10 Movies Like The Secret Kingdom (1998)

Description: This dark fantasy follows a young Gelfling on a quest to restore balance to his fractured world by finding a missing crystal shard. The intricate puppet work, otherworldly setting, and themes of prophecy and heroism create a deeply immersive experience.

Fact: All characters are puppets - no humans appear in the film. The production used over 100 puppets, some requiring multiple puppeteers to operate.

Description: A young boy escapes into a magical book, discovering a fantastical world where he becomes part of an epic quest to save a realm from destruction. The blend of adventure, mythical creatures, and a child's journey into a hidden kingdom creates a captivating parallel.

Fact: The film's iconic theme song was performed by Limahl, former lead singer of Kajagoogoo. The movie was shot in Germany and features one of the most expensive puppets ever made at the time, the luckdragon Falkor.

Description: A teenage girl must navigate a surreal maze filled with bizarre creatures to rescue her baby brother from the Goblin King. The film's dreamlike setting, riddles, and themes of self-discovery mirror the enchanting and perilous journey of a hidden world.

Fact: David Bowie's tight pants in the film were so restrictive that he couldn't sit down between takes. The famous 'Dance Magic Dance' sequence took over 16 hours to film.

Description: This fairy tale adventure combines romance, sword fights, and fantastical elements as a young man battles obstacles to rescue his true love. The story's framing device, whimsical tone, and blend of humor with adventure create a similarly enchanting experience.

Fact: Andre the Giant could only say his lines phonetically as he didn't speak English fluently. Mandy Patinkin ad-libbed his famous line 'Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya.'

Description: A reluctant dwarf farmer becomes an unlikely hero when he's tasked with protecting a special baby from an evil queen. The mix of high fantasy, magical elements, and an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances shares thematic similarities.

Fact: George Lucas conceived the story while working on Star Wars. Warwick Davis was only 17 years old when cast in the lead role.

Description: Siblings stumble through a wardrobe into a frozen magical land where they must help overthrow an evil queen. The portal fantasy premise, talking animals, and children becoming heroes in a hidden realm make this a clear thematic cousin.

Fact: Tilda Swinton's White Witch costume took over 30 minutes to put on each day. The filmmakers used 60 different artificial trees that could move to create the melting winter effect.

Description: Two lonely children create an imaginary kingdom in the woods where they reign as monarchs. While more grounded in reality, the film captures the transformative power of childhood imagination and the creation of private magical worlds.

Fact: Author Katherine Paterson based the story on her son's real childhood friend who died after being struck by lightning. The filmmakers auditioned over 1,000 children for the two lead roles.

Description: Siblings discover a hidden world of fairies and creatures when they move into an old family estate. The story's focus on children uncovering magical secrets in their own backyard creates a similar sense of wonder and discovery.

Fact: The field guide featured in the film was actually published as a real book. Over 2,000 visual effects shots were used to bring the fantasy creatures to life.

Description: A young man crosses into a magical realm to retrieve a fallen star for his beloved, discovering a world of witches, sky pirates, and royal intrigue. The film's balance of wonder, danger, and coming-of-age themes offers a comparable magical journey.

Fact: Robert De Niro's flamboyant sky pirate character was completely different from his usual roles. The wall separating the magical kingdom from the real world was built across three different countries.

Description: A lonely boy discovers a mysterious egg that hatches into a mythical water creature. Set against the backdrop of WWII, the film blends historical elements with childhood wonder and the secret nurturing of a magical being.

Fact: The water horse effects were created by the same team that worked on The Lord of the Rings. The story is based on a Scottish legend about the Loch Ness Monster.