The 1990s were a great decade for fantasy movies, but since there are so many, some of them have flown under the radar in recent years. Part of this is because these projects weren’t originally box office successes or were considered critical failures upon their initial release. However, time has demonstrated they’re worth watching, as many have become cult classics in recent decades. Featuring incredible performances from iconic actors like Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, and Robin Williams, these films boast significant star power that has helped increase their longevity.
- 5 Classic Murder Mystery Comedies To Watch Before The Thursday Murder Club And Knives Out 3
- Fantastic Beasts: The 15 Best Jude Law Dumbledore Quotes
- Top 35 Slasher Villains Of All Time, Ranked
- Selena Gomez New Album 2023 Release Date, When is Selena Gomez Releasing Her New Album?
- Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 7 Release Date and Time, Countdown, When Is It Coming Out?
Some of these are obscure fantasy movies that hardly anyone remembers, which is too bad since they have some of the best visual effects and intricate production designs of the ’90s. Though it’s easy to look back on older fantasy films and criticize their dated look and feel, these projects have stood the test of time, with visuals that feel fresh and original, especially compared to some contemporary additions to the genre. Exploring fantasy movies from decades past helps showcase how the genre has evolved and why it connects so deeply with audiences.
You are watching: 10 Most Underrated Fantasy Movies From The 1990s
10
What Dreams May Come (1998)
Directed by Vincent Ward
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
What Dreams May Come
PG-13
Fantasy
Drama
Romance
8.5/10
Release Date
October 2, 1998
Runtime
113 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Robin Williams
Chris Nielsen
-
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Albert Lewis
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Any movie that features Robin Williams is worth watching, but his 1998 fantasy movie What Dreams May Come is one of his most overlooked projects. Williams plays Chris Nielsen, a doctor who dies not long after his children and waits for his wife in the afterlife. A grim and dark movie, What Dreams May Come, follows Chris’ attempts to rescue his wife, Annie (Annabella Sciorra), from hell. Based on the book by Richard Matheson, What Dreams May Come tackles different religious and theological ideas throughout its run, engaging with high-concept discussions of philosophy and morality.
Related
The 8 Movies That Defined Robin Williams’ Career
Within Robin Williams’ varied body of work, these 8 films are particularly notable as defining highlights in his unforgettable career.
Posts
Lauded for its beautiful and well-designed visual effects and production design, the story of What Dreams May Come shouldn’t be overlooked. A recurring motif throughout What Dreams May Come is that we create our own realities, and our personal beliefs are what will shape the afterlife. The central plot point of Chris being willing to spend eternity in hell as long as he’s with Annie is a touching sentiment that never gets old, even all these years later.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
What Dreams May Come (1998) |
52% |
84% |
9
James And The Giant Peach (1996)
Directed by Henry Selick
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
James and the Giant Peach
PG
Animation
Adventure
Family
Release Date
April 12, 1996
Runtime
79 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Paul Terry
-
Joanna Lumley
-
Pete Postlethwaite
-
Simon Callow
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
The somewhat unsettling and uncanny animation of James and the Giant Peach allows the animated movie to stand out among similar works from the 1990s and now. The director, Henry Selick, is well-known for his contributions to the stop-motion genre, as he helmed iconic works like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. However, James and the Giant Peach is largely overlooked. Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach is an intense children’s film.
James and the Giant Peach is an animated movie that’s pretty dark, as James, the protagonist, goes on a terrifying journey across the world to escape his terrible aunts. However, even though the art style of James and the Giant Peach is a little unsettling, it ends on an ultimately uplifting note, with James finding the family he always wanted. Though it received good reviews, James and the Giant Peach didn’t perform well at the box office, leading to its relative obscurity (via Box Office Mojo).
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
James and the Giant Peach (1996) |
91% |
66% |
8
Phenomenon (1996)
Directed by Jon Turteltaub
Phenomenon
PG
Drama
Documentary
Fantasy
Romance
Sci-Fi
Release Date
July 5, 1996
Runtime
123 minutes
Cast
-
John Travolta
-
Kyra Sedgwick
-
Forest Whitaker
-
Robert Duvall
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
In the 1996 dramatic fantasy film Phenomenon, John Travolta plays George Malley, a young man suddenly imbued with incredible powers of intelligence. After his fateful encounter with what George believes might have been alien life, his world is turned upside down as he becomes increasingly smart and powerful, drawing the attention of doctors, scientists, and the government. However, all George wants is to do right by the people in his town and develop a relationship with Lace (Kyra Sedgwick).
Though Phenomenon is sentimental, the film never pretends to be anything but a classic tale of love and connection, with a fantasy element thrown in for good measure.
Though Phenomenon is sentimental, the film never pretends to be anything but a classic tale of love and connection, with a fantasy element thrown in for good measure. Of all of Travolta’s projects, Phenomenon has largely been forgotten about, though it successfully challenged the actor and took him out of his comfort zone. The twist in the final act will come as a surprise to audiences, but this darker ending doesn’t undercut the overall message of the movie.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Phenomenon (1996) |
49% |
59% |
7
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Death Becomes Her
PG-13
Comedy
Fantasy
See more : What Happened to Fruitopia? Why Did They Discontinue Fruitopia?
Horror
10/10
Release Date
July 31, 1992
Runtime
104 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Meryl Streep
-
Bruce Willis
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn lead the campy cult classic Death Becomes Her. Dark, satirical, and offbeat, Death Becomes Her was well ahead of its time in directly addressing the expectations and pressures put on women to achieve impossible beauty standards as they age. The hilarious and poignant performances by Streep and Hawn as the immortal rivals Madeline and Helen anchor Death Becomes Her in emotional realism. The film features some of their most overlooked performances.
Using the immortal nature of the lead characters to take the slapstick genre to the extreme, Death Becomes Her uses plenty of physical comedy to shock the audience as the movie leans into its gory moments. With time, Death Becomes Her has become a favorite in certain film circles. Recent projects like The Substance have been a great reminder to revisit Death Becomes Her for its stylish sensibilities and focus on women’s experiences aging in Hollywood.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Death Becomes Her (1992) |
58% |
62% |
6
A Little Princess (1995)
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
A Little Princess
G
Drama
Family
Fantasy
Release Date
May 10, 1995
Runtime
97 minutes
Cast
See All
-
Eleanor Bron
Miss Minchin
-
Liesel Matthews
Sara Crewe
-
Liam Cunningham
Capt. Crewe / Prince Rama
-
Rusty Schwimmer
Amelia Minchin
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Before Alfonso Cuarón made a splash with his adult drama, Y Tu Mamá También, the director was behind the screen adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel A Little Princess. Though Cuarón takes liberties with the original story, the heart of the narrative is present throughout the film. Like much of Burnett’s work, A Little Princess sees its protagonist thrust into unimaginable circumstances and make the best of things by escaping to imaginary, fantastical worlds.
Between Cuarón’s beautiful direction and the arresting nature of the story, A Little Princess deserves to be a classic.
A Little Princess might be for children, but it’s a heartwrenching project from beginning to end, as the main character, Sara (Liesel Matthews), is forced to work as a servant in a boarding school after her father dies in World War I, leaving her destitute. However, Sara’s penchant for storytelling and her imagination buoy her throughout the most devastating moments of the film, keeping the audience invested. Between Cuarón’s beautiful direction and the arresting nature of the story, A Little Princess deserves to be a classic.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
A Little Princess (1995) |
97% |
88% |
5
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Directed by Tim Burton
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Sleepy Hollow
TV-14
See more : What Happened to Fruitopia? Why Did They Discontinue Fruitopia?
Horror
Supernatural
Thriller
7/10
5.5/10
Release Date
November 19, 1999
Runtime
106 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Johnny Depp
-
Christina Ricci
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Tim Burton puts his characteristic and stylish twist on the familiar Legend of Sleepy Hollow in the 1999 movie Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. The production design and gorgeous atmospheric setting of Sleepy Hollow are consistently praised. Sleepy Hollow won the Academy Award for Best Art-Direction, and this attention to detail in the physicality of the film has helped it stand the test of time, holding up today compared to other horror-fantasy projects.
Related
10 Best R-Rated Fantasy Movies, Ranked
While some fantasy movies are meant for kids, others have a darker edge for older audiences, earning them an R-rating for their gritty themes.
Posts
4
Though Sleepy Hollow isn’t discussed with the same reverence as Burton’s iconic fantasy films like Edward Scissorhands or Beetlejuice, it still warrants watching today. Perfect to watch during the fall months in preparation for Halloween, Sleepy Hollow is one of Burton’s most underrated movies. Incorporating classic character-driven drama alongside otherworldly magic and murder, Sleepy Hollow is an engaging thrill ride. While the visual elements are easy to praise, the narrative is just as fun to dive into.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Sleepy Hollow (1999) |
71% |
80% |
4
Meet Joe Black (1998)
Directed by Martin Brest
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Meet Joe Black
PG-13
Drama
Fantasy
Romance
Release Date
November 13, 1998
Runtime
178 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
See more : Elise Mertens Ethnicity, What is Elise Mertens’s Ethnicity?
Brad Pitt
-
Anthony Hopkins
-
Claire Forlani
-
Jake Weber
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
A young Brad Pitt stars in Meet Joe Black, an offbeat fantasy drama about becoming human and the meaning of life. Though it has a morbid premise, Meet Joe Black is surprisingly sensitive and romantic, as it follows Death (Pitt) after he takes the form of a human man and sees what life is like through his eyes. As he learns to navigate the world, it doesn’t take long for Death, now known as Joe Black, to fall in love with the daughter of the man he’s come to collect.
The three-hour runtime takes its time setting up its plot lines and gives the actors lots of room to breathe in their emotional scenes.
Using Death as a protagonist is an interesting trope, and Meet Joe Black puts a unique spin on the concept as Death eventually learns why people are so invested in living. Meet Joe Black is a long movie. The three-hour runtime takes its time setting up its plot lines and gives the actors lots of room to breathe in their emotional scenes. Though it’s a commitment to watch the fantasy drama, it’s interesting to return to this early foray in the genre by Pitt.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Meet Joe Black (1998) |
46% |
81% |
3
The Secret Garden (1993)
Directed by Agnieszka Holland
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
The Secret Garden
G
Fantasy
Drama
Family
Release Date
August 13, 1993
Runtime
101 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Kate Maberly
-
Maggie Smith
-
Heydon Prowse
-
Andrew Knott
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Based on the seminal children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the 1993 adaptation of The Secret Garden is a gorgeously crafted and emotionally raw movie. One of the best live-action children’s fantasy movies, The Secret Garden, sees Mary (Kate Maberly), the protagonist, escape her circumstances through a hidden garden she imagines being full of magic and wonder as she restores it to her former glory. Through Mary’s eyes, the world is full of supernatural dangers and fantastical joys, showcasing the inherent magic of childhood.
However, The Secret Garden is deeply engaged with the themes of loss, isolation, and neglect that play significant roles throughout the story. Mary and the other characters in the story are so scared of losing the ones they love that they never open themselves up to it. As the narrative progresses, Mary learns that, like the garden, her relationships can blossom and flourish when they’re cared for. A deeply moving portrait of childhood, The Secret Garden should be better remembered.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Secret Garden (1993) |
89% |
80% |
2
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Heavenly Creatures
R
Drama
Fantasy
10/10
Release Date
October 15, 1994
Runtime
109 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Melanie Lynskey
-
Kate Winslet
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey lead the cast of Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures. The film is a fantastical thriller directed by Jackson before he became famous for directing Lord of the Rings. The relationship between Juliet (Winslet) and Pauline (Lynskey) takes center stage in Heavenly Creatures, and the chemistry between the young women is astounding. A fictionalization of the Parker–Hulme murder, Heavenly Creatures uses fantasy elements to get inside the minds of the young women and understand what drove them to commit unspeakable acts.
Despite the fact that Heavenly Creatures premiered to strong critical and audience acclaim, it’s not as well remembered as the blockbusters the cast would later be a part of.
Fantasy serves as an aspect of the script that uplifts the relationship dynamic of the women, playing a significant role in the film. However, Heavenly Creatures is often liked more closely with the crime and thriller genres, allowing it to be overlooked as time has progressed. Despite the fact that Heavenly Creatures premiered to strong critical and audience acclaim, it’s not as well remembered as the blockbusters the cast would later be a part of.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Heavenly Creatures (1994) |
95% |
83% |
1
Pom Poko (1994)
Directed by Isao Takahata
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Pom Poko
PG
Animation
Drama
Fantasy
6/10
Release Date
July 16, 1994
Runtime
119 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Shinchou Kokontei
-
Makoto Nonomura
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Pom Poko is one of Studio Ghibli’s most underrated projects. Though it wasn’t directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the studio’s iconic visionary artist, the director, Isao Takahata, crafts a charming and intimate story that everyone can enjoy. In conversation with environmental concerns and the importance of preserving the natural world, Pom Poko has a strong message at the heart of its genial narrative. Following a group of raccoon dogs who fight to save their home, Pom Poko makes it easy to fall in love with these shape-shifting characters.
Throughout Pom Poko, there are references to the impact that industrial development and technology have had on the importance of traditions and community. As the story progresses, Pom Poko becomes more serious and reflective about the disappearance of the natural world and the belief in magic. Though Pom Poko would later be overshadowed by Ghibli’s 1997 fantasy movie, Princess Mononoke, this doesn’t change the fact that Pom Poko is well worth watching.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Pom Poko (1994) |
86% |
77% |
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment