If you’re a massive fan of HBO’s Game of Thrones television series, based on the best-selling books by author George R.R. Martin, you’re not alone. The show is the biggest hit for HBO ever, and is shown in at least 170 countries around the world.
Season five of the epic medieval-fantasy drama only finished recently, but the many months until the next season launches (estimated to be around April 2016) already has many fans wondering how on earth they’ll cope with the wait.
If you’re in the same boat, and missing the show terribly, it might help if you satiate your hunger for fantasy screen time with some movies instead. From decades-old classics to more recent releases, there are plenty of cool flicks that you can stream easily to your TV to keep you amused over the coming months. Read on for just a taste of some of the fun fantasy films you can watch while you wait for season six of Game of Thrones to premiere.
The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’re sure to already be aware that J.R.R. Tolkien’s bestselling fantasy books have been turned into a hit movie franchise, with the first film created by Peter Jackson back in 2001.
While many directors and producers had steered clear of Tolkien’s stories in the past, believing them to be “un-filmable”, Jackson took on the challenge and created some masterpieces that are loved by fans across the globe.
Keen to sit on the couch for an entire weekend? For those needing plenty of screen time, the series certainly delivers. You can watch all three of the epic fantasy adventure films in The Lord of the Rings series, followed by the more recent trilogy based on The Hobbit.
Stardust
If you’re a fan of the work of author Neil Gaiman you might have already read his book Stardust. If not (or even if you have), don’t miss a viewing of the 2007 film of the same name. The movie’s plot follows an innocent and romantic lad’s search for a magical falling star that he believes will help him win the heart of his love.
The tongue-in-cheek fantasy was directed by Matthew Vaughn — well-known for his work on cult action flick Kick Ass — and stars a huge number of famous faces. Keep an eye out for actors Robert De Niro, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais and Rupert Everett, plus the voice of Ian McKellen (as the narrator).
Clash of the Titans
If you’re after a bloodier, more battle-filled flick, check out the 2010 Clash of the Titans (a remake of a 1981 film of the same name). The movie stars Australian star Sam Worthington alongside other well-known actors such as Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.
The storyline is loosely based on Greek myth. In the movie, Perseus (Worthington), the son of Zeus (Neeson), finds himself caught in a war between gods where he tries to save his loved ones from Hades (Fiennes). If you like the 2010 film, also take a look at the 2012 sequel, Wrath of the Titans.
Conan the Barbarian
You might be getting excited about seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger reprise his famous role as the Terminator in the latest movie in that franchise, but long before he became known for lines such as “I’ll be back”, or for being a Governor, Arnie actually starred in the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian.
The classic fantasy/action film sees a barbarian warrior (Schwarzenegger) head off into the world to avenge the death of his parents, who were murdered by an evil sorcerer when he was only young. The movie — which also features popular orator James Earl Jones — grossed over $100 million at box offices across the globe.
Inkheart
If you need to find a family-friendly fantasy/adventure movie to suit both adults and children, you can’t go past Inkheart. The film is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by popular children’s author Cornelia Funke.
The 2006 flick stars Brendan Fraser in the lead role. He plays a father who has the incredible talent of bringing characters to life out of their books. It seems that Fraser was destined to play the role, considering that Funke, the author of the Inkheart novel, actually used him for inspiration for the character and sent him one of the very first copies of her book.
Alice in Wonderland
One of quirky director Tim Burton’s highest-grossing films is the offbeat 2010 fantasy Alice in Wonderland. Starring Johnny Depp, plus young Australian actress Mia Wasikowska in the title role, the movie was loosely based on the classic novel of the same name by C.S. Lewis, and raked in more than $1 billion worldwide. Burton actually created the updated version of the story in order to breathe new life into a tale that he had always struggled to connect with in its novel format.
