Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has drawn attention for its performances and storytelling, but it is not the top choice for every fantasy fan. A selection of films ranked highly by Letterboxd users includes Studio Ghibli animation, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings adaptations and several works that blend fantasy with other genres.
Hayao Miyazaki appears several times on the list. Howl’s Moving Castle is praised for its detailed animation, memorable characters and themes of pacifism and aging. Princess Mononoke draws on Japanese history and folklore, while Spirited Away follows 10-year-old Chihiro into a spirit world after her parents are transformed into pigs.
Two entries come from Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Fellowship of the Ring introduces Frodo’s quest to keep a mysterious ring from falling into the wrong hands, while The Two Towers continues his journey toward Mordor alongside Sam and Gollum. The source notes that The Two Towers ranks 39th on Letterboxd’s Top 500 films list.
The selections also extend beyond conventional fantasy adventures. Ingmar Bergman’s Fanny & Alexander uses dreams and ghosts within a period drama about two siblings. Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life follows George Bailey as his guardian angel shows him an alternate version of the world. Both films are presented as stories in which fantasy elements support personal and emotional themes.
The list’s more recent choices include Wildwood, a stop-motion adventure from Laika Studios about a girl trying to rescue her kidnapped younger brother. The anime feature Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion combines fantasy with science fiction and apocalyptic elements, bringing the series to a conclusion.
Together, these films offer Letterboxd users alternatives to The Odyssey, from imaginative animation and established fantasy franchises to stories where supernatural elements sit alongside historical drama or reflection on everyday life.
Sources: Comic Book Resources.