Underrated Fantasy Movies From the ’80s You Probably Haven’t Seen

The 1980s were considered a golden age for fantasy movies until ‘The Lord of the Rings’ revitalised the genre in the 2000s.  The success of blockbusters like ‘Superman: The Movie’ and ‘Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope’, as well as the popularity of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’, spurred a creative wave in Hollywood at this time.  Studios were keen to explore more fanciful worlds, investing more money in their productions and bringing on new artists to create new universes.  As a result, larger sets, more elaborate costumes, and innovative special effects were created, bringing fantastical animals and enchanted settings to life on the big screen.

But with so many fantasy movies coming out throughout the course of the decade, others either fell under the radar or were a box office bust.  Even though some of these fantasy movies were not well-received or did not earn well at the box office at the time, that does not mean they are not worthwhile.  Since then, a few of these fantasy movies have developed cult followings.  This list is devoted to the underappreciated fantasy movies of the 1980s, which, if you’re a true fan of the genre, you’ve probably never seen but should definitely check out.  Despite not being dazzling blockbusters, these lesser-known masterpieces are unquestionably worthy of being on your list of films to watch.

Dragonslayer

The Last Unicorn

The Flight of Dragons

Quest for Fire

Ladyhawke

Fire and Ice

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Willow

Legend

The BeastMaster

–Farheen Ali