Fantasymovies can be difficult to get right, as the importance of visual effects and the right cast can make or break a film. There are some cases when a fantasy film might have been better received if it was released later, as technology moves quickly, making the cinematic landscape completely different after just ten years. Additionally, the tastes and interests of audiences shift just as fast,meaning the trends of what’s popular and does well at the box office could be considerably different a decade aftera movie initially failed to connect with viewers.
There are plenty offantasy movies that bombed at the box office but had comebacksmany years later, thanks to critical and audience reappraisal. When the bones of a story are good, which typically happens when a film is based on a book series, there’s potential for a movie to find its audience later, when the narrative is more popular within the present culture. However, asreboots and revivals are a large part of filmmaking today,it’s likely that many of these less-than-successful movies, whether critically or at the box office, might get another chance to prove their worth.
Eragon
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Eragonis based on the book series of the same name, part of a more extensive book series known as the Inheritance Cycle. In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy named Eragon (Ed Speelers) happens upon a dragon’s egg. This egg leads him on a journey to protect his home from tyrannical monarch Galbatorix (John Malkovitch) and a dark sorcerer named Durza (Robert Carlyle). However, Eragon discovers that the egg contains a mighty dragon named Saphira (Rachel Weisz) that he bonds with, and with the help of friends and family, Eragon will challenge the empire and do what he can to keep the dragon safe.
The failed start of a franchise,Eragondid a poor job adapting Christopher Paolini’s novel of the same name and ended the potential for a series of films before they even began. However, that didn’t change the fact thataudiences were enraptured with the books,and they have remained an important part of the fantasy canon to this day. This makes it especially poignant that Disney has plans to develop anEragonTV series (viaVariety).
Now that it’s been over ten years since the first movie failed, there’s a chance Paolini’s vision of the series can be done justice, and the scenes with the dragons can be better realized.
TheEragonDisney reboot must save the movie franchise, orEragonwill likely stop holding the potential for additional screen iterations. However, now that it’s been over ten years since the first movie failed, there’s a chance Paolini’s vision of the series can be done justice, and the scenes with the dragons can be better realized. While there were issues with how the character dynamics were portrayed and the way the story was structured,Eragon’s VFX was not up to the challenge of capturing Saphira,the all-important dragon companion of Eragon.
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10 Failed Fantasy Movies That Deserve A Reboot (Even Though They Bombed The First Time)
These 10 fantasy movies were massive box office bombs, but they could easily become huge hits if they were rebooted with better scripts and effects.
The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron is an animated fantasy film from Walt Disney Studios, directed by Ted Berman and Richard Rich. Released in 1985, it follows the young hero Taran and his quest to prevent the evil Horned King from obtaining a powerful magical relic known as the Black Cauldron. Featuring the voices of Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, and John Hurt, the film combines elements of adventure, mystery, and dark fantasy.
The somewhat confusing and misunderstood dark fairytaleThe Black Cauldronhad a lot working against it when it went into production.Many of the Disney films from this era were plagued by underfundingand had to use recycled animation to cut costs. However, this wasn’t the end ofThe Black Cauldron’s troubles. Animators were consistently being fired, and new talent was brought in because of the cost of labor. The film was ultimately recut to make it more family-friendly, even though this destroyed the movie’s throughline (viaCollider).
However,there’s something special aboutThe Black Cauldronthat makes it one of the best movies from the Disney Dark Ages:the name given to this period of unrest in the studio. There’s no question thatThe Black Cauldronwould have had access to better resources and a more interested fanbase had it come out ten years later, as that was during the height of the Disney Renaissance. Over the years,The Black Cauldron’s offbeat sensibilities and unique aesthetics have ignited viewers' imaginations, proving there’s something good inside the difficulties ofThe Black Cauldron.
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Inkheart
Inkheart is a fantasy adventure film directed by Iain Softley, based on Cornelia Funke’s novel. Brendan Fraser stars as Mo Folchart, a “silvertongue” who can bring characters from books to life by reading aloud. When an ancient villain escapes into the real world, Mo, his daughter Meggie (Eliza Bennett), and a band of allies must stop him. The film explores themes of literature, magic, and family bonds.
The amazing cast and compelling story behindInkheartcould have made for a smash hit, but sadly,Inkhearthas faded into relative obscurity. Based on Cornelia Funke’s novel series,Inkhearthad similarities to the popular magical movie franchises of the early 2000s, but it also had a unique spinthat set it apart. Deeply in conversation with literature and the history of fantasy,Inkheartis a reader’s dream, but the screen adaptation lacked the breadth of the books.
Funke’s books are still popular, so waiting a few years to ensure the adaptation was right would only have helped.
Inkheartis a greatBrendan Fraser YA movie that deserves a TV rebootsince, like so many fantasy stories, it would likely work better in a television format. However, even ifInkhearthad received a film iteration only a few years ago, it might have found greater success. Of course, the visual effects would have been updated, butthe film also could’ve taken on a darker tone and leaned even further into the magicof the story. Funke’s books are still popular, so waiting a few years to ensure the adaptation was right would only have helped.
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) is a fantasy film directed by Andrew Adamson. It follows the story of four siblings who discover a magical wardrobe that leads to the enchanted land of Narnia. They join forces with Aslan, the majestic lion, to battle against the evil White Witch. The film features Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell in the leading roles.
The magic and escapism of C.S. Lewis' seminal fantasy children’s series has never failed to capture the hearts of readers, and the 2005 adaptation of the first book did a decent job bringing it to life.EveryChronicles of Narniabookhas something to offer, but the first novel in the series will always be special for readers and audiences. However,the early film iteration could have gone further in updating the world of the storyto reflect the present-day and done more to differentiate itself from similar works.
Though the early 2000sNarniafranchise did adaptPrince CaspianandVoyage of the Dawn Treader, neither was as popular as the first movie. This meant the DisneyNarniamovies slowly faded from the cultural conversation.One of the issues withNarniawas that it came out during the height ofHarry Potter’s popularityand didn’t do enough to show that it was different than the other magical series. Without the competition ofHarry Potter, theChronicles of Narniamovie might have found its niche.
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Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Reboot Will Struggle To Fix 1 Problem From The Books
There are plenty of ways that the upcoming Narnia movies will expand upon the original world, but some problems will be difficult to resolve.
Christina Ricci continued her streak of starring in fantastical fairytales withPenelope,and she’s not the only cast member who has a history of seeking out projects like this. James McAvoy, Catherine O’Hara, and Reese Witherspoon round out the cast, and they all fit into the charming and whimsical world ofPenelope. ThoughPenelopeperformed decently at the box office, it doesn’t have the legacy of similar works, like much of Tim Burton’s filmography.
ThoughPenelopeis ultimately about self-love and acceptance, the secondary themes of class and inequality would have been elevated in the 2010s.
There are many aspects ofPenelopethat push the film into dark territory, but they’re brushed off and not addressed properly by the movie to keep the story on the lighter side. However,the more gritty sensibilities of the 2010s would have demanded that the story grapple with the inherent sadnessthat permeates the project. Additionally, thoughPenelopeis ultimately about self-love and acceptance, the secondary themes of class and inequality would have been elevated in the 2010s.
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Underworld
Underworld is a 2003 action-horror film directed by Len Wiseman. The plot revolves around Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire warrior caught in a centuries-old conflict between vampires and Lycans, a race of werewolves. As she delves deeper into the ongoing war, Selene uncovers hidden truths that challenge her allegiance and perception of both factions. The film features a dark, gothic aesthetic and blends elements of horror and thriller genres.
There’s no question that despite the mixed-to-negative critical response,Underworldwas a success, performing well at the box office and earning a string of sequels. For cult films likeUnderworld, this is a best-case scenario. However,had the film come out in the following years, it might have been a crossover hitand well-remembered franchise. Action franchises likeTaken,The Equalizer, andJohn Wickall draw parallels toUnderworld. Conversely, they were released later and have become more synonymous with the genre because of it.
10 Best R-Rated Fantasy Movies, Ranked
While some fantasy movies are meant for kids, others have a darker edge for older audiences, earning them an R-rating for their gritty themes.
From the early 2010s up through today, more room is being made for female-led action films, andUnderworldwas well ahead of its time in centering on Kate Beckinsale.Having a strong woman as the protagonist and utilizing such a distinct aesthetic madeUnderworldunlike anything elsecoming out at the time, but it also meant that the movie didn’t reach the heights it could have. Fortunately,Underworldfound its fanbase, but it’s spent too many years being overlooked.
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The Golden Compass
The Golden Compass is a fantasy adventure film based on Philip Pullman’s novel. Released in 2007, the film stars Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra Belacqua, who embarks on a journey to the Arctic to rescue her kidnapped friend and uncover a secret involving a substance called Dust. Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig play pivotal roles in this visually captivating adaptation directed by Chris Weitz.
Enough went wrong withThe Golden Compassto make it impossible for the movie to warrant sequels and complete the story of Philip Pullman’s book trilogy. Though the effects aren’t bad for 2007, much of the narrative relies on the interactions between the actors and their animal dæmons, and these moments felt stilted in the film. Additionally,the film wasn’t as incisive in its themes and criticisms of the government and religion within the story’s world,which was likely an attempt to appeal to the widest audience base.
Trying to please all viewers often backfires, and this was the case forThe Golden Compass, which failed to take a concrete stance and so didn’t have strong stakes or conflict.
However, trying to please all viewers often backfires, and this was the case forThe Golden Compass, which failed to take a concrete stance and so didn’t have strong stakes or conflict. The success of films that came out only a few years later but explored similar themes, likeThe Hunger Games, proves thatThe Golden Compasswould have found success with many audience members if it had pushed itself further.Pullman’s classic work of children’s literature later found the right home as the TV seriesHis Dark Materialson HBO, released in 2019.
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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
In The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, teenager Clary Fray discovers she is a Shadowhunter, a human-angel hybrid destined to fight demons. She delves into an underworld of magic and danger when her mother is kidnapped. Teaming up with fellow Shadowhunters Jace, Alec, and Isabelle, Clary embarks on a quest to save her mother and uncover her own hidden past. Amidst battles with dark forces and a journey of self-discovery, Clary learns the true extent of her powers.
Lily Collins might be best known forEmily in Paristoday, but she also starred in the ill-fated film adaptation ofThe Mortal Instruments. Based on the book series by Cassandra Clare,The Mortal Instrumentswas much like other YA fantasy stories but ended up bombing at the box officeand disappointing fans of the novels. In trying to emulate its contemporaries,The Mortal Instrumentslost much of what set the books apart.
City of Bonespremiered during the height of interest in the young adult dystopian genre, with movies likeThe Hunger GamesandTwilightpremiering around the same time. However, even though this seemed like it would be the perfect moment to try and kickstartThe Mortal Instrumentsfranchise,it ended up being poorly compared with the more successful projects.Shadowhunters, the more popular TV series based on the books, ended up being the successor to the failed film. However, there’s been a recent resurgence in YA popularity in the past few years, whichThe Mortal Instrumentscould have capitalized on.
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Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, directed by Chris Columbus, follows a teenager who learns he is the demigod son of Poseidon. Faced with the task of recovering Zeus' stolen lightning, Percy must harness his newfound abilities to avert a catastrophic war among the gods.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thiefwas a massive disappointment for critics and audiences alike, as Rick Riordan’s middle-grade series had significant potential. As soon as it was announced that the characters were going to be aged up and played by older actors instead of kids, it was a sure sign of disaster.The 2010 movie made all the wrong choices and changed the story to be more mature and adult,which isolated the central audience base.
The way the DisneyPercy Jacksonseries has connected with audiences and already surpassed the original film shows that time needed to pass to do Riordan’s story justice.
The way the DisneyPercy Jacksonseries has connected with audiences and already surpassed the original film shows that time needed to pass in order to do Riordan’s story justice. Simultaneously staying true to the essential narrative while making thoughtful updates to make the story and characters more representational of wider audiences,Percy Jacksonis succeeding in almost every avenue. Additionally,in the years since 2010, Riordan’s books have only become more iconic.
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The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Balthazar Blake and and Maxim Horvath are rival sorcerers, hundreds of years old. In modern-day Manhattan, Balthazar fights the forces of evil, while Horvath searches for the person destined to inherit the powers of the mythical Merlin. This turns out to be Dave Stutler, whom Balthazar takes in as a reluctant apprentice to help him stop Horvath from destroying the world.
Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel make an interesting pair inThe Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and their unexpected but dynamic chemistry is a large part of why the movie didn’t completely fade from cultural memory.It follows the tradition of classic sword and sorcery stories but attempts to update themwith a modern setting and more contemporary dialogue and humor.The Sorcerer’s Apprenticewasn’t a failure and had some fun moments, but this hasn’t helped the project hold up today.
The Sorcerer’s Apprenticecame out during a transitional period for fantasy, but overall, the story lacked the worldbuilding and lore to compete with iconic works of cinema. The movie wasn’t quite deft enough in its storytelling to be considered a modernfantasyclassic, and it wasn’t stylized or interesting enough to earn the title of campy or a cult film. IfThe Sorcerer’s Apprenticehad been released in the early 2020s, it would have leaned into the edgier aspects of the story and not tried as hard to make the narrative tongue-in-cheek.
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