for reenvisioning and reworking fairytale tropes wins us over every time. If you thought Beauty and the Beast needed more beast, this is the film for you.
