Fairy Tales that Don't Suck
by badscene | created - 07 Nov 2016 | updated - 1 month ago | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Cinderella (1950)
G | 74 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
When Cinderella's cruel stepmother prevents her from attending the Royal Ball, she gets some unexpected help from the lovable mice Gus and Jaq and from her Fairy Godmother.
Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske | Stars: Ilene Woods, James MacDonald, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton
Votes: 173,924 | Gross: $85.00M
The essential.
2. Donkey Skin (1970)
91 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Musical
A fairy godmother helps a princess disguise and flee the kingdom so she won't have to marry the king who happens to be her father.
Director: Jacques Demy | Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Jean Marais, Jacques Perrin, Micheline Presle
Votes: 6,354
Charming french adaptation of the classic Perrault fairy tale about incest, fairy godmothers and a dead donkey.
3. Snow White Live (1980 TV Movie)
90 min | Family
The classic Disney animated feature is performed as a live stage show at the Radio City Music Hall.
Director: Kirk Browning | Stars: Mary Jo Salerno, Richard Bowne, Thomas Ruisinger, Bruce Sherman
Votes: 58
If you can find this, you should definitely watch it. When I was growing up, this is what I knew as Disney Snow White. 1000x superior to the cartoon. The casting is perfect, the sets are unreal, and the story is padded out and characters added where they need to be to keep it interesting for it's runtime. Luna!
4. The Last Unicorn (1982)
G | 92 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
A beautiful unicorn sets out to learn if she truly is the last of her kind in this sparkling animated musical.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury, Alan Arkin
Votes: 29,533 | Gross: $6.46M
This is what I would put on at 2 in the morning if I wanted something to fall asleep to. 80's animated bliss.
5. Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1987)
50 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
A miscellany of numerous classic fairy tales' adaptations.
Stars: Shelley Duvall, John Achorn, Patrick DeSantis, David McCharen
Votes: 2,519
80's crack. Anthology series starring just about every star you can think of: ie Robin Williams, Vincent Price, Mick Jagger, Pee-Wee Herman. Every episode is a different fairy tale ranging from the well known and innocuous to the dark, scary and obscure. Also Tim Burton and Francis Ford Coppola both directed episodes, so yeah, cred!
6. The NeverEnding Story (1984)
PG | 102 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
A troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.
Director: Wolfgang Petersen | Stars: Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach, Gerald McRaney
Votes: 156,929 | Gross: $20.16M
A 20th century fairy tale that ranks up there with best. 80's fantasy classic.
7. Legend (1985)
PG | 94 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
A young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, Tim Curry, David Bennent
Votes: 72,473 | Gross: $15.50M
Visually stunning original fairy tale from Ridley Scott, featuring Tom Cruise, unicorns, fairy woodland nymphs, goblins, and Tim Curry as the greatest portrayal of Satan in the history of film.
8. Snow White (1987)
PG | 85 min | Family, Fantasy, Musical
The ageless tale of a beautiful young princess whose jealous stepmother orders her killed so that she will be 'the fairest in the land.' When the huntsman takes pity on her, he takes her to the house of the seven dwarfs.
Director: Michael Berz | Stars: Diana Rigg, Billy Barty, Sarah Patterson, Nicola Stapleton
Votes: 941
By far, the raddest Snow White adaptation. Snow White done 80's dark fantasy style in the vein of Return to Oz and Labyrinth.
9. The Princess Bride (1987)
PG | 98 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
A bedridden boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.
Director: Rob Reiner | Stars: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon
Votes: 450,907 | Gross: $30.86M
10. Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics (1987–1989)
30 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
An animated series retelling a different folk or fairy tale in each episode.
Stars: Theodore Lehmann, Mitsuko Horie, Ichirô Nagai, Shigeru Chiba
Votes: 447
AKA Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics on early Nickelodeon.
11. The Little Mermaid (1989)
G | 83 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain in an attempt to become human and win a prince's love.
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker | Stars: Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Rene Auberjonois, Christopher Daniel Barnes
Votes: 290,945 | Gross: $111.54M
Best animated film of all time.
12. Aladdin (1992)
G | 90 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker | Stars: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman
Votes: 466,786 | Gross: $217.35M
A classic.
13. Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)
R | 100 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Horror
In this dark take on the fairy tale, the growing hatred of a noblewoman, secretly a practitioner of the dark arts, for her stepdaughter, and the witch's horrifying attempts to kill her.
Director: Michael Cohn | Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill, Gil Bellows, Taryn Davis
Votes: 11,373
One of the best horror films of the 90's. Sigourney Weaver is so good in this.
14. Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)
PG-13 | 121 min | Drama, Romance
The Brothers Grimm arrive at the home of a wealthy Grande Dame who speaks of the many legends surrounding the fable of the cinder girl before telling the "true" story of her ancestor.
Director: Andy Tennant | Stars: Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey
Votes: 81,731 | Gross: $65.71M
90's classic.
15. Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
PG-13 | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Biography
In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.
Director: Rupert Sanders | Stars: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Sam Claflin
Votes: 302,397 | Gross: $155.33M
Underrated throwback to dark 80's fantasy conventions.
16. Time Bandits (1981)
PG | 110 min | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
A young boy accidentally joins a band of time travelling dwarves, as they jump from era to era looking for treasure to steal.
Director: Terry Gilliam | Stars: Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, John Cleese, Katherine Helmond
Votes: 68,341 | Gross: $42.37M
Terry Gilliam classic about a boy who is whisked out of his london bed by a gang of rowdy thieving time traveling dwarves, who take him on a ride through history, fairy tale lands, and the inter dimensional void.
17. Peter Pan (1960 TV Movie)
100 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
In this magical tale about the boy who refuses to grow up, Peter Pan and his mischievous fairy sidekick Tinkerbell visit the nursery of Wendy, Michael, and John Darling.
Director: Vincent J. Donehue | Stars: Mary Martin, Cyril Ritchard, Lynn Fontanne, Maureen Bailey
Votes: 2,343
18. Hook (1991)
PG | 142 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
When Captain James Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins
Votes: 273,219 | Gross: $119.65M
19. Finding Neverland (2004)
PG | 106 min | Biography, Drama, Family
The story of Sir J.M. Barrie's friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan.
Director: Marc Forster | Stars: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Radha Mitchell
Votes: 212,038 | Gross: $51.68M
20. Alice (1988)
Not Rated | 86 min | Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
A surrealistic revision of Alice in Wonderland.
Director: Jan Svankmajer | Stars: Kristýna Kohoutová, Camilla Power
Votes: 13,985
21. The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (1988)
Unrated | 29 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
Four kids travel to the magical land of Narnia where they must battle an evil queen with the direction of the lion, Aslan.
Stars: Richard Dempsey, Sophie Cook, Jonathan R. Scott, Sophie Wilcox
Votes: 6,501
22. A Monster Calls (2016)
PG-13 | 108 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
Conor, a twelve-year-old boy, encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school.
Director: J.A. Bayona | Stars: Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell
Votes: 93,823 | Gross: $3.74M
23. Penelope (2006)
PG | 104 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
A modern romantic tale about a young aristocratic heiress born under a curse that can only be broken when she finds true love with "one who will accept her as one of their own."
Director: Mark Palansky | Stars: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon, Richard E. Grant
Votes: 66,212 | Gross: $10.01M
24. The Glass Slipper (1955)
Unrated | 93 min | Family, Fantasy, Musical
Tomboyish outcast "Cinder" Ella and the duke's charming son Charles fall in love in this comedic rendition of the classic fairy tale.
Director: Charles Walters | Stars: Leslie Caron, Michael Wilding, Keenan Wynn, Estelle Winwood
Votes: 1,590 | Gross: $2.97M
25. The Storyteller (1987–1989)
TV-Y7 | 24 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
An old storyteller tells European folk tales to his sarcastic dog.
Stars: John Hurt, Brian Henson, Frederick Warder, David Greenaway
Votes: 4,998
26. Alice in Wonderland (II) (1985)
TV-PG | 94 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Alice is in Looking Glass Land, where she meets many creatures and attempts to avoid the Jabberwocky (Tom McLoughlin), a monster that appears due to her being afraid.
Stars: Natalie Gregory, Sheila Allen, Red Buttons, Anthony Newley
Votes: 3,341
27. Hansel and Gretel (1987)
G | 84 min | Family, Fantasy, Musical
After being told to leave their home by their mother, Hansel and Gretel wrongly walk into the 'North woods' were they discover a delicious gingerbread house. Unbeknown to them it's a witch that lives there.
Director: Len Talan | Stars: David Warner, Hugh Pollard, Nicola Stapleton, Emily Richard
Votes: 1,407
28. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
G | 75 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
After being snubbed by the royal family, a malevolent fairy places a curse on a princess which only a prince can break, along with the help of three good fairies.
Directors: Les Clark, Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske | Stars: Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton
Votes: 160,860 | Gross: $51.60M
29. The People Under the Stairs (1991)
R | 102 min | Comedy, Horror, Mystery
Two adults and a juvenile break into a house occupied by a brother and sister and their stolen children. There, they must fight for their lives.
Director: Wes Craven | Stars: Brandon Quintin Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie, A.J. Langer
Votes: 39,651 | Gross: $24.20M
30. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)
PG | 137 min | Animation, Drama, Family
Kaguya is a beautiful young woman coveted by five nobles. To try to avoid marrying a stranger she doesn't love, she sends her suitors on seemingly impossible tasks. But she will have to face her fate and punishment for her choices.
Director: Isao Takahata | Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, James Marsden
Votes: 53,992 | Gross: $1.51M
31. The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
G | 94 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
The Clock family are four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family's residence, borrowing simple items to make their home. Life changes for the Clocks when their teenage daughter Arrietty is discovered.
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi | Stars: Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Mirai Shida
Votes: 104,349 | Gross: $19.20M
32. Ponyo (2008)
G | 101 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki | Stars: Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Tomoko Yamaguchi
Votes: 163,454 | Gross: $15.09M
33. Spirited Away (2001)
PG | 125 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki | Stars: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Miyu Irino, Rumi Hiiragi
Votes: 849,211 | Gross: $10.06M
34. Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017)
PG | 103 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Based on "The Little Broomstick" by Mary Stewart, a strange flower grants a girl magic powers.
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi | Stars: Hana Sugisaki, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Yûki Amami, Fumiyo Kohinata
Votes: 16,161 | Gross: $2.42M
35. The Hobbit (1977 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 90 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
A homebody hobbit in Middle Earth gets talked into joining a quest with a group of dwarves to recover their treasure from a dragon.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Orson Bean, John Huston, Theodore Gottlieb, Cyril Ritchard
Votes: 16,345
36. The Dark Crystal (1982)
PG | 93 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, and to restore order to his world.
Directors: Jim Henson, Frank Oz | Stars: Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz
Votes: 71,451 | Gross: $40.58M
37. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
TV-PG | 507 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Return to the world of Thra, where three Gelfling discover the horrifying secret behind the Skeksis' power, and set out to ignite the fires of rebellion and save their world.
Stars: Neil Sterenberg, Beccy Henderson, Nathalie Emmanuel, Taron Egerton
Votes: 27,132
38. Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968)
Not Rated | 82 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A boy with a mythical sword wants to protect a Norse village from an evil ice wizard and his minions, who destroyed his family's village. However, the villagers don't fully trust him and a mysterious girl with a dark secret befriends him.
Director: Isao Takahata | Stars: Mikijirô Hira, Etsuko Ichihara, Eijirô Tôno, Masao Mishima
Votes: 2,501
39. The Hunchback Horse (1947)
57 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Adventures of Ivan the Fool and humpbacked horse in the world of kind magical creatures and cruel people.
Directors: Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaya, Viktor Gromov, Ivan Ivanov-Vano | Stars: Georgi Chernovolenko, Alik Kachanov, Anatoliy Kubatskiy, Georgiy Millyar
Votes: 1,149
40. The Snow Queen (1957)
Unrated | 74 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
When the Snow Queen, a lonely and powerful fairy, kidnaps the human boy Kay, his best friend Gerda must overcome many obstacles on her journey to rescue him.
Director: Lev Atamanov | Stars: Vladimir Gribkov, Yanina Zheymo, Anna Komolova, Mariya Babanova
Votes: 3,023
41. Onward (I) (2020)
PG | 102 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
In a magical world full of technological advances, elven brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot set out on an adventure to resurrect their late father for a day.
Director: Dan Scanlon | Stars: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer
Votes: 169,970 | Gross: $61.56M
42. The Prince and the Pauper (1962)
TV-PG | 93 min | Adventure
Two boys, one a prince and one a poor boy, change places.
Director: Don Chaffey | Stars: Guy Williams, Laurence Naismith, Donald Houston, Sean Scully
Votes: 413
43. Mirrormask (2005)
PG | 101 min | Drama, Fantasy
In a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a fifteen-year-old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.
Director: Dave McKean | Stars: Stephanie Leonidas, Jason Barry, Rob Brydon, Gina McKee
Votes: 23,670 | Gross: $0.86M
44. The Snow Queen (2005 TV Movie)
56 min | Family, Fantasy
Gerda sets out on a magical journey to find her best friend, Kay who has been taken by the Snow Queen.
Director: Julian Gibbs | Stars: Pax Baldwin, Sydney White, Juliet Stevenson, Tiffany Amber Knight
Votes: 439
45. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)
PG | 117 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A father's wish magically brings a wooden boy to life in Italy, giving him a chance to care for the child.
Directors: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson | Stars: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Burn Gorman
Votes: 113,045
46. Alice in Wonderland (1999 TV Movie)
PG | 150 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Alice falls down a rabbit hole, and finds herself in Wonderland, a fantasy land of strange characters and ideas.
Director: Nick Willing | Stars: Tina Majorino, Whoopi Goldberg, Robbie Coltrane, Ben Kingsley
Votes: 8,857
47. The Daydreamer (1966)
Unrated | 101 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
An anthology of fairytales by Hans Christian Andersen: "The Little Mermaid", "The Emperor's New Clothes", "Thumbelina", and "The Garden of Paradise".
Director: Jules Bass | Stars: Tallulah Bankhead, Victor Borge, Patty Duke, Jack Gilford
Votes: 458
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