If you woke up today feeling strong emotions for, you know, reasons—remember that movies are always there for you when you need to step away from headlines, social media, and humanity in general. io9 recently shared a list of sci-fi movies that offer temporary escapes from Earth; to go with that, here are 10 fantasy movies you can stream that will perhaps help you catch your breath amid the chaos.
The Wizard of Oz
If you’re counting down the days until Wicked, why not make an early visit to Oz with the 1939 classic? It’s got whimsy, witches, and memorable musical numbers, and it’s all contained within one movie that runs under two hours. Ahem. (Streaming on Max)
Time Bandits
The Apple TV+ series was cancelled after one season, but Terry Gilliam’s 1981 original remains a self-contained delight, bringing a young history lover on an unexpected adventure through time with a gang of treasure-hunters. It’s got moments of extreme hilarity and some of the bleakest, scariest scenes ever contained in a movie ostensibly aimed at kids—a combination that’s helped it endure for over 40 years. (Streaming on Max)
Nimona
Nimona weathered a long road to completion, but the wait was well worth it, bringing ND Stevenson’s beloved graphic novel to animated life with infectious energy and joy. Adding to its triumphs, the 2023 revisionist fairy tale with a deeply emotional message scored an Oscar nomination in a strong field that also included Pixar’s Elemental and Hayao Miyazaki’s eventual winner The Boy and the Heron. (Streaming on Netflix)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Speaking of the Oscars, Ang Lee’s 2000 martial-arts epic racked up 10 nominations and won four, including Best International Feature Film (or, as it was known back then, Best Foreign Language Film). The movie remains genuinely timeless; the only thing that’s changed about it is that Michelle Yeoh, who’s equal parts heartbreaking and fierce in Crouching Tiger, now has an Oscar of her own (for Everything Everywhere All at Once). (Rent or buy on Prime Video)
The Lord of the Rings (all of them)
The temptation to put one’s phone on silent and binge all three of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies feels curiously strong today. Extended editions? Even better! Tolkien’s characters somehow found hope when all seemed rotten in Middle-earth, so maybe we can too. (Streaming on Max)
Labyrinth
When her infant brother is kidnapped, a teen (Jennifer Connelly) must travel into a strange, Muppet-filled kingdom ruled by an alluringly spooky David Bowie to get him back. If you’re feeling low, “Magic Dance” has been scientifically proven to provide at least temporary relief. (Streaming on Disney+, Peacock, and Prime Video)
The Dark Crystal
Another Jim Henson classic, this time co-directed by Frank Oz, The Dark Crystal does away with any human characters for its poignant story set in a land where the little guys rise up against their evil overlords. The puppets remain a wondrous, dazzling, and at-times nightmarishly creepy artistic achievement. (Streaming on Disney+ and Prime Video)
Highlander
We may very well get that Henry Cavill-starring remake one of these days. But while a new Highlander will surely feature immortals sword-fighting their way through time, chances are it won’t have what makes the 1986 original so truly magical: Sean Connery as a Scottish-accented Spaniard, and a soundtrack packed wall-to-wall with Queen anthems. (Streaming on Prime Video)
Big
You can practically see Tom Hanks morph from “likable comedy guy” to “movie star” in Penny Marshall’s 1988 fantasy comedy, which also captures a specific sense of mid-1980s corporate-yuppie New York City, and forever created new cultural context for fortune-telling machines and comically oversized toy pianos. (Streaming on Disney+)
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Too early in the season? Bah humbug! We need a little Christmas right this very minute, and Kermit, Gonzo, and Michael Caine are here to deliver. (Streaming on Disney+)
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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