Australia’s best fantasy movies to stream in 2020

Whether you’re looking to escape the modern world or make sense of our bleak reality, fantasy movies provide a great escape. They inspire and provoke us, transport us to magical worlds and give us characters to look up to. In short, they have a unique appeal other genres often struggle to pull off.

Fantasy is a rich genre as it encompasses everything from superhero flicks to any movie tackling fantastical worlds, wizardry, folklore, magical creatures, supernatural elements and so on. Picking the best of the best can be a tough endeavour, but we've rounded up our favourites below.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

This movie has a bold and memorable premise. Combining live action and animation, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is set in Hollywood during the late 1940s, where animated characters and people co-exist. The story follows Eddie Valiant, a private detective looking to exonerate Roger Rabbit, who is accused of murdering a wealthy businessman.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is an innovative and highly enjoyable fantasy movie. It manages to portray a marvellous universe while also telling a touching story. It's also incredibly funny and refreshing. If you feel like spending a couple of hours with the looniest cartoon characters, a trip to Toontown is just what the doctor prescribed.

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Avatar

Avatar follows Jake, a paraplegic marine, who replaces his brother on the Na'vi-inhabited Pandora for a corporate mission. The action takes place in the mid-22nd century, when Pandora is a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. Jake is accepted by the natives as one of their own, but he must decide where his loyalties lie when he finds himself torn between two worlds.

This groundbreaking movie was highly praised for its visual effects, which still hold up. However, Avatar is more than its cinematography. It’s a fascinating adventure, immersing the viewer into a story that will leave you more than satisfied once the end credits roll.

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Jumanji

Although its standalone sequel, released in 2017, was well-received, the original instalment of the franchise is still worthy of your attention. The story of Jumanji centres on young Alan, who becomes trapped in a board game. 26 years later, 2 siblings find the game, start playing and unwittingly release the now-adult Alan. To reverse all of the destruction the game has caused, they then resolve to finish it.

Back in 1995, the movie was one of the best childhood flicks of its time, treating viewers to an exciting adventure. That's still the case today. Jumanji has heart, thrills and humour. And while its special effects may seem dated to the younger generation, it remains the same epic spectacle it was when it first premiered. We're sure it will forever hold a special place in viewers' hearts.

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How to Train Your Dragon

This delightful animated movie revolves around Hiccup, a Viking, who must kill a dragon in order to mark his passage into manhood and be initiated into his tribe. However, things don’t go exactly as planned. Instead, Hiccup ends up doing the opposite by befriending a deadly Night Fury.

Greatly benefiting from tremendous animation and a surprisingly tight script, How to Train Your Dragon is a gem of a fantasy movie for viewers of all ages. Funny, touching and absorbing, the movie is the perfect stream for when you’re craving a touch of whimsy.

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Mary Poppins

If you're not one to enjoy musical-fantasy movies, you probably haven't watched the right one yet. It's time to remedy that with Mary Poppins, the 1964 classic that will dazzle you with its special effects and catchy tunes. The movie combines live action and animation in telling the story of Mary Poppins, who visits a dysfunctional family in London and employs her unique brand of lifestyle to improve the family's dynamic.

Mary Poppins marks Julie Andrews' first appearance on the screen, delivering an irresistible performance. The movie is light and funny, with luxuriant sets and a charming, magical story. In other words, fantasy fun for the entire family.

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Groundhog Day

This 1993 movie may be 25 years old, but it feels timeless, mainly due to the numerous existential questions it raises. Are we simultaneously existing in infinite forms all at once? What should one live for? Are there certain things we can't change no matter what? Do any of our lives matter? Uh-oh, better not open that door just yet. Did we mention this is a comedy?

Groundhog Day stars Bill Murray as an arrogant weatherman who finds himself trapped in a time loop. In other words, he's repeating the same day over and over again. He does what anyone would do in such a situation. Indulges in hedonism. Commits suicide. Eventually starts to re-examine his life and priorities. It's a movie that will make you think, laugh and sigh. Perfect after a long week at the office.

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Inception

Since its release, Inception has become somewhat of a modern classic. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals information from people by infiltrating their subconsciouses. But when he is offered a chance to have his criminal history erased, he has to do the impossible: implant another person's idea into a target's mind.

Ambitious and complex, Inception will have you hooked from the first scene. Thanks to a great performance by DiCaprio and a gripping plot, Inception tests the boundaries of the fantasy genre. It disguises as a trippy thriller but evolves into a brainteaser of a flick that will make you question everything. The special effects are not too shabby either.

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Big Fish

Tim Burton eats fantasy for breakfast, so there's no wonder Big Fish made it onto this list. It's a beautiful film, both visually and emotionally. After he's been away for a long time, Will comes back home to be at his dying father's bedside. Here, he's forced to listen to his dad's tall tales and sets out to discover how much of what his father's telling him is fact and how much is fiction.

While the fantasy elements are certainly appealing, Big Fish stands out due to its emotional pull. The movie is a compelling look at the relationships between fathers and sons, while also exploring how a child can come to terms with a parent's mortality. Grade-A filmmaking right here.

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

The Harry Potter series may not be available to stream in Australia, but its prequel is. In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them we follow British wizard and "magizoologist" Newt Scamander as he adventures on the streets of 1926 New York in search of some missing magical creatures. His first, small quest leads to a larger one. Soon, you'll be so mesmerised that you won't be able to pause the stream; not even for a Butterbeer.

The first movie in the Fantastic Beasts franchise promises a charming and endearing journey in the wizarding world. And it delivers. It doesn't hurt that Scamander makes friends with a No-Maj (pre-Muggle term), to hilarious results. Not to mention the fact that the magical creatures in this movie are as fantastic as they come. Last but not least, the movie considerably expands the wizarding world, while also working great as a standalone. You'll be in for a magical treat.

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District 9

Combining fantastic action with thoughtful storytelling, District 9 is emotionally wrenching. The premise is simple enough: an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology. And yet, District 9 excels when it comes to the details. The aliens like cat food. There are several visual gags in the background that will make you chuckle. You get the point.

The movie grabs you by the eyeballs from the very first frame, despite its low budget – at least by today's industry standards. It's a gory fantasy thriller with a great message. Well worthy of your bandwidth.

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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

When it comes to E.T., you're likely already familiar with the plot. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie tells the story of Elliott, a lonely boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, E.T., stranded on Earth. Elliott and his siblings help E.T. return to his home planet, while also attempting to keep him hidden from their mother and the government.

Captivating and magical, the movie will put you under a spell. It alternates between being sweet and sarcastic, while also providing a beautiful portrayal of friendship and childhood. Despite similar acclaimed movies that didn't stand the test of time, E.T. holds up beautifully, even all these years later. It's Spielberg at his best.

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Cloverfield

When it comes to monster movies, this is one of the best. A creature the size of a skyscraper descends upon New York, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Using a handheld video camera, a group of friends record their struggle to survive as the city crumbles around them. Thanks to the found footage angle, the movie expertly combines low-budget grit with spectacular effects, making the monster plot even scarier in the meantime.

Another aspect that elevates Cloverfield in the monster-movie genre is the characters. Here, they are fleshed out and developed instead of acting like disposable vessels only hanging around for buildings to have something to land on. Clever and scary, the movie will have you on the edge of your seat without insulting your intelligence. Let the thrills come.

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Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Guillermo del Toro does it again. Unlike the first film in the franchise, which boasted a darker, gothic tone, Hellboy II resembles more of a classic fantasy flick. For centuries, an ancient truce has kept the naive citizens of the human race safe from the horrors of the invisible realm. But now, a power-mad ruler is assembling an unstoppable army of fantastical creatures to wage a supernatural war on humanity. It's up to Hellboy and his team at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense to send the otherworldly overlords packing.

The movie is funny and action-packed, with amazing-looking creatures and thrilling battle scenes. A unique visual feast, while also managing to be compelling and engaging, with endearing characters and an exciting plot. Ready, set, binge.

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Enter the Void

Set in the neon-lit nightclub environments of Tokyo, Enter the Void follows a young American drug dealer who gets shot by the police, but continues to watch subsequent events during an out-of-body experience. Although performing poorly at the box office, it remains a feat when it comes to psychedelic imagery.

The movie provides an immersive and mind-bending experience, while also delivering thrills. Dazzling and depressing at the same time, Enter the Void will take you on an astonishing trip through life, death and the universally wonderful and horrible moments between. Don't be surprised if you find yourself obsessing over it days after you tuned in.

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Sliding Doors

While Sliding Doors isn't the first pick that comes to mind when you mention fantasy flicks, its sci-fi elements earn it a special mention on our list. The film alternates between two parallel universes. It follows a London woman on two hypothetical paths – one where she gets home early and catches her boyfriend in bed with another woman, the other where she doesn't.

A romantic comedy at its core, Sliding Doors pushes the boundaries of the genre, and it does so with charm and wittiness. It features elements of romance, comedy and drama, delivering an original story that will make you both feel and think. With Valentine's Day approaching, this may be the perfect movie for a night in with that special someone.

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Melancholia

Melancholia is a psychological disaster movie directed by Lars von Trier. Two sisters find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth. From there, viewers get a hauntingly beautiful meditation on depression, with flawless imagery and strong performances by the entire cast.

Despite its sci-fi elements and apocalyptic storyline, the movie is more poetic than gloomy. More importantly, Melancholia is both uncomfortable to watch and difficult to forget. It will either move you or bore you to no end. Either way, it will stay with you for a long time.

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