Top 10 Fantasy Films Of 2025: From KPop Demon Hunters To Frankenstein

Fantasy films were very popular in 2025. Although the most successful fantasy movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, blended fantasy with science fiction, the genre offered a wide range of movies – from animated stories to big-budget blockbusters and smaller, independent films. Choosing the best fantasy movie of the year is therefore quite difficult.

As a big fantasy fan, 2025 was an amazing year for the genre! We got a sequel everyone was talking about, a hilarious comedy with a fantastic cast about an angel, a beautiful new take on an old favorite from a director I really admire, and even a live-action version of a cartoon I loved. All these films together really made 2025 a standout year for fantasy!

In Your Dreams

Netflix’s In Your Dreams is a beautifully animated movie that, like Klaus and Over the Moon before it, didn’t quite get the attention it deserved. It’s a really good film that more people should have seen on the streaming platform.

The movie In Your Dreams has a captivating idea: two siblings journey into the dream world to ask The Sandman for a perfect family. This heartfelt wish is at the center of the story, making it relatable and emotionally powerful for many viewers.

Critics are calling In Your Dreams one of the best fantasy films of the year, with an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers particularly loved its visuals, story, and the voice acting, which includes performances by Craig Robinson and Simu Liu. The film also received a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Critics’ Choice Awards.

100 Nights Of Hero

IFC

You know, as a total movie buff, I’m always searching for hidden gems. One that really deserves more attention is 100 Nights of Hero. It flew under the radar for a lot of people, but the cast is incredible – Emma Corrin, Maika Monroe, Nicholas Galitzine, Felicity Jones, and even Charli XCX all star in it!

Inspired by Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel The One Hundred Nights of Hero and the classic story One Thousand and One Nights, this film tells the story of a woman abandoned at a faraway castle by her husband. She unexpectedly finds herself caught between a romantic connection with her husband’s friend and the devotion of her faithful maid.

This fantasy romance is a captivating story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Critics especially loved the actors’ performances, the beautiful visuals, and the stunning costumes in 100 Nights of Hero. The film went on to receive three nominations at the British Independent Film Awards.

Death Of A Unicorn

A24 is known for its unusual films, and Death of a Unicorn continues that trend. The movie starts with a strange premise: a father and daughter accidentally strike a unicorn while driving to meet the father’s very wealthy boss. This bizarre setup immediately draws you in.

The movie starts with everyone thinking a unicorn has died, but they’re completely mistaken. That initial mystery is interesting enough, but Death of a Unicorn is really brought to life by its fantastic cast, including Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father and daughter, alongside Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant who play a wealthy family.

While Death of a Unicorn wasn’t a critical hit, it has the potential to become a beloved cult classic over time. The charming chemistry between Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega makes it a film you’ll likely enjoy watching again.

Freakier Friday

Similar to Good Fortune, Freakier Friday is a funny fantasy movie. It’s the sequel fans have been waiting for to the popular 2003 film Freaky Friday, which starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.

Twenty years after their initial adventure, Curtis and Lohan returned in a story where they switched bodies – this time with Lohan’s daughter and future stepdaughter. The result is a funny and touching movie that captures the same magic as the original.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan effortlessly reprise their famous roles. Freaky Friday doesn’t stray far from the original, and that’s exactly what makes it enjoyable for fans – it delivers what they were hoping for.

Good Fortune

Many of the top fantasy films released in 2025 boast incredible actors, and Good Fortune is no exception. Its cast – including Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, Aziz Ansari, Seth Rogen, and Sandra Oh – is truly outstanding.

Aziz Ansari wrote and directed Good Fortune, a story about an angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) who magically switches bodies with Arj (Ansari) and his rich boss, Jeff (Seth Rogen). Gabriel hopes to prove that money can’t buy happiness, but his experiment fails, costing him his wings and jeopardizing his entire angelic record.

It’s compelling to see an angel face challenges and even fail, and the actors clearly enjoyed making this film, which adds to its overall fun. The cast’s great comedic timing, along with Ansari’s skillful direction, makes this one of the year’s best fantasy movies.

How To Train Your Dragon

Helen Sloan / © DreamWorks / © Universal Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

These days, we’re seeing a lot of beloved animated movies turned into live-action films. Disney has done this frequently and profited from it, but most people agree the live-action versions don’t measure up to the original animated movies. How to Train Your Dragon attempted this as well, but took a different approach.

This version of How to Train Your Dragon closely follows the original animated film, recreating many scenes shot-for-shot and even using the same director, Dean DeBlois. However, it’s still a well-made and enjoyable movie that’s worth seeing.

Though it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the animated version – understandably, as it’s the same story – the live-action film is a solid adaptation. The things that made the original successful still work well here, and the actors deliver strong performances, particularly from Mason Thames, Nico Parker, and Gerard Butler.

Wicked: For Good

Image via Universal Pictures

Released in 2024, Wicked quickly became a huge success, captivating audiences and critics alike. Its memorable songs were incredibly popular, and people watched the movie repeatedly. The film received widespread praise and earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including recognition for the performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

The movie only covers part of the story; the rest comes from the stage play, which was continued in a sequel called Wicked: For Good. However, the sequel wasn’t as good as the original, which isn’t surprising—the second half of the play isn’t as strong and doesn’t have as many memorable songs.

Despite some flaws, Wicked: For Good is still a standout fantasy movie of the year. It was a huge commercial success, earning over $500 million, and received praise for its costumes and acting. Notably, Grande and Erivo have once again been nominated for prestigious acting awards.

KPop Demon Hunters

In 2025, KPop Demon Hunters was the fantasy movie to beat – and it wasn’t just popular within the genre. It actually became the most-watched film ever on Netflix, which is a huge accomplishment.

This movie follows three pop stars who secretly fight demons. One of them is hiding a surprising connection to the demonic world. Their biggest challenge comes from a competing boy band, who are unknowingly being manipulated by demons.

KPop Demon Hunters became popular thanks to its beautiful animation, thrilling action sequences, genuine friendships, and memorable music. Several of the film’s songs were successful on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and now the story is expanding with plans for a sequel, a possible TV series, and related merchandise like toys.

Eternity

A fascinating idea explored in last year’s film, Eternity, centers around the concept of soulmates. The story follows a married couple, Joan and Larry, who are on the verge of entering the afterlife together, but their journey is complicated when Joan’s first husband—who died in the Korean War—unexpectedly appears.

Joan faces a difficult choice: spend forever with Larry or Luke. It’s a welcome treat to see fantasy romantic comedies these days, and Eternity is a particularly good one, earning strong reviews from critics.

Elizabeth Olsen was widely praised for her role as Joan, and Miles Teller, Callum Turner, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph all deliver strong performances. The film Eternity is an enjoyable, heartfelt, and imaginative story – exactly what we need more of in the fantasy genre.

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been adapted many times, with mixed results. Guillermo del Toro’s recent take on the story is arguably the best version yet.

This adaptation of Frankenstein stays faithful to the source material, beginning with the story of Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. It then shifts perspectives to show things from the monster’s point of view, which is where the film becomes particularly moving. Strong performances by Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi really bring these scenes to life.

As you’d expect from a Guillermo del Toro film, the character designs and overall gothic style are stunning. This movie truly showcases del Toro’s talent – and that’s high praise considering his previous Oscar wins! Frankenstein was an ideal story for him to bring to life, and the finished film proves it.

2025-12-29 22:35