Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth is definitely a unique movie, even within the dark fantasy subgenre. With its historical backdrop and coming-of-age storyline, it cleverly combines the mature themes of war and the tender elements of what a young girl’s childhood can be like.
No wonder that the movie was so successful in every aspect – it truly deserves to be when one considers all the hard work and passion put into it from the costume and set design to the acting. Luckily for fans, .
The Chronicles Of Narnia Trilogy (2005 – 2010)
The Chronicles of Narnia trilogy – and particularly the first movie, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – is particularly similar to Pan’s Labyrinth in the way it frames its story and how it follows its young protagonists who travel to a different, magical world.
With the first movie taking place in England during WWII, the four protagonists who travel to Narnia also get involved in a war, which is symbolic of what’s going on in the real world that they have escaped for a while.
Shadow (2018)
The wuxia film Shadow may not be the most well-known one in the West, but it is still one of the best of its kind and is popular among the fans of the genre.
The movie takes place during China’s Three Kingdom’s era in the third century. Using breathtaking cinematography, it cleverly mixes historical and fantastical elements to tell the story of intrigue at court and fighting on the battlefield.
The Shape Of Water (2017)
Another one of del Toro’s works – and sometimes considered his best – The Shape of Water is a superb movie that also has a historical setting, but focuses a lot more on its romantic storyline.
Set in 1962 during the Cold War, it follows a cleaner working in a government laboratory in Baltimore, Maryland. After a strange humanoid creature is brought in, she starts falling in love with the amphibian.
Wonder Woman (2017)
Starring Gal Gadot in her most well-known role, Wonder Woman is more sci-fi than fantasy because of its classification as a superhero movie, but the superhero genre is notorious for being the epitome of science fantasy, which is a mix of both genres.
Set during WWI, it follows the Amazon princess Diana who leaves her home island of Themyscira to defeat the God of War, Ares, and restore peace between humans.
The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
Interestingly, Pan’s Labyrinth was the stylistic and spiritual successor of del Toro’s earlier work – The Devil’s Backbone. Described as a gothic horror movie, it relies on its historical and fantastical elements to tell its somewhat tragic story.
Taking place in 1939 Spain during the last year of the Spanish Civil War, it follows a 12-year-old boy whose father dies in the war and is sent to a weird boys’ orphanage, which he discovers to be haunted.
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit is probably one of the most comedic war movies out there that also manages to discuss very serious topics in a mature way. With its success and multiple award nominations (among them an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Scarlett Johansson), it was particularly praised for Waititi’s adapted screenplay, for which the director won an Academy Award.
Happening closer to the end of WWII, it follows the 10-year-old Jojo, who is a member of the Hitler Youth and imagines Hitler as his close friend. Living with his mother, Jojo discovers a Jewish girl hiding in their house.
Underground (1995)
With multiple awards under its belt (including the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival), Underground is a surreal movie that nevertheless uses many real-life elements to tell its both comedic and dramatic story.
Spanning a period of time that starts at the beginning of WWII and ends at the beginning of the Yugoslav Wars, the movies follows a group of Serbian socialists who are preparing for war.
Ugetsu Monogatari (Tales Of Moonlight And Rain) (1953)
Also known simply as Ugetsu, Ugetsu Monogatari focuses primarily on its romantic storyline, but also has all the fantastical and historical elements of a fantasy war movie that makes it a great example of a Japanese period drama and ghost story alike.
Set in the 16th century in Japan, it follows a farmer who leaves his family during the civil war and encounters a spirit who seduces him while also trying to kill him.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds may not be the most accurate WWII movie, but that’s exactly what such alternate history stories are for. Besides, with performances such as Christoph Waltz’s Hans Landa, it is perhaps Tarantino’s best work.
There are actually two storylines that meet at one point and culminate in an unexpected twist of the plot. One story follows a young Jewish girl who survives the murder of her entire family while in hiding. Another story follows a group of American soldiers jeopardizing Nazist activities.
The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001 – 2003)
Starring the likes of young Orlando Bloom and Sir Ian McKellen in one of his most iconic roles, The Lord of the Rings trilogy may not be the most obvious fantasy war movie, but it is actually based on a book trilogy that was influenced by historical events. Moreover, the author, J.R.R. Tolkien, said that he was inspired by his own experiences in WWI.
The entire plot of all three movies revolves around the war between the forces of good and evil in the fictional world of Middle-Earth.
