Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series, starting with Fourth Wing, has quickly become a huge success in the romantasy genre. The books follow a young woman navigating a challenging war college for dragon riders, filled with demanding training, political intrigue, and a compelling romance. The initial novels were bestsellers, attracting a large and devoted fanbase. The release of the third book, Onyx Storm, cemented the series’ popularity, selling millions of copies in its first week and demonstrating the continued strong interest in dragon-based fantasy stories.
As a huge fan of Fourth Wing, it’s no surprise Amazon MGM Studios is turning it into a TV series! Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society is producing, and they’ve brought in Meredith Averill as showrunner, which is great news. Honestly, they’re taking their time with it – and that’s a good thing! Building the dragons and the magic system of Basgiath War College properly is a massive undertaking, so we’re probably a few years away from seeing it on Prime Video. But if you’re craving that same mix of dragons, intense competition, and epic romance in the meantime, there are definitely other shows and movies out there to tide you over.
5) Dragonheart
Rob Cohen’s Dragonheart is a landmark film in fantasy cinema, largely because it was one of the first to use computer-generated imagery to create a realistic and emotionally engaging creature. The movie follows Bowen (Dennis Quaid), a knight who’s lost faith in everything, and his surprising partnership with Draco (voiced by Sean Connery), the very last dragon. They pretend to fight and kill Draco for money, but their scheme eventually leads them to a bigger goal: overthrowing a cruel king.
The relationship between the warrior and the dragon in Dragonheart is similar to the challenging but close bond between cadets and their dragons in the Empyrean novels. Like Draco, the dragon in Dragonheart, the Empyrean dragons are intelligent and have strong principles, acting as partners rather than just tools. This idea of a wise, yet sometimes headstrong, dragon companion perfectly reflects the core conflicts found throughout the Fourth Wing series.
4) A Knight’s Tale
Even though it’s not a fantasy film, fans who enjoy the competitive spirit of Fourth Wing might be surprised by how much they like A Knight’s Tale. This movie, directed by Brian Helgeland, tells the story of William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a commoner who pretends to be a knight so he can compete in dangerous jousting tournaments. The film isn’t concerned with being historically accurate; instead, it uses a modern, rock-and-roll style to highlight the excitement and danger of the competitions. This focus on tournaments, intense training, and the risk of failure or death is similar to the difficult challenges faced by the cadets in the Fourth Wing series.
I absolutely love how A Knight’s Tale isn’t just about jousting! It’s got a really sweet romance at its heart, and the tension between William and the snobby Count Adhemar is fantastic – it gives the action real weight. But what really makes the movie work, for me, is its spirit. It’s about these characters who don’t play by the rules, who depend on each other like a family, and who fight tooth and nail to get by in a world that’s stacked against them.
3) Stardust
Based on Neil Gaiman’s novel, Stardust is a grand adventure that mixes enchanting fantasy with real threats and a beautiful love story. The film centers on Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox), who ventures into the magical kingdom of Stormhold to find a fallen star. He soon discovers this ‘star’ is actually a woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes). As they try to escape dangerous witches and heartless princes, Tristan and Yvaine go from disliking each other to becoming strong allies.
Okay, as a romantasy fan, I have to say the way Tristan and Tvaine go from barely tolerating each other to falling in love is perfect. It’s exactly the kind of slow-burn romance we all crave! And the director, Matthew Vaughn, really nailed the timing of it all. He let their relationship develop naturally without it getting lost in the magical world around them. Plus, the whole royal family drama and power struggles? It’s got that same exciting, dangerous vibe as the politics in Navarre, which I absolutely loved. It adds so much to the story!
2) How to Train Your Dragon
DreamWorks’s How to Train Your Dragon, though a family-friendly animated film, is considered the best movie portrayal of the special bond between a rider and their dragon. The story follows Hiccup, a young Viking who challenges his tribe’s warlike ways by becoming friends with a wounded dragon named Toothless. This echoes the challenges faced at the start of training at Basgiath War College, where students must overcome their weaknesses with intelligence and a deep connection to magical creatures.
The movie How to Train Your Dragon features incredibly realistic and exciting flying scenes, setting a high bar for action sequences in the air. The story also highlights the importance of trust between a rider and their dragon, a key theme explored in the Fourth Wing series. This strong emotional connection elevates How to Train Your Dragon beyond a typical adventure story, making it a powerful tale about the strength found in unlikely friendships.
1) I Am Dragon
The Russian fantasy film I Am Dragon, directed by Indar Dzhendubaev, is a visually stunning story about the age-old connection between people and dragons, and is highly recommended for fans of the world created by Rebecca Yarros. The film centers on Princess Miroslava (Mariya Poezzhaeva), who is abducted on her wedding day by a powerful dragon and taken to a secluded island. There, she meets a puzzling young man named Arman (Matvey Lykov) and soon learns he’s actually the dragon in human form who has captured her.
Princess Miroslava finds herself in a complicated and dangerous relationship with Arman, fueled by a mix of fear, understanding, and a powerful attraction – all the key ingredients for a compelling romance. The film enhances this connection with beautiful visuals and stunning sets, creating a truly romantic mood. Fans of the Empyrean novels will likely enjoy this exploration of a strong-willed woman and the complex man she finds herself drawn to.
If you loved Fourth Wing, what fantasy movie would you suggest? Share your recommendations in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-04-02 00:41