10 Dark Fantasy Movies to Watch if You Loved Pan’s Labyrinth

Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth, is often considered one of the best examples of dark fantasy. It uniquely combines historical settings with fairytale magic, proving the genre can be more than just a simple escape. Though the film features stunning visuals and a fantastical world, its core is rooted in real human feelings and heartbreaking experiences. This blend of fantasy and reality is what makes dark fantasy so impactful and memorable.

Fans who enjoy the dark fantasy of Pan’s Labyrinth might be looking for similar films that fully embrace imagination and explore serious themes. Dark fantasy often appeals to viewers because it can reflect real-world issues and doesn’t avoid difficult truths. Though Pan’s Labyrinth is a standout example, other films also blend magical storytelling with realistic themes and create compelling mythical worlds.

Tale of Tales is a Brutal Take on Fairy Tales

Matteo Garrone’s 2015 film, Tale of Tales, reimagines classic fairy tales as dark and unsettling stories, removing the familiar polish of modern Disney adaptations. The film draws heavily from The Pentamerone, a collection of 17th-century tales by Italian poet Giambattista Basile. Fans who enjoyed the visually stunning and mature fairy tales of Pan’s Labyrinth will likely appreciate the film’s similar blend of dark beauty and realistic portrayal of fantastical themes.

The Company Of Wolves Is Part Fantasy and Part Horror

As a film lover, I really appreciate how this movie reimagines the classic fairy tale, leaning into the darker, more cautionary aspects of the original stories. It’s cleverly structured as a dream within a dream, which just amplifies the fantastical, storybook atmosphere. What’s brilliant is that the dream belongs to a young girl living today – it allows for so much symbolism, making it feel like both a relatable coming-of-age story and a genuinely unsettling nightmare. It’s a really unique approach!

In The Company of Wolves, the film delves deeper into dreamlike imagery, immersing Rosaleen in a series of surreal stories within a larger nightmare. Angela Lansbury plays Granny, who shares these strange tales with Rosaleen, each possessing its own unique and unsettling logic. Like Ofelia in Pan’s Labyrinth, Rosaleen uses her experiences in this fantastical world to cope with difficult realities.

Guillermo del Toro Does it Again with The Shape of Water

If you loved the dark fantasy of Pan’s Labyrinth, you’ll likely enjoy The Shape of Water. Like Pan’s Labyrinth, it relies on impressive practical effects and uses fantastical elements to explore real-world issues. Doug Jones, known for his creature work, once again delivers a captivating performance, this time as the Amphibian Man.

Like Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, this film suggests that the scariest monsters are often people, not creatures of fantasy. Michael Shannon delivers a chilling performance as Colonel Richard Strickland, who is the film’s main villain. If you enjoyed Pan’s Labyrinth and are looking for a similar dark fantasy, this film, also from del Toro, is a great place to start.

Sleepy Hollow Transforms Folklore Into Gothic Horror

As a critic, I have to say Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is truly one of the most visually striking films I’ve seen in a long time. It masterfully blends gothic horror with a dark, fantastical atmosphere. What really impressed me was the incredible set design – the entire village was built on sound stages, giving Burton and production designer Rick Heinrichs complete control over the look and feel of the world. This dedication to detail creates a mood that’s completely unique and unforgettable.

Tim Burton reimagines the classic Washington Irving story, delivering a film full of mystery, horror, and romance. Sleepy Hollow explores how fear can grip a town, as the villagers are controlled by their beliefs about the Headless Horseman. Like Pan’s Labyrinth, Sleepy Hollow creates a completely captivating world.

The Dark Crystal Presents a Mythical World Shaped by Sadness

Okay, let me tell you about The Dark Crystal. It’s more than just incredible puppetry – though, yes, that’s a huge part of what makes it special. What really stuck with me was the surprisingly emotional weight of the story. It’s a genuinely somber film, and knowing that Jim Henson created this world after losing a close friend really sheds light on the themes of loss and mortality that run throughout. It’s a beautifully crafted, fully realized world, but it’s the heart underneath all the fantastical creatures that makes it a lasting classic.

I’ve always been struck by how powerfully the lack of human actors transports you to another world in The Dark Crystal. It really lets you lose yourself and believe in the fantastical events unfolding on screen. Beyond the stunning visuals, though, it’s a story about fixing a damaged world, and the sacrifices that come with that. What I appreciate most is that it doesn’t shy away from tough themes – it really leans into the darker side of fantasy, and that makes it so compelling.

The Green Knight Reimagines the Arthurian Myth

David Lowery’s 2021 film, The Green Knight, is a unique and dreamlike take on the classic 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The film’s depiction of Gawain’s journey shares similarities with the challenges faced by Ofelia in Pan’s Labyrinth, both acting as symbolic tests. While the original poem is a traditional romance focused on chivalry, The Green Knight blends this with elements of horror and deeply symbolic imagery.

Both Pan’s Labyrinth and The Green Knight are dark fantasy films that delve into big ideas like death and the decisions we make. The hero in The Green Knight isn’t the typical, fearless fantasy character; he’s hesitant and flawed. Like Pan’s Labyrinth, the film uses the fantasy setting to emphasize the difficult moral challenges its characters face and try to resolve.

Frankenstein Reframes the Classic Monster

I’ve always loved how Guillermo del Toro takes monsters and makes them so much more than just scary creatures. Like in Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, he does it again here – he gives this monster real feelings and a complicated backstory. It’s not about fearing the monster, but understanding it; it’s a being driven by loneliness and fear, and honestly, that’s a theme I’ve noticed a lot in his films. He just has a way of making you sympathize with even the most fantastical creatures.

Though the creature appears frightening, its deepest wounds are emotional. Actor Jacob Elordi portrays it with a quiet sadness that is deeply felt. Because the role requires very little dialogue, Elordi kept a journal throughout filming, detailing the creature’s inner thoughts to better understand its sadness and growth. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein makes us question who the true monster really is, presenting the creature as someone we can sympathize with.

Tigers Are Not Afraid is an Urban Dark Fantasy Treat

Like Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, which uses fantasy to examine the effects of war, the 2017 film Tigers Are Not Afraid shifts the setting to the current Mexican drug war. Director Issa López powerfully portrays the difficult lives of children caught near cartel violence. The film blends magical realism to deepen the exploration of their trauma and comes highly recommended.

This story is set in a deserted town in Mexico. When 11-year-old Estrella’s mother disappears, her teacher gives her three special pieces of chalk that are supposed to make wishes come true. Estrella wishes for her mother to return, but she comes back as a ghost and begins to haunt her. Estrella teams up with other children, and her remaining wishes have surprising consequences. Like the film Pan’s Labyrinth, the story is intense and carries significant risks for the characters.

The Ugly Stepsister Subverts the Classic Fairy Tale

Okay, so I just saw Emilie Blichfeldt’s The Ugly Stepsister, which came out in 2025, and wow, it’s not your typical Cinderella retelling! It takes the familiar story and throws it into this really dark, fantastical world with a lot of satire. Honestly, it’s pretty wild and often laugh-out-loud funny, leaning heavily into black comedy. The music is intentionally weird and quirky, which just adds to the overall craziness of everything. But don’t go in expecting a feel-good movie – the humor isn’t meant to make you comfortable!

The story revolves around Elvira, who finds herself in a competition with her stepsister, Agnes, to win the hand of Prince Julian and rescue her family from poverty. While Agnes resembles Cinderella, she’s portrayed as spoiled and demanding. Elvira, on the other hand, endures painful and extreme medical treatments, which emphasize the unrealistic and harmful expectations placed on people regarding beauty.

Crimson Peak is an Unsettling Tale of Supernatural Romance

Guillermo del Toro is known for reimagining villains and monsters, often challenging how we see them. His 2015 film, Crimson Peak, is a great example of this, and will likely appeal to fans of his earlier work like Pan’s Labyrinth. The movie centers on Edith Cushing, who finds herself in the old family home of her husband, Thomas Sharpe.

Soon after moving into the house, Edith realizes it’s haunted, but the true horror stems from her husband and his connection with his sister. Crimson Peak combines classic gothic horror with elements of supernatural fantasy. The ghosts aren’t frightening creatures; they’re manifestations of the past, and they try to alert Edith to a dangerous scheme happening right under her nose.

2025-12-19 19:11