- The Dark Crystal (1982)
- Labyrinth (1986)
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
- The Golden Compass (2007)
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
- The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007)
- Stardust (2007)
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)
- The Last Witch Hunter (2015)
If you loved the magical world of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' (2007), you're in for a treat! This article explores 10 movies and shows that capture the same enchanting mix of adventure, friendship, and dark forces. Whether you're craving more wizardry or thrilling coming-of-age tales, these picks will keep you spellbound.

The Dark Crystal (1982)
Description: A groundbreaking fantasy film featuring intricate puppet work and a richly imagined world where a young hero must fulfill an ancient prophecy to restore balance to his realm.
Fact: All characters in the film were portrayed by puppets - no humans appear on screen. The production used over 100 puppets, with some requiring multiple puppeteers to operate.


Labyrinth (1986)
Description: A fantastical journey through a magical maze filled with strange creatures, where a teenage girl must solve puzzles and overcome challenges to rescue her brother.
Fact: The film's famous Escher-inspired staircase sequence took over a week to film and required precise choreography as the set was built at multiple angles to create the illusion.


The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Description: Features a young protagonist discovering a hidden magical world, battling dark forces, and uncovering their own destiny. The film blends fantasy, adventure, and coming-of-age themes.
Fact: The movie was filmed in New Zealand, the same country where the Lord of the Rings trilogy was shot. The White Witch's castle was built entirely out of polystyrene to create the icy effect.


The Golden Compass (2007)
Description: Follows a young girl on a quest in a parallel universe filled with magical elements, talking animals, and a battle against oppressive forces. The narrative explores themes of destiny and rebellion.
Fact: The film's daemons (animal companions representing human souls) were created using a combination of CGI and live animals. The production used over 40 different animal species for reference.


The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Description: Revolves around siblings who uncover a hidden world of fairies and magical creatures in their new home. The story involves a secret book of knowledge and a battle against dark forces.
Fact: The film's production designer created over 3,000 detailed drawings of the fantastical creatures before finalizing their designs. The movie was shot in Montreal, Canada.


The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007)
Description: Follows a boy who learns he's the last of an ancient order of warriors destined to battle the forces of darkness. The story blends Arthurian legend with contemporary settings.
Fact: The production filmed during an unusually warm winter in Romania, requiring artificial snow machines to create the proper wintry atmosphere for key scenes.


Stardust (2007)
Description: A whimsical fantasy adventure about a young man crossing into a magical realm to retrieve a fallen star, encountering witches, pirates, and enchanted objects along the way.
Fact: Neil Gaiman originally wrote Stardust as a prose novel with illustrations, intending it to be a modern fairy tale for adults. The film features a cameo by the author as a market trader.


Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
Description: Centers on a young hero who learns about his extraordinary heritage and must navigate a world of mythological creatures and gods. The story combines modern settings with ancient mythology.
Fact: Author Rick Riordan came up with the Percy Jackson stories while telling bedtime stories to his son, who has ADHD and dyslexia, traits shared by the protagonist.


The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)
Description: Features a young man discovering his latent magical abilities and being trained by a master sorcerer to battle dark forces. The story combines modern New York City with ancient magical traditions.
Fact: The film includes a direct homage to the famous animated broom sequence from Disney's Fantasia (1940), which was also based on the same Goethe poem that inspired this movie.


The Last Witch Hunter (2015)
Description: Centers on an immortal warrior battling supernatural threats in modern times while uncovering secrets from his past. The film combines ancient magic with contemporary urban settings.
Fact: The production team created an entirely new fictional language called 'Witchspeak' for the film, which was developed by a professional linguist.
