10 Greatest Fantasy Movie Characters of the Last 100 Years, Ranked

Fantasy has always been one of the most prolific genres, and a crucial tool for humanity's storytelling. There's something undeniably timeless and universally appealing about these tales of magic, vast fictional worlds, and mythical creatures, allowing several of the greatest films of all time to be fantasy movies. But of course, a movie can only be as good as its characters, and fantasy films are no exception.

Over the last 100 years, there have been several great fantasy movie characters. From the iconic to the complex and from the endearing to the intimidating, these are all phenomenal cinematic figures for many different reasons. This list will rank the best fantasy characters over the last hundred years of cinema, the many faces of magic that prove that the genre is far and away one of the most diverse of all.

10 Totoro - 'My Neighbor Totoro' (1988)

Founded in 1985, Studio Ghibli is nowadays deservedly known as not only the leading studio in anime filmmaking, but one of the greatest animation studios in general. Their filmography is packed with iconic movies and equally iconic characters, but none more than the creature that's served as Ghibli's mascot and poster boy since 1991: Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro.

In fantasy, you don't judge a book by its cover; even the biggest and meanest-looking of monsters can be a cinnamon roll deep down, and there's no better example of that than Totoro. This big bundle of childhood wonder and imagination is an embodiment of the themes of nature and magic that fill Hayao Miyazaki's body of work, and he's one of the main reasons why this is one of the most amazing international family films.

9 The Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) - 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

Cynthia Erivo did a phenomenal job of bringing Elphaba to life, beautifully exploring an alternate version of one of cinema's most iconic villains, but there's no beating the original. Margaret Hamilton and her Wicked Witch of the West are a huge reason why The Wizard of Oz still works as well as ever, almost nine decades later.

The Wicked Witch is one of the best movie villains of all time, a reminder of why old-school bad guys who are evil just for the sake of being evil still work. There's nothing wrong with a villain that has a tragic backstory and relatable motivations, but these Hero's Journey kind of stories and moustache-twirling antagonists like the Wicked Witch are the kinds of villains that stand the test of time centuries later.

8 Jareth the Goblin King (David Bowie) - 'Labyrinth' (1986)

How do you ensure that your '80s musical becomes one of the decade's most beloved cult classics and biggest family films? You cast the legendary David Bowie, of course! Labyrinth is a fantastic musical in its own right, armed with some awesome puppets and stunning visual effects, but Bowie will forever remain the number-one reason to check this one out.

It's one of the best dark family movies ever, and a big reason why is Bowie's Jareth the Goblin King. He's actually much more of an antagonist than a villain, far more mischievous than he is downright evil. Jareth is nevertheless a fantastic character, serving as a perfect catalyst for the protagonist's growth while enchanting the audience with Bowie's natural charisma.

7 Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) - 'The Princess Bride' (1987)

The Princess Bride is one of the most perfect family movies of the '80s, a delightful fantasy extravaganza that perfectly captures the charm and magic of the genre in a brilliantly meta story that hasn't aged a day. It's packed with memorable characters played by one of the decade's most endearing casts, but Inigo Montoya is the one who stands out the most.

Played by Mandy Patinkin, Inigo is not only hugely quotable but also the Princess Bride character with the most complete and compelling arc. His quest for revenge is easy to sympathize with, and his code of honor makes him all the more interesting, a hero of unwavering loyalty who often acts as the heart and soul of the whole film.

6 John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) - 'The Green Mile' (1999)

There are many great non-horror movies based on Stephen King stories, and Frank Darabont's The Green Mile is easily one of the best. This fantasy epic is one of the most unforgettable dramas in movie history, a beautiful tale of justice and compassion anchored by Michael Clarke Duncan's legendary performance as John Coffey.

John's fantastical powers are the whole reason The Green Mile is a fantasy movie, but it's his unwavering strength of spirit and beautifully soft heart that really make him such a great character. He's the embodiment of pure, unadulterated, childlike innocence and compassion, a Christ-like figure that symbolizes goodness in an unjust world. If The Green Mile hits as hard as it does, it's because John is such a beautifully constructed character.

5 Shrek (Mike Myers) - 'Shrek' Franchise (2001-Present)

It's not just the memes that make him iconic: Shrek is genuinely one of the best animated characters ever created for cinema, just as Shrek is genuinely one of the best animated movie franchises ever. He is the kind of fantasy character that everyone knows, a protagonist that works flawlessly on every level that matters: comedically, dramatically, and as the eyes through which the audience sees this enchanting world.

Indeed, Shrek can be hilarious, largely thanks to Mike Myers' legendary voice performance. But it's the franchise's exploration of Shrek's tender arc of self-love, acceptance, and learning how to be a husband and a father that really makes him so endearing. He's a deceivingly complex and—yes—layered character, and there's a reason he's so iconic.

4 Gollum / Sméagol (Andy Serkis) — 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy (2001-2003)

For a long time, fans believed that J.R.R. Tolkien's Legendarium couldn't possibly be turned into movies that fully lived up to the legacy of the author's legendary work of epic fantasy literature. As soon as Peter Jackson came into the picture with his Lord of the Rings movies, however, audiences around the world knew that they were witnessing one of the greatest fantasy movie franchises in history.

These are the kinds of fantasy movies that deliver everything you could want, which includes too many compelling and well-written characters to count. There's one in particular, however, that stands out as the most compelling and mysterious; one so complex that they needed revolutionary motion capture technology in order to allow Andy Serkis to fully embody the character's nuances. Gollum is The Lord of the Rings trilogy's best character, and that automatically makes him one of the best fantasy movie characters ever.

3 Mary Poppins — 'Mary Poppins' (1964)

Admirably, it was Julie Andrews' movie debut that earned her her first Academy Award nomination and win, when she played the titular magical nanny in Mary Poppins. It's a character shrouded in mystery whose backstory is entirely unknown to viewers, and whose motivation is always kept simple enough: To teach children lessons through the magic of the everyday.

This delightful charmer is one of the best fantasy masterpieces of the 20th century, and Mary Poppins is one of the era's most beloved cinematic icons. Andrews captures the character's perfection without ever making her boring, channeling her love for order, balance, and discipline beautifully. Mary Poppins is the nanny that everyone would have loved to have during their childhood.

2 Willy Wonka — 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' (1971)

Timothée Chalamet's version is great, and there's something about Johnny Depp's divisive take on the character that's irresistibly engaging, but in the case of Willy Wonka, there's no beating the original. Gene Wilder is the definitive version of the chocolate-maker, and Mel Stuart's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is the definitive adaptation of Roald Dahl's story.

Largely thanks to Wilder delivering one of the best and most entertaining performances in the history of the genre, this version of Wonka is one big bundle of whimsical charm and mysterious darkness. He's perhaps the main reason why this is one of the most universally loved fantasy movies ever, and even if his factory's following of labor laws could do with a good audit, he's nevertheless one of fantasy's most delightfully fun characters.

1 George Bailey — 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1946)

Frank Capra was a filmmaker far ahead of his time throughout his entire career, and It's a Wonderful Life and its study of men's mental health in the post-WWII period was every bit as groundbreaking. The movie wouldn't work half as well as it does without James Stewart and his deeply moving portrayal of George Bailey, the greatest fantasy movie character of the last 100 years.

It's a Wonderful Life is one of the best family movies of all time, and that's in big part because George is such an engaging character. In a little over two hours, the audience watches him go through the entire spectrum of human emotion, culminating in one of the most touching third acts of any fantasy film. Loveable, complex, and a delight to follow around, George Bailey is the king of fantasy movie characters.