Magical Movies to Watch If You Loved Harry Potter

Description: A boy is drawn into a magical book where he becomes part of a quest to save a fantasy world from destruction, featuring iconic creatures and a timeless battle between hope and despair.

Fact: The film used one of the largest indoor sets ever built at the time for the Ivory Tower scenes. Falkor the luckdragon was operated by multiple puppeteers to create his lifelike movements.

Description: A teenage girl must navigate a fantastical maze to rescue her baby brother from the Goblin King, filled with quirky creatures, musical numbers, and a blend of danger and whimsy.

Fact: David Bowie's tight pants in the film were so restrictive that he needed help from the costume department to move in them. The film's puppetry was created by Jim Henson's workshop, known for the Muppets.

Description: Features a magical world hidden within an ordinary setting, where children embark on a grand adventure filled with mythical creatures and a battle between good and evil.

Fact: The film was shot in New Zealand, the same country where the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed. The White Witch's castle was built entirely from polystyrene to create its icy appearance.

Description: A young girl's journey through parallel worlds, featuring talking animals, witches, and a mysterious substance called Dust, with themes of destiny and rebellion.

Fact: The film's daemons (animal companions) were created using a mix of CGI and animatronics. The book's author, Philip Pullman, has stated that the story was partly inspired by John Milton's 'Paradise Lost.'

Description: A touching story of two children who create an imaginary kingdom to escape their real-world struggles, blending heartfelt drama with elements of fantasy.

Fact: The author, Katherine Paterson, wrote the book after her son's friend died in a lightning strike. The film's young actors did most of their own stunts, including climbing trees and running through the woods.

Description: Follows siblings who uncover a hidden world of fairies and magical creatures after moving into an old family estate, blending family drama with fantasy elements.

Fact: The book series was written by a duo of authors, Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, who collaborated closely on both the story and illustrations. The film combined live-action with CGI to bring the fantastical creatures to life.

Description: A whimsical fantasy adventure involving a young man crossing into a magical realm to retrieve a fallen star, encountering witches, pirates, and enchanted objects along the way.

Fact: The film's script went through multiple rewrites over a decade before production began. The wall separating the magical kingdom from the human world was inspired by a real location in the UK.

Description: Centers on a young protagonist discovering his hidden magical heritage and embarking on a quest filled with mythological creatures and gods, blending modern settings with ancient legends.

Fact: The author of the book series, Rick Riordan, initially created the story as a bedtime tale for his son who has ADHD and dyslexia, traits he gave to Percy Jackson.

Description: A modern-day fantasy where a young man learns he is destined to become a powerful sorcerer, featuring magical duels, enchanted artifacts, and a hidden magical society.

Fact: The film includes a scene inspired by the animated 'Fantasia' segment where Mickey Mouse battles enchanted brooms. The dragon statue in the film was a real prop weighing over 1,000 pounds.

Description: A young girl travels through time and space to rescue her father, encountering celestial beings and surreal landscapes in a story that blends science fiction with fantasy.

Fact: This was the first live-action film with a $100 million budget directed by a woman of color, Ava DuVernay. The book was rejected by 26 publishers before finally being accepted.