As to “good movies”, that is purely personal opinion. Just glancing at the list, the ones I would recommend off the top of the list are Labyrinth, Never Ending Story (and also hunt down the book and read it), Coraline, The Lord of the Rings (the Jackson trillogy, and, while it is only half the story, the Bakshi cartoon. While I haven’t seen the cartoon in over 40 years, I did enjoy it, although thought they made some interesting decisions in presentation), Mirrormask, The Phantom Tollbooth (I liked the book better), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (the Bing Crosby version).
That list is for “fanasy world” (although I don’t know why Spirited Away & other Myrazaki movies aren’t on the list — highly recommended.) Other types of Fantasy aren’t listed, and so here are some obscure ones:
A Portrait of Jeanie (1948) has fantasy elements.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) has a ghost. How much more fantasy is that?
A Damsel in Distress (1937) A romantic fantasy (more of a fairy tale, because there aren’t any fantasy elements) with the addition of Fred Astair’s singing and dancing, and the always great George Burns and Gracie Allan in a story written by P.G. Wodehouse (which I didn’t know until I just checked the movie in IMDB). Side note — In George Burns’ memoir written in the 50’s, he tells the story of asking Gracie to learn a new dance with him and audition for a movie with Fred Astair. She answered that they didn’t have time to do a movie, and he told her, true, but could she imagine them actually getting a part in an Astair movie? but that it would be fun to do. So she agreed. And they auditioned, and they got the part and the dance was included in the movie.
High Plains Drifter (1973) A crossover of spaghetti western and ghost story.
The Frighteners (1996) Michael Fox in a horror/romance
A Prairie Home Companion (2006) Some supernatural elements
House II: The Second Story (1987) Worth it to see John Ratzenberger’s scene.
Willow (1988)— I got the impression that George Lucas wanted to make Lord of the Rings, but didn’t have the rights. Not a bad story in its own right, and loved the Val Kilmer character, Madmadigan (who, until I just saw it in the IMDB, I thought was named “Mad” Madigan.)
Highlander (1986) Swordfights in NYC, Good vs Evil, fate of the world, Queen, what’s not to love? TV show was good, too, but for movies, there should have been only one.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986) - immortal evil sorcerer vs. overconfident buffoon, fate of the world in the balance!
The Princess Bride (1987) - “Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...”
Stardust (2007) — Robert De Nero makes this movie. “My reputation!”
Time Bandits (1981) Watch for the re-appearance of the toys on the floor in the Castle of Ultimate Darkness
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) The original, only!
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) The first is best, and each one after seems less.
End of Days, Inc. (2015) The end of the world as seen by the working stiffs.
The Wizard of Speed and Time (1988) "The producers assume no liability for persons riding unlicensed suitcases, carrying girls cross-country, throwing litter back into vehicles, or staying underwater without breathing." According to writer/director/star/(and about 40 other jobs) Mike Jittlov, this movie is based on real events, that happened either before or after the movie was made.
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