Harsh Vardhan
Magic and fantasy take us beyond gritty realism to a world where everything is possible. It works as an escape from the drudgery of existence. Though stories of magic are generally associated with children, adults, too, sometimes practice a “willing suspension of disbelief” to get immersed in a world full of endless possibilities. Magic has always fascinated human beings, and thus, stories have always been written on fantastical elements to garner more interest from the public.
Early epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata, The Iliad, and The Odyssey also used fantastical elements to make the stories stand out and get etched into public memory. Following the same trend, fantasy, and magical movies have always found takers throughout film history. From ‘Mary Poppins’ (1964) to the ‘Lord of The Rings‘ trilogy and the iconic ‘Harry Potter‘ series, films on magic have significantly impacted popular culture. For all those who are looking to indulge more in such films, you have come to the right place. Here’s the list of really good magic movies on Netflix that are available to stream right now.
14. Once Upon a Crime (2023)
Directed by Yūichi Fukuda, ‘Once Upon a Crime’ is a Japanese fantasy drama that effectively blends magic and crime. Adapting from the stories of Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood, the movie tells a twisted magic tale. We follow Little Red, who comes across the dead body of royal hairdresser Hans while on her way to a ball with Cinderella and subsequently tries to find the killer. Surprisingly, Cinderella is one of the suspects. Is she the one who committed the heinous crime? Based on the novel ‘Akazukin, Tabi no Tochuu de Shitai to Deau’ (Little Red Riding Hood Finds A Dead Body On Her Journey) by Aito Aoyagi, ‘Once Upon a Crime’ offers something new and is thereby deemed binge-worthy, especially as far as magic is concerned. You can watch the movie here.
13. Kleks Academy (2023)
Directed by Maciej Kawulski, ‘Kleks Academy’ is a Polish fantasy adventure movie that follows Ada (Antonina Litwiniak), a teenage girl whose search for her missing father lands her at the titular magical academy run by Professor Ambroży Kleks (Tomasz Kot). In a world that allows her to reach the boundaries of her imagination, Ada must concentrate on finding her father or at least know his whereabouts. Heartwarming and visually stunning, ‘Kleks Academy’ is custom-made for kids. It can be streamed here.
12. Wish Dragon (2021)
Directed by Chris Appelhans, ‘Wish Dragon’ is an animated fantasy drama about a young man named Din Song (Jimmy Wong) and his unlikely camaraderie with Long (John Cho), a cynical magical dragon that fulfills the three wishes of its pot’s owner. While Long expects the usual wishes from Din, who looks like a peasant boy, the latter wishes to get back his childhood friend, Li Na Wang (Natasha Liu Bordizzo has voiced). Is that possible? Full of colorful humor and attractive visuals, ‘Wish Dragon’ is a heartwarming drama about the magic of friendship that, by the way, comes in all shapes and sizes. The magical flick can be streamed right here.
11. Chupa (2023)
This Jonás Cuarón directorial explores the unlikely friendship between 13-year-old Alex and a chupacabra, a mythical creature from folklore, whom Alex encounters at his extended family’s place in San Javier, Mexico. However, with nefarious scientist Richard Quinn hunting for Chupa to misuse his healing powers, Alex has to find a way to hide him until he can reunite Chupa with his family. A sweet adventure fantasy incorporating Mexican culture’s values, ‘Chupa’ stars Evan Whitten as Alex, Christian Slater as Richard Quinn, and Demián Bichir as Alex’s grandfather, Chava. You can watch the film here.
10. The Monkey King (2023)
After being banished from his kingdom due to his exploits, young Monkey begins a journey to find his purpose and prove his worth. After training for years and defeating the Demon of Havoc using a magic staff he stole from the Dragon King, he becomes the “Monkey King.” However, since only a god can use the staff, Monkey decides to defeat 100 demons to prove himself god-worthy. In this quest, he is joined by a young girl named Lin, who wants him to accept her as his assistant, although she too is tasked with her own objective given by the Dragon King. Whether Monkey becomes an Immortal by defeating 100 demons and how is what we find out in this animated fantasy comedy. Directed by Anthony Stacchi, ‘The Monkey King’ is based on the first seven chapters of ‘Journey to the West,’ the classic 16th-century Ming dynasty novel by Wu Cheng’en. Actor/stand-up comedian Jimmy O. Yang has voiced Monkey while Jolie Hoang-Rappaport has voiced Lin. You can watch ‘The Monkey King’ here.
9. The Magician’s Elephant (2023)
Directed by Wendy Rogers, ‘The Magician’s Elephant’ unfolds as an animated fantasy adventure film—the narrative centers around Peter’s quest to find his long-lost sister. In the bustling market square, his path intersects with a fortune teller, compelling him to unravel the mystery of his sister’s fate. To unearth the truth, Peter embarks on a journey to locate a mystical elephant and the magician capable of summoning it. The quest propels him into a series of three seemingly impossible tasks, each holding the potential to transform the destiny of his town. You can watch it here.
8. Slumberland (2022)
Directed by Francis Lawrence and penned by David Guion and Michael Handelman, ‘Slumberland‘ is a fantasy adventure featuring a stellar cast including Jason Momoa, Chris O’Dowd, Kyle Chandler, Weruche Opia, and newcomer Marlow Barkley as Nemo. Inspired by Winsor McCay’s comic strip ‘Little Nemo in Slumberland,’ the film follows a young girl relocating to her uncle’s abode after her father’s disappearance at sea. Embarking on a journey to Slumberland, she befriends a rogue character entangled in a plot to reach the Sea of Nightmares, aiming to secure a unique pearl with the potential to reunite her with her lost father. You can watch the film here.
7. Bright (2017)
‘Bright’ is an urban fantasy film that takes place in an alternate reality where human beings co-exist with supernatural beings like orcs, elves, monsters, and lizardmen. Magic is normal in the world, but not much is used because there is a shortage of magic wands. The lead character in the film is Daryl Ward (Will Smith), a police officer with the LAPD. Ward is partnered with an orc called Nick Jakoby, the first-ever orc police officer. While on a mission together, the two come across a secret group that vows to bring back the ‘Dark Lord’ to the Earth. Later, Ward and Jakoby learn that the Dark Lord is an influential mythical figure defeated centuries ago by eight species and has remained away from the Earth since then. The two also rescue an elf girl who possesses a wand. Problems arise when the secret group notices and wants the wand for themselves. Critics panned the movie, but it was a huge hit among audiences. You can watch it here.
6. The Great Magician (2011)
Starring Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Lau Ching-wan, and Zhou Xun, ‘The Great Magician’ is a Hong Kong-Chinese action fantasy-comedy film. The Derek Yee directorial is set after the Chinese Revolution when the world was held hostage by warlords willing to go to any lengths for more control. One of them abducts a girl with the desire to make her his seventh wife. While the rest of the warlords plan to murder him, a stranger returns from abroad to rescue the love of his life from a twisted man. You can watch the film here.
5. Nimona (2023)
An animated fantasy adventure drama, ‘Nimona’ is directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane and is adapted from the 2015 graphic novel of the same name by American cartoonist ND Stevenson. It follows a shape-shifting genderfluid teen named Nimona (voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz), with a knack for destruction, who teams up with a knight, Ballister Boldheart (voiced by Riz Ahmed), to prove his innocence. Boldheart has been wrongfully convicted of Queen Valerin’s (voiced by Lorraine Toussaint) murder and declared a fugitive on the run. Together, they are supposed to find out who the culprit is. However, the catch is that Nimona might also be the very “monster” Boldheart and the other knights are supposed to defend their kingdom from when the time comes. Catalyzed by a great story with equally stunning visuals, ‘Nimona’ is enjoyable for people of all ages. You can watch it here.
4. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
‘A Boy Called Christmas‘ is a heartwarming fantasy film based on Matt Haig’s bestselling book. It follows young Nikolas, who embarks on an extraordinary journey to find his father, who went missing while searching for the fabled village of Elfhelm. With a magical reindeer named Blitzen and an eccentric friend named Mika, Nikolas discovers his true destiny as the first child ever to meet Santa Claus. The film beautifully captures the spirit of Christmas, blending humor, adventure, and a sprinkle of magic. It’s a delightful, family-friendly tale that reminds us of the power of belief and the joy of the holiday season. You can watch the movie here.
3. The School for Good and Evil (2022)
Directed by Paul Feig, ‘The School for Good and Evil‘ is an enchanting American fantasy film featuring a talented ensemble cast, with Sophia Anne Caruso portraying Sophie and Sofia Wylie as Agatha, the central characters. The storyline revolves around the inseparable duo, Sophie and Agatha, who unexpectedly find themselves entangled in a mythical conflict. Transported to an enchanted school, they discover it’s a training ground for aspiring heroes and villains, shaping destinies in the eternal struggle between Good and Evil. The film weaves a captivating tale of friendship, choice, and the intricate balance that defines fantasy and morality. You can watch it here.
2. Nightbooks (2021)
Inspired by J. A. White’s fantasy children’s book of the same name, ‘Nightbooks‘ is a dark fantasy film that features Winslow Fegley, Lidya Jewett, and Krysten Ritter. The movie centers upon a young, innocent boy named Alex, who is abducted and kept in a magical New York City apartment by a witch. The only thing keeping him alive is his hair-raising horror storytelling, which appears to have impressed his abductor. Luckily, he finds a friend in his desperate circumstances, and the duo plans their escape from the evil grips of the witch. You can stream the movie here.
1. Secret Magic Control Agency (2021)
Based on the German fairytale written by Brothers Grimm, ‘Secret Magic Control Agency’ is an English-language Russian computer-animated comedy film directed and written by Aleksey Tsitsilin. The movie is set in a magical fantasy kingdom where the kingdom gets abducted using black magic. Worried about the political implications of such news, the Prime Minister keeps it a secret and hands over the investigation to the Secret Magic Control Agency. Soon, Agent Gretel and her disowned brother and con artist Hansel are entrusted with the responsibility to track down the king and bring him back to the kingdom. Feel free to watch it here.
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