The 9 Best Fantasy Movies on Amazon Prime

The third installment in the Jumanji franchise is a successful modern-day remake of the original film–which isn’t something you hear often about remakes. This time, the characters are stuck in high school detention where they find an old video game titled Jumanji and decide to play it to pass the time. In a twist, they’re physically sucked into the game where the frightful teens are transformed into their chosen characters. 

A shy computer nerd is played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who is unaccustomed to his new body’s size and physical strength, and a superficial, Instagram-obsessed popular girl, is transformed into her opposite–a large, bookish, middle-aged man played by Jack Black. Along with their equally confused companions, they must navigate their way through a danger-filled jungle to beat the real-life video game and the ultimate boss, fighting a slew of monsters along the way. Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle delivers both comedy and fantasy, and it’s available right now for your next movie night. 

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With all the buzz surrounding the MCU, a DC Universe movie might not seem like the best choice for a night of streaming. But Aquaman came back with a big splash. Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry, who believes he is the rightful heir to Atlantis. First off, Jason Momoa in anything is enough to make us watch. Like any superhero movie, Aquaman is filled with intense combat and lots of CGI, but what really makes this movie stand out visually is how vibrant and colorful every scene is. The majority of the movie is set under water, and the scenery, seamless movements (especially during fight scenes), and a myriad of sea creatures give the audience a sense of awe and wonder. 

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There’s no shortage of Godzilla movies out there but if we’re being honest, this year’s Godzilla: King of Monsters takes the cake. Unlike Gareth Edwards’s 2014 rendition which only teased the monster Godzilla and didn’t satisfy fans’ appetite for combat grandeur and destruction, Godzilla: King of Monsters heavily features the monster and shows off the true extent of its nuclear power. As if that weren’t enough, there’s also a healthy dose of other monsters like Mothra and King Ghidorah. Featuring Charles Dance and Stranger Things’s Millie Bobby Brown, Godzilla: King of Monsters is by far the most fun and monster-packed addition to the Godzilla franchise. 

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The 1997 classic has seen three sequels since then, but none measure up to the original (sorry). The setting of a top secret government agency in the Arizona desert is almost comedic today, given the recent online spur of interest in Area 51 and the supposed aliens being kept there. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are the dynamic duo in this film, exchanging quips while going on missions to squash giant alien bugs and save the Earth. Their witty characters, the flashy, futuristic gadgets they use, and their iconic, spiffy black suits left a cultural impact that can’t be overstated. 

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Another Disney retelling on this list, Snow White and the Huntsman is not as happily-ever-after as the original film. Kristen Stewart plays Snow White, who has to defend her own self this time rather than wait for her prince to save the day. With the help of the huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), who’s had a change of heart, she rides into battle to take back the kingdom from her wicked stepmother who’s hellbent on killing her. Unlike the animated Snow White, this one is probably not suitable for children. 

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Probably the funniest fantasy movie on this list, Hocus Pocus tends to resurface every Halloween. When it was first released in 1993, it was anything but a success, actually costing Disney millions. However, love for the film has grown over time and it’s yet to lose relevance. Three witches are accidentally resurrected on Halloween in Salem, where they plan to extract youth from all the children in town (thereby killing them) to keep themselves alive. For the teens who resurrected them, it’s a race against time to stop the witches before they wreak havoc on the population. Hocus Pocus is a comedy fantasy that’s spooky enough to watch year-round. 

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In our opinion, Guardians of the Galaxy got left behind amidst the hype of The Avengers saga. Though they are Marvel’s lesser known cohort, the guardians are still a group of kick-ass, funny, and lovable characters. Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana are part of an amazing cast whose on-screen chemistry is smooth and genuine which makes the audience love them all the more. It’s easy for the plot and emotional undercurrent of a superhero movie to get lost in flashy fight sequences, big explosions, and over-the-top CGI. But Guardians of the Galaxy has a good balance of both, which blend together seamlessly. 

In a post-apocalyptic future one thousand years from now, cities are built on wheels and smaller cities are at risk of being "eaten" by bigger ones. Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), a resident of a city that was absorbed by the predatory London, is determined to put an end to this. She believes that people can live the way they used to before the great wars upended humanity–in static settlements in peace with one another. However, Hester herself harbors secrets that could compromise her mission and destroy her relationships with the other Anti-Tractionists, the people whose support she needs. Mortal Engines features a deeply flawed protagonist whose ethics are questionable but whose depth is ultimately captivating. 

One final twist on a Disney staple to top off this list–Ever After: A Cinderella Story features Drew Barrymore as Cinderella and a long-haired Dougray Scott as Prince Henry. We all know how the story goes, but in this version, there are no sewing birds and mice, magical fairy godmother, or bewitched pumpkin carriage. But there is Leonardo Da Vinci who, in this movie, is a helpful sidekick in addition to being a genius inventor. The story is set in 16th century Renaissance France, and as far as fairytales go, it's quite realistic.