While many films focus on memorable mythical beasts, dragon movies have proven that the colossal fire-breathing lizards of legend make for some of the best cinematic experiences. Giant dinosaur-like creatures with huge leathery wings and the ability to breathe fire are certainly exciting additions to any story, and it is not hard to see why dragons have been been the focus of tales for centuries — a trend that continued with the invention of cinema and birth of filmmaking. The best dragon movies showcase all the wonderful, thrilling, and terrifying ways these beasts can be used on the big screen.
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Old stories would often depict dragons as a fearsome threat to the kingdom that needed to be vanquished by heroic knights. Certainly, there are still plenty of movies that play on the destructive nature of dragons. However, dragons in films can also be depicted as misunderstood creatures and even allies to the heroes. Epic fantasy adventures like Harry Potter have dragons, as do family-friendly fun like Shrek. From fairy tales to medieval adventures to magical epics, these dragon movies use the beasts to their greatest potential.
30 Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (2023)
The Superhero Takes On A Dragon In The City
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10 7.1/10 Shazam! The Fury of the Gods PG-13FantasyAdventureComedy
In the sequel to 2019’s Shazam!, Billy Batson and his foster siblings struggle to live a typical teenage life with their newfound superpowers. But their lives get even more complicated when the Daughters of Atlas, Hespera and Kalypso, plot revenge on Shazam as they search for the magic stolen from their family long ago.
Director David F. Sandberg Release Date March 17, 2023 Cast Helen Mirren , Adam Brody , Michelle Borth , Faithe Herman , Jack Dylan Grazer , Ian Chen , Jovan Armand , Asher Angel , Lucy Liu , Ross Butler , Marta Milans , Meagan Good , Cooper Andrews , Rachel Zegler , Zachary Levi , D.J. Cotrona , grace fulton Runtime 130 minutes Expand
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While the first Shazam! movie was a solid hit with audiences and critics for bringing some much-needed levity into the DCEU, the sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods was met with a much more tepid reaction and ultimately flopped. However, the sequel is still a fun and energetic superhero story that features some very memorable sequences that mix superhero and fantasy action.
In the climax of the movie, the heroic Shazam takes on the power god Kalypso as she rides her destructive dragon, Ladon, through the streets of Philadelphia. While there have been other examples of superheroes taking on dragons, this is the first time such a battle takes place in a modern urban city. It makes for a thrilling final action sequence of the film. It remains to be seen whether Shazam rebooted for James Gunn’s DCU, but this sequence is a reminder that the Shazam! movies that exist are better than their reputations suggest.
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29 Quest For Camelot (1998)
A Two-Headed Dragon Serves As Comedic Sidekick
Quest for Camelot GFantasyAnimationDramaRomanceFamily
Quest for Camelot is an animated adventure set in the era of King Arthur. The film follows Kayley, a courageous young woman aspiring to become a Knight of the Round Table, as she endeavors to thwart the villainous Ruber’s scheme to seize the throne of Camelot. Released on May 15, 1998.
Director Frederik Du Chau Release Date May 15, 1998 Cast Andrea Corr , Jessalyn Gilsig , Cary Elwes , Bryan White , Gary Oldman , Eric Idle , Don Rickles , Jane Seymour , Céline Dion , Pierce Brosnan , Steve Perry , Bronson Pinchot , Jaleel White , Gabriel Byrne , John Gielgud , Frank Welker , Jack Angel , Sarah Freeman , Sherry Lynn , Mickie McGowan Runtime 86 minutes Expand
Outside of Disney and DreamWorks movies, there are plenty of other animated adventures that like to explore the fun of the fantasy genre and often create their own unique dragon creatures. Quest for Camelot is one overlooked animated project from Warner Bros. However, while it has largely been forgotten, it offers a fun take on the legend of King Arthur. It follows the daughter of a slain knight who partners with a blind warrior to retrieve the lost sword Excalibur and return it to King Arthur before an evil traitor uses it to usurp the throne.
Instead of featuring a threatening dragon as one of the movie’s major threats, the two-headed dragon, Devon and Cornwall, serve as the comedic relief characters, joining the heroes on their journey. Eric Idle and Don Rickles make for a fun pair, voicing the bickering dragons who are reluctantly stuck together but won’t admit that they also care a lot for each other.
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28 Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)
A Flying Beast Wreaks Havoc In New York City
Q: The Winged Serpent RCrimeFantasyMystery
Q: The Winged Serpent is a 1982 horror film directed by Larry Cohen. Starring Michael Moriarty, David Carradine, and Richard Roundtree, the film centers around a winged, dragon-like creature terrorizing New York City. As the police investigate ritualistic murders tied to the creature, an ex-con discovers its nest and attempts to use the information for personal gain. Q blends crime drama with supernatural horror against an urban backdrop.
Director Larry Cohen Release Date October 29, 1982 Cast David Carradine , Michael Moriarty , Candy Clark , Richard Roundtree , James Dixon , Malachy McCourt , Fred J. Scollay , Peter Hock Runtime 93 Minutes
While Q: The Winged Serpent might initially seem like a schlocky and cheap B-movie in the creature feature genre, it is a lot more interesting and layered than that. From brilliant B-movie auteur Larry Cohen, Q: The Winged Serpent follows David Carradine as a New York detective investigating some ritualistic murders when he suddenly is pulled into the case of a giant winged monster that is stalking the skies above the city and claiming one victim after another.
The monster aspect of the story then turns it into something completely different and totally entertaining.
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Q: The Winged Serpent excels because it is filled with defined characters and a real story that is funny and gripping. The monster aspect of the story then turns it into something completely different and totally entertaining. While the beast’s stop-motion animated look certainly feels dated now, Cohen does a great job of keeping it unseen for much of the movie, making it an effective and imposing presence.
27 Dragon Wars: D-Wars (2007)
Dragons Wage War In The Modern World
While there are other movies that have taken dragons out of the historical and fantasy worlds and placed them in new settings, Dragon Wars: D-Wars is one of the best to imagine the fight against these destructive beasts if they suddenly arrived in the modern world. The movie is built on the premise that once every 500 years, dragons rise to roam the Earth and do battle with humanity caught in between.
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The movie is a cheesy and cheap direct-to-video kind of action movie, but there is a lot of fun to be had for those not looking for something high-caliber. It is fun seeing these monsters flying around cities, taking down helicopters, munching on soldiers, and battling tanks. The movie also managed to attract some bigger-name stars such as Craig Robinson and Robert Forster to add a little bit extra to the final product.
26 Damsel (2024)
Millie Bobby Brown Faces A Powerful Dragon Head-On
Damsel
Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Release Date March 8, 2024 Cast Millie Bobby Brown , Nick Robinson , Angela Bassett , Robin Wright , Ray Winstone , Brooke Carter , Shohreh Aghdashloo
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2024 saw a new film enter the canon of movies with dragons in them — Netflix’s Damsel, starring Millie Bobby Brown. The dragon in Damsel is a key part of the plot, so viewers who want plenty of screen time with a flying fire-breathing reptile won’t be disappointed. In Damsel, Millie Bobby Brown stars as Elodie, a young woman who finds herself betrothed to the prince of a neighboring kingdom. However, shortly after the wedding ceremony, she realizes she’s actually been selected to be a human sacrifice to appease a terrible dragon that was once a scourge on the land.
As far as modern dragon movies go,
Damsel
is definitely among the strongest.
Damsel features some incredible scenes featuring Millie Bobby Brown encountering the dragon, and the story isn’t as simple as it first appears. Without giving away spoilers, Elodie discovers that the fearsome fantasy beast isn’t the mindless reaper of discord and destruction the royalty of the kingdom of Aurea paint it out to be. As far as modern dragon movies go, Damsel is definitely among the strongest.
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25 Beowulf (2007)
A Norse Hero Takes On A Legendary Viking Beast
Beowulf
Director Robert Zemeckis Release Date November 5, 2007 Cast Ray Winstone , Anthony Hopkins , John Malkovich , Robin Wright , Brendan Gleeson , Crispin Glover Runtime 115minutes
2007’s Beowulf may not be the most critically acclaimed action fantasy movie or adaptation of a historical epic, though it does still stand as one of the best dragon movies. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, who also helmed the Back to the Future trilogy and Forrest Gump, and based on a script co-written by Neil Gaiman, Beowulf is a rich reimagining of the Norse saga of the same name.
Beowulf was made with 3D viewing in mind, which means it was dismissed by many critics for being a gimmicky project that focused too much on CGI, but in the decades since, it still stands as having one of the most fearsome dragons seen on the big screen.
Beowulf
has some incredible scenes when the fierce titular hero takes them on, so viewers who like the sound of intense action Viking vs. dragon action sequences should definitely seek it out.
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Unlike Damsel and several other dragons in movies that have them, the dragons in Beowulf are a threatening presence through and through. There’s no attempts to portray the fantastical beasts in a positive or nuanced light in the 2007 movie — just like in the original Norse saga, their only purpose is to cause mayhem and fear. This means that Beowulf has some incredible scenes when the fierce titular hero takes them on, so viewers who like the sound of intense action Viking vs. dragon action sequences should definitely seek it out.
24 The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (2010)
A Cursed Dragon Becomes A Key Ally Of Prince Caspian
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Based on C.S. Lewis’s popular book series, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third film in the trilogy and takes place three years after the prior film and follows two siblings joined by the new king of Narnia, Caspian, as they try to save their world from all-encompassing darkness. The group will travel the seas to save seven missing lords to prepare for the coming battle.
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*Availability in US Director Michael Apted Release Date December 9, 2010 Cast Ben Barnes , Georgie Henley Runtime 115minutes
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The Chronicles of Narnia movies, which adapt the classic fantasy novels of C.S. Lewis, have all manner of fantastical beasts and creatures in them. It’s no surprise then that dragons would emerge in the story sooner or later, and it’s in the third story, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, that one of Narnia’s dragons finally appears. The 2010 movie adaptation also includes said dragon, and in a similar vein to the dragon in Damsel, it’s a beast that seems threatening at first but is soon revealed to be a more nuanced presence.
The dragon in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is introduced when it attacks the titular ship on its voyage to rescue the seven missing lords of Narnia. However, it’s revealed that the dragon is none other than the cousin of the Pevensie children, Eustace Scrubb.
Eustace’s greed gets the better of him when he finds some treasure, which leads him to be cursed and turned into a dragon. Played by Will Poulter, Eustace makes for an interesting character when both in human and dragon form, and the CGI in 2010’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader still holds up when viewed in the 2020s.
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23 Mulan (1998)
Eddie Murphy Voices One Of Disney’s Most Beloved Animated Dragons
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9.7/10 Mulan
To save her father from death in the army, a young single woman secretly goes to replace him, wearing a disguise, and becomes one of China’s greatest heroes in the process.
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*Availability in US Director Barry Cook , Tony Bancroft Release Date June 19, 1998 Cast Ming-Na Wen , Eddie Murphy , BD Wong , Miguel Ferrer , June Foray , James Hong , Pat Morita , George Takei Runtime 87 Minutes
While they are most often presented as a threat or danger in movies, animated films have a long history of featuring dragons as comic relief or otherwise friendly characters. This is especially true for Disney, who have several movies that include animated dragons who actively help various princesses or protagonists — and perhaps none are as lovable as Mushu, the dragon spirit guide who helps the titular heroine in 1998’s Mulan.
Mushu isn’t an especially powerful dragon, but he is perhaps the funniest ever seen on screen.
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Mushu and Mulan have a lot in common, as both are trying to prove themselves and surpass the incredibly low expectations of their family (or, in Mushu’s case, the Ancestors at the Fa family shrine). Mushu isn’t an especially powerful dragon, but he is perhaps the funniest ever seen on screen. This is little surprise given that he’s voiced by comedy legend Eddie Murphy. The 2020 live-action remake of Mulan chose to ignore Mushu and he wasn’t included in the movie, a decision that caused no shortage of chagrin among fans of the animated original.
22 Jabberwocky (1977)
Two Monty Python Members Are Behind This Bizarre Movie About A Dragon Hunt
Jabberwocky PG
Jabberwocky, directed by Terry Gilliam, is a medieval comedy following the journey of Dennis Cooper, who ventures into a kingdom plagued by the fearsome creature known as the Jabberwocky. As Dennis seeks his fortune, he encounters a series of humorous adventures, reflecting the film’s Pythonesque style.
Director Terry Gilliam Release Date April 15, 1977 Cast Michael Palin , Harry H. Corbett , John Le Mesurier , Warren Mitchell , Max Wall , Rodney Bewes , John Bird , Bernard Bresslaw Writers Lewis Carroll , Charles Alverson , Terry Gilliam
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When it comes to classic comedy, the Monty Python movies stand out as some of the most hilarious and, most importantly, surreal ever made. While it’s not a Monty Python film, 1977’s Jabberwocky takes everything that makes the comedy troup’s projects so memorable and supplants it into a strange tale about a hapless barrel-makers apprentice who must hunt the dragon chasing his father. The similarities to Monty Python are obvious throughout, which is of no surprise given that it’s directed by Terry Gilliam and stars MIchael Palin.
The dragon in Jabberwocky is definitely one of the strangest looking in any movie, and is very much the product of low-budget 1970s special effects. This only serves to make it more endearing though, and it definitely fits the overall tone of this incredibly unique — and unashamadely silly — medieval fantasy about an unlikely hero simply trying his best.
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21 Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
The MCU’s Origin Story Features A Legendary And Heroic Dragon
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24 8.3/10 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: This film introduces Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Confronted by his past, he becomes entangled with the mysterious Ten Rings organization, which challenges his identity and abilities. Released in 2021, the movie explores themes of family and legacy.
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*Availability in US Release Date September 1, 2021 Director Destin Daniel Cretton Cast Tony Leung Chiu-wai , Simu Liu , Awkwafina , Ben Kingsley , Meng’er Zhang , Fala Chen , Michelle Yeoh , Yuen Wah , Florian Munteanu , Andy Le , Paul He , Jayden Tianyi Zhang , Elodie Fong , Arnold Sun , Stephanie Hsu , Kunal Dudheker , Tsai Chin , Jodi Long , Dallas Liu , Ronny Chieng , Stella Ye , Fernando Chien , Michael-Anthony Taylor , Zach Cherry , Raymond Ma Runtime 132 minutes Expand
Given how much the MCU has expanded over the years, perhaps it was only a matter of time before a dragon was thrown into the mix. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an MCU origin story that is initially a somewhat grounded martial arts action movie, but there eventually are more fantastical elements introduced — including an epic dragon.
When Shang-Chi’s villainous father Wenwu frees the Dweller-in-Darkness in the movie’s climax, the Great Protector returns to help Shang-Chi.
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As part of the legend at the center of the movie, a Chinese dragon known as the Great Protector sealed an evil creature known as the Dweller-in-Darkness inside a cave. When Shang-Chi’s villainous father Wenwu frees the Dweller-in-Darkness in the movie’s climax, the Great Protector returns to help Shang-Chi. The bloated CGI finale is considered the weakest aspect of the movie, but Shang-Chi is a top-tier Phase 4 film that helped introduce a fun new hero into the MCU. Three years later, fans are still waiting for news on Shang-Chi 2.
Related 20 Best Anime Dragons of All Time
The best anime dragons are all awe-inspiring creatures who prove why the dragon remains the world’s most recognizable mythical creature.
20 Raya And The Last Dragon (2021)
A Disney Adventure About A Dragon Who Is Humanity’s Last Hope
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5.3/10 Raya and the Last Dragon PG
Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon follows Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), the warrior princess of the Heart tribe, as she seeks to restore peace to the nation of Kumandra. After the evil Druun – mindless spirits who turn living things to stone – divide Kumandra into five warring tribes, Raya believes that if she can find the last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), she can reunite the five tribes.
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*Availability in US Release Date March 5, 2021 Director Carlos López Estrada , Don Hall Cast Awkwafina , Kelly Marie Tran , Thalia Tran , Daniel Dae Kim , Alan Tudyk , Izaac Wang , Ross Butler , Patti Harrison , Gemma Chan , Sandra Oh , Benedict Wong , Lucille Soong Runtime 112 minutes Writers Qui Nguyen , Adele Lim
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Disney jumped into the dragon storytelling genre with Raya and the Last Dragon. This animated movie about dragons takes place in a fantasy world where humans and dragons coexisted. When a dark force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. When the darkness returns, a young human warrior sets out to find the last dragon who can save them. Raya and the Last Dragon features some of the most interesting character designs of any dragons in dragon movies, with aesthetic influences from many Asian cultures.
Raya and the Last Dragon is an exciting and breathtaking adventure, featuring some incredible animated action sequences. It is also a rare story in which dragons are seen as protectors and allies to humans from the beginning. This sets up the wonderful friendship that is at the heart of the movie between Raya and the dragon Sisu. Though not a huge Disney hit, critics were much kinder to this dragon film than many others in the niche fantasy subgenre.
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19 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
The Adaptation Of The Popular Game Features Memorable Dragons
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26 9.5/10 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a fantasy action-comedy film based on the popular tabletop game and set in the Forgotten Realms campaign by the original creators. Chris Pine stars as a song-slinging thief named Edgin Darvis, who is hired to find a lost relic but manages to anger the wrong people along the way. With his mismatched crew, each inspired by a race and class from D&D lore, Edgin will lead his team to complete their task – and many innocent lives depend on it.
Release Date March 31, 2023 Director Jonathan Goldstein , John Francis Daley Cast Hugh Grant , Rege-Jean Page , Chris Pine , Justice Smith , Chloe Coleman , Michelle Rodriguez , Sophia Lillis Runtime 134 Minutes
While the first attempt to bring the popular game Dungeons & Dragons to the big screen ended in disaster, this new take on the material made for a wildly fun adventure fantasy.Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves cast of characters make up a ragtag group of heroes who unwittingly unleash a powerful evil and must find a way to save the world.
As Honor Among Thieves is a Dungeons and Dragons movie, there are dragons and other wonderful fantasy creatures thrown into the story, many of which fans of the game will recognize. This includes a memorable sequence with the heroes fleeing from a hilariously overweight dragon. It all adds to the wonderful sense of humor and clever action set pieces that make this a winning movie. Though it wasn’t the box office smash that some were hoping for, there is still hope for Dungeons & Dragons 2.
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18 Merlin (1998)
The Television Miniseries Brought Fantasy Storytelling To The Small Screen
Merlin
Merlin is a 1998 television miniseries that reimagines the legend of the famous wizard, played by Sam Neill. The narrative spans Merlin’s life, from his training by the sorceress Mab to his famous role in the court of King Arthur. The series features Helena Bonham Carter as Morgan le Fay and Miranda Richardson as Queen Mab, blending elements of fantasy with the enduring Arthurian mythology.
Cast Sam Neill , Helena Bonham Carter , John Gielgud , Rutger Hauer , Miranda Richardson , Isabella Rossellini , Martin Short Release Date April 26, 1998 Seasons 1 Creator(s) Steve Barron
Technically, Merlin is not a movie; it was a made-for-TV miniseries featured on NBC in 1998. However, given its quality and following, it deserves some recognition. Some viewers argue that the scene in the film where Merlin’s love Nimue is sacrificed to a dragon is the best scene in the miniseries. Whether or not that is true, it brought dragons to primetime television decades before Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
Merlin
served as a stepping stone toward the influx of fantasy productions in mainstream media, paving the way for television shows like
Grimm
,
Once Upon a Time,
and
Supernatural
.
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Merlin was nominated for six Emmy Awards and four Golden Globes. Its biggest accomplishment, however, was luring so many new fans to the fantasy genre. Filled with drama and magic and loosely based on real-world historical events, Merlin served as a stepping stone toward the influx of fantasy productions in mainstream media, paving the way for television shows like Grimm, Once Upon a Time, and Supernatural. Fantasy fans may also be familiar with the show’s sequel, Merlin’s Apprentice.
17 Flight Of The Dragons (1982)
The Animated Dragon Movie That Does A Lot With A Little
The Flight Of Dragons Passed
Writer Peter Dickinson is transported from 20th-century Boston to a mystical realm where magic is losing its power. Alongside the Green Wizard Carolinus and a team of fantastical allies, Peter must thwart the evil Red Wizard Ommadon. Utilizing his knowledge of science, Peter battles to restore balance between magic and logic.
Director Jules Bass , Arthur Rankin Jr. Release Date August 17, 1982 Cast John Ritter , Victor Buono , James Earl Jones , James Gregory , Larry Storch , Nellie Bellflower Runtime 95 Minutes
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Some of the best dragon movies are animated, which makes perfect sense. It hasn’t always been possible to capture the majesty, magic, and even brutality of dragons on the big screen, especially prior to the dawn of CGI. Take The Flight of the Dragons, for example. Released in 1982, it combines star voice-acting talents like John Ritter and James Earl Jones and unique takes on many traditional fantasy elements to create an animated treat for all ages.
Newcomers to the film should not let its underwhelming cover art deter them from seeing it. It features the same dramatic and gorgeous, yet somehow gritty fantasy style used in movies like The Last Unicorn. It is a rare type of film that simply isn’t made anymore. Plus, it features some truly memorable dragons, and since they’re central to the story the fantastical fantasy beasts get plenty of screen-time too.
16 Eragon (2006)
An Adaptation Of The Beloved Young Adult Fantasy
Eragon
Eragon is based on the book series of the same name, part of a more extensive book series known as the Inheritance Cycle. In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy named Eragon (Ed Speelers) happens upon a dragon’s egg. This egg leads him on a journey to protect his home from tyrannical monarch Galbatorix (John Malkovitch) and a dark sorcerer named Durza (Robert Carlyle). However, Eragon discovers that the egg contains a mighty dragon named Saphira (Rachel Weisz) that he bonds with, and with the help of friends and family, Eragon will challenge the empire and do what he can to keep the dragon safe.
Release Date December 15, 2006 Director Stefen Fangmeier Cast Jeremy Irons , Rachel Weisz , Ed Speleers , Djimon Hounsou , Robert Carlyle , Sienna Guillory , John Malkovich , Garrett Hedlund , Joss Stone Runtime 103 minutes
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A solid mid-2000s dragon movie that viewers of all ages can enjoy, Eragon is an adaptation of the young adult novel of the same name by Chrisopher Paolini. Eragon is the classic tale of a young boy fighting to defend his people and home against invaders with a high-fantasy twist. Indelibly bonded to a dragon known as Saphira, the two develop a kinship as they quest to thwart impending evils.
It’s enjoyable enough for younger audiences, and it may have fared a bit better had it not come on the heels of the titanic
Lord of the Rings
trilogy.
Eragon was a celebrated children’s novel, but it didn’t translate all that well to film, with poor critical and commercial reception tanking the Eragon franchise before it got going. Still, it’s enjoyable enough for younger audiences, and it may have fared a bit better had it not come on the heels of the titanic Lord of the Rings trilogy. Luckily, a Disney+ adaptation of the Eragon books will hopefully do it more justice.
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15 Dragonslayer (1981)
A Gory And Horrific Fantasy Adventure
Dragonslayer
Dragonslayer is a 1981 fantasy film by director Matthew Robbins and writer Hal Barwood and follows a young wizard named Galen on a quest to slay an all-powerful dragon. Following a lottery where virgins are selected from the kingdom of Urland to appease the dragon, Galen must rise to save the princess and unleash the dormant magic within.
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*Availability in US Release Date June 26, 1981 Director Matthew Robbins Cast Peter MacNicol , Caitlin Clarke , Ralph Richardson , John Hallam , Peter Eyre , Sydney Bromley Runtime 109 Minutes
While actor Peter MacNicol may distance himself from his 1981 dragon movie, Dragonslayer still maintains a cult following. Between its general weirdness, darkness, and “saving the damsel in distress” theme, Dragonslayer recalls the archetypal Arthurian tale, as well as the story of David’s triumph over Goliath, in more ways than one.
The 1981 dragon movie featured a surprising amount of gore for its subject, incorporating some borderline horror elements into its backbone. Today’s fans of films with dragons in them might see it and consider its special effects both too outdated and too dark, but Dragonslayer was a huge achievement in cinematography and special effects at the time, managing to portray a dragon on the big screen in a way no other film had quite accomplished.
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These 10 fantasy movie titles reimagine magic by creating systems that are imaginative, and immersive, and serve the narrative’s central themes.
14 Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The Second Movie In Peter Jackson’s Trilogy Introduced Terrifying Flying Beasts
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a Fantasy film by director Peter Jackson and is based on The Two Towers book by author J. R. R. Tolkien. A sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, this installment continues Frodo’s journey to take the One Ring to Mount Doom to destroy it.
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*Availability in US Release Date January 15, 2002 Director Peter Jackson Cast Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Viggo Mortensen , Orlando Bloom , Bruce Allpress , Sean Astin , John Bach , Sala Baker , Cate Blanchett , Andy Serkis Runtime 179 Minutes
Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy series made for one of the most popular and acclaimed movie trilogies of all time. What was so successful about them was how they were able to blend such fantastical creatures and beings with well-rounded and interesting characters. Yet as compelling as Frodo and Sam were, the introduction of the unsettling flying beasts ridden by the Nazgul, in The Two Towers certainly stood out.
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Amid the creatures’ deafening wing-swishing and ear-splitting cries, audiences could almost smell their stench and feel their rancid breath.
The Nazgul scenes from Return of the King are even more mesmerizing, especially with the additional scenes from the Lord of the Rings extended editions. While the iconic moment between the Witch King and Eowyn definitely deserves mentioning, it was in Osgiliath where viewers first glimpse the fell beasts that the Nazgul rode while hunting the One Ring. Amid the creatures’ deafening wing-swishing and ear-splitting cries, audiences could almost smell their stench and feel their rancid breath.
13 Pete’s Dragon (1977)
A Modern-Day Friendship Between A Boy And A Dragon
Pete’s Dragon G
Pete’s Dragon is a musical fantasy film that tells the story of Pete, an orphaned boy, and his dragon friend, Elliott. Together they encounter a con artist and a loving family in the town of Passamaquoddy. The film blends live-action and animation and features notable performances by Helen Reddy and Mickey Rooney as well as songs by the Sherman Brothers. Directed by Don Chaffey, it explores themes of friendship and belonging.
Director Don Chaffey , Don Bluth Release Date November 3, 1977 Cast Sean Marshall , Helen Reddy , Jim Dale , Mickey Rooney , Red Buttons , Shelley Winters , Jane Kean , Jim Backus , Charles Tyner , Gary Morgan , Cal Bartlett , Charlie Callas , Walter Barnes , Jeff Conaway , Arthur Tovey , Dennis Stewart , Robert Easton Runtime 128 Minutes Expand
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Though it is one of the more lighthearted dragon movies, Pete’s Dragon is not without its darkness. Between the abuse of a backwoods adopted family and the threat of having his dragon murdered, mutilated, and eaten as magical medicine, some moments might disturb younger viewers. However, the main message of the film is uplifting and there are memorable musical numbers that feature performances by Helen Reddy, Mickey Rooney, and Charlie Callas, who voiced the goofy animated dragon, Elliott.
The lovable nature of Elliott, combined with his round, hand-drawn features and support of Pete, made him a favorite among children and adults alike.
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Pete’s Dragon may not be the most beloved or widely-known classic Disney movie, but it definitely stands out as one of the most ambitious from the House of Mouse during the 1970s, with the blend between live-action and animation being an arduous undertaking that still looks impressive today. The lovable nature of Elliott, combined with his round, hand-drawn features and support of Pete, made him a favorite among children and adults alike. While the 2016 Pete’s Dragon remake took a few liberties, it was ultimately received as a superior modernization of the original.
12 Shrek (2001)
The DreamWorks Animated Comedy Subverts Dragons And Other Fairy Tale Tropes
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8/10 Shrek
Based loosely on the children’s book of the same name by William Steig, Shrek tells the story of an ogre (Michael Myers) who sets with his new friend Donkey (Eddie Murphy) out to regain his swamp from fairytale characters. Tasked with rescuing Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) in return for the restoration of his solitude, Shrek discovers that he’s not the loner he always thought he was, and that looks aren’t always everything.
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*Availability in US Release Date May 18, 2001 Director Vicky Jenson , Andrew Adamson Cast Cameron Diaz , Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , John Lithgow Runtime 90 minutes
The Shrek movies have always had a fun quality of playing around with the tropes of fairy tales and nursery rhymes. This includes its titular character, a grumpy ogre who ends up being the hero of the story and the one who the princess falls in love with in the end. The movie also has a twist on the classic trope of the princess stuck in a tower guarded by a dragon, with a rare female dragon being part of the fun.
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Not only did Shrek feature a pink, eye-lashed dragon that wore lipstick, but the movie also saw her fall in love with a talking donkey. Dragon in Shrek begins as a menace and then evolves into a love-struck punchline. In later films in the Shrek series, Dragon becomes a serious love interest and even ends up making donkey-dragon hybrids with Shrek’s sidekick.
11 Godzilla: King Of The Monsters (2019)
Godzilla Meets His Match With This Three-Headed Dragon
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5.5/10 Godzilla: King of the Monsters
In Godzilla: King of the Monsters, crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters known as the Titians. Among these creatures is the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.
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*Availability in US Release Date May 29, 2019 Director Michael Dougherty Cast Millie Bobby Brown , Vera Farmiga , Kyle Chandler , O’Shea Jackson Jr. , Bradley Whitford , Randy Havens , Charles Dance , Aisha Hinds , Sally Hawkins , Ken Watanabe , Thomas MIddleditch Runtime 132 Minutes
Godzilla’s status as a kind of dragon is up for debate, but King Ghidorah, the central antagonist of 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, definitely qualifies. A massive, hydra-like creature capable of breathing lightning, Ghidorah is every bit as threatening as the titular monster. The movie itself was a big step forward in establishing the MonsterVerse with more details on Monarch and its mysterious past.
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However, those who are not into the lore of the franchise could simply enjoy the big monster action of the sequel. While he may not be a particularly deep or complex villain, King Ghidorah is a perfect fit for the film, and he’s an utter terror on-screen. Plus, thanks to his character design, his presence solidifies Godzilla: King of the Monsters as a top-tier dragon movie — a crown that it also earned thanks to the incredibly impressive CGI.
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