One of the Most Underrated Fantasy Movies of the 2000s Is Finally Streaming

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The 2000s were a golden era for fantasy cinema, with many iconic movies captivating audiences and ruling the box office. Famous works like Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth,” Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away,” and franchises such as “Harry Potter” and “The Lord of the Rings” continue to be revered today. Another lesser-known but highly underrated fantasy film from that decade has recently gained new life, having just become available for streaming this month, giving it a chance to receive the recognition it deserves after all these years.

On August 1, 2025, Robert Zemeckis’s animated fantasy action film adaptation of the classic poem Beowulf, written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, began streaming for free on Pluto TV. The movie, which features a stellar cast including Ray Winstone as Beowulf, mighty warrior on a perilous quest to defeat the monster Grendel (portrayed by Crispin Glover), starts off with Grendel menacing Denmark, but things take a turn when he angers Grendel’s mother, played by Angelina Jolie. Additional stars in this production are Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Brendan Gleeson, Robin Wright, and Alison Lohman.

Why You Should Watch Beowulf

2007 saw the cinema release of “Beowulf” in the U.S., a year marked by a prosperity in the realm of fantasy movies, with films like “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Shrek the Third” gracing the screens concurrently. However, unlike those timeless classics, “Beowulf” failed to maintain its cinematic relevance over time, partly due to a perceived “uncanny valley” effect and deviations from its original source material. Nevertheless, “Beowulf” continues to shine as a distinctive fantasy film, making it a must-watch for fantasy enthusiasts.

Without a doubt, despite any shortcomings it might have had, Beowulf was undeniably revolutionary in its field. This movie paved the way by utilizing performance capture technology, seamlessly blending aspects of both animation and live-action filmmaking to create what is now known as an “uncanny valley” effect. However, in 2007 when it was released, Beowulf’s motion capture animation was a significant breakthrough and played a crucial role in the movie’s success by delivering visually captivating, dark fantasy scenes. The film boasts an extremely talented cast who breathe life into their intricate characters, with Winstone’s portrayal of Beowulf offering a more nuanced and fallible interpretation of the character from the original source material. With a global box office gross of $196.4 million and a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Beowulf is celebrated as “pure cinematic entertainment”.

Other New Movies On Pluto TV

In August 2025, Pluto TV’s collection of shows and movies expanded considerably, featuring many new titles now available for streaming. Here are some notable additions from Pluto TV’s August 2025 content offerings:

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Title releases from 1999:

1. Airplane! – Comedy film about an airline disaster and its crew’s attempts to save the day
2. Airplane II: The Sequel – Follow-up comedy to Airplane! featuring a similar cast and plot
3. Basic Instinct – Thriller film about a detective investigating a murder with a mysterious suspect
4. The Craft – Supernatural teen drama about a group of girls discovering their powers as witches
5. Double Jeopardy – Crime thriller about a woman wrongly accused of killing her husband and seeking revenge

Title releases from 2005:

1. Escape From Alcatraz – Prison escape drama based on the true story of three prisoners who attempt to flee Alcatraz Island
2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Comedy film about a high school student who skips school for a day in Chicago
3. Finding Neverland – Drama film about playwright J.M. Barrie and his friendship with the family that inspires Peter Pan
4. Interstellar – Science-fiction epic following a group of astronauts on a mission to find a new home for humanity
5. The Longest Yard – Sports comedy about convicts organizing a football game against their prison guards

Other title mentions:

1. The Mask Of Zorro – Adventure film featuring the return of the legendary masked hero, Zorro
2. Planes, Trains And Automobiles – Comedy road trip movie about two men trying to get home for Thanksgiving
3. Saving Private Ryan – War drama following a squad of soldiers on a mission to save a paratrooper behind enemy lines
4. This Is Spinal Tap – Mockumentary comedy about a struggling British heavy metal band

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2025-08-31 16:15