5 Underrated Fantasy Movies Based on Books Nobody Talks About

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Fantasy remains a consistently popular genre in movies, TV, and books, and it’s easy to see why. It offers both an escape from reality and a way to examine the world around us. However, movie adaptations of fantasy books that are as good as, or even better than, the source material are rare. Every so often, a truly successful adaptation appears, living up to the original story. And sometimes, hidden gems emerge, becoming beloved by a dedicated fanbase or fading into obscurity.

Here are 5 fantastic fantasy movies based on books that you might not know well. You may recognize a few, but others are hidden gems—all are worth checking out!

5) Stardust

Adapted from Neil Gaiman’s novel, the movie Stardust is widely considered superior to its source material. Featuring Charlie Cox in a transformative role, alongside Clare Danes, Robert De Niro, and Michelle Pfeiffer, the film follows a young man’s quest to capture a falling star to win the affection of his beloved. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he discovers the ‘star’ is actually a woman, and he’s not the only one looking for her – the ruthless sons of a failing king are also in pursuit, hoping to claim the throne. Together, they embark on a dangerous adventure home, facing witches and sky pirates along the way. Stardust is a delightful, quirky, and over-the-top film with a surprisingly warm and inviting feel and a genuinely touching story.

4) The Secret of NIMH

Released in 1982, The Secret of NIMH – adapted from Robert O’Brien’s novel – quickly became notorious for scaring a whole generation of kids. It’s widely considered a fantastic book-to-movie adaptation, telling the story of Mrs. Brisby, a widowed mouse mother who needs to move her children before the farmer plows the field. When her son falls ill, she can’t move them alone and must ask for help from a group of unusually intelligent rats, who gained their intelligence through scientific experiments. The leader of the rats, Nicodemus, gives Mrs. Brisby a surprising gift that pulls her into a dangerous conflict, threatening both her mission and her family. The animation is beautifully done, and the story is memorable, making it a film you’ll want to watch again and again.

3) The Spiderwick Chronicles

The Spiderwick Chronicles is a movie adapted from the novels by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. After a family moves into an old, rundown house, their son Jared gets blamed for all the strange occurrences. However, magical creatures are actually living on the property, and they’re all searching for a special book Jared discovered – Arthur Spiderwick’s guide to fantastical beasts. The film is a charming and magical adaptation that successfully brings the spirit of the books to life.

2) Dragonslayer

Released in the 80s, Dragonslayer perfectly captures the fantasy style of that era and is notably darker than most other Disney films. With an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is set in 6th-century Urland, a kingdom plagued by a terrifying dragon. Desperate to end the dragon’s reign of terror—which involves sacrificing young women—the people turn to the wizard Ulrich for help. When Ulrich is killed, his apprentice, Galen, must step up to save the kingdom and its princess. It’s full of classic fantasy tropes and embraces its 80s roots, which is exactly what makes it such a fun and well-done adaptation of Wayland Drew’s novel.

1) The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones aimed to launch a full film series, and it had the potential to do so, successfully capturing the look and feel of the original book. The movie starred Jamie Campbell Bower, Lily Collins, and Robert Sheehan, and featured a great soundtrack. The story follows Clary Fray, who discovers she’s descended from a lineage of demon hunters after her mother disappears. With her friend Simon and the enigmatic Jace, she enters the hidden Shadow World to fight demons. Although the movie series was cancelled, a television show with the same name was later created, but it didn’t live up to the quality and excitement of the film.

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2026-01-27 01:14