It can be difficult for the fantasy genre to translate well to the big screen. Fantasy worlds can be hard to build without a lot of setup time, either in TV or books, but realistic worlds built with some fantastical or magical elements can be a much easier sell, something that translates more readily to the big screen.
This is what the subgenre of magic realism is about. Taking some elements of fantasy or magic and introducing them into the real world as we know it can be difficult, but it is usually much easier for a film with a limited budget to make a work of magic realism instead of an outright fantasy film set in a unique and different world.
7 The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
An extremely well-known take on a partial-fantasy film is The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. About a man born looking like an old man, who gradually appears younger as he ages, the film is mostly realistic apart from the strange malady that Benjamin suffers from.
The romantic side of this film is unique in light of how Benjamin’s life is so different from the norm. David Fincher’s incredible direction and great writing helped win this film three of the thirteen Oscars it was nominated for. The world of Benjamin Button felt like a marginally more magical and weird one than the real one, leaving the film only partially in the realms of fantasy.
6 About Time
Perhaps the greatest example of magical realism in a romantic-comedy, About Time features a young man whose father reveals that all the men in his family can go back in time as often as they like to fix everything and change anything. While they can only go back to places and times in their life, it is still a great power.
However, instead of looking for fame or riches with his newfound capabilities, Tim instead uses his power to look for true love. After missing out on the girl he wanted because “you can’t make somebody love you” he finds the right girl and experiences other wondrous things throughout his lifetime.
5 The Green Mile
Considered one of the greatest films of all time by many, The Green Mile is a 1999 film starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke-Duncan. About a young man named John Coffey brought to death row and scheduled to be executed for horrific crimes, Hanks stars as warden supervisor Paul Edgecomb who begins to suspect that John may have a magical healing ability.
The beautiful film showcases John’s heart and ability to do what many of the characters refer to as miracles in a unique light, and the film has an incredible heart to it as well as a saddening message that the world can be beautiful but isn’t always fair.
4 Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day is an excellent film considered to be the tent pole of the “repeating day” subgenre. Usually comedies, these films feature a character or characters repeating the same day many times, in this case, it was weatherman Bill Murray who would go through Groundhog Day again and again until he had gone almost mad.
Deciding to eventually make the most of this opportunity to become a better man, Murray’s character uses the gift he has to learn new skills, help people wherever possible, and manages to fall in love along the way. Groundhog Day is a wonderful and hilarious film that remains timeless in the face of many films being inspired by it.
3 Edward Scissorhands
Another film about one unusual individual in an otherwise seemingly normal version of the world, Edward Scissorhands is about a young creature who was created by a scientist who died before he could give his creation proper hands. Nevertheless, Edward is loving and kind and is brought to a suburban neighborhood by a woman who lets him stay with her family.
Edward helps out the neighbors and falls for their teenage daughter, but never manages to get his truly happy ending because he is chased away by people who fear him for being different. Despite that, Edward Scissorhands is a memorable and beloved film that is incredibly endearing.
2 Encanto
One of the best cases of an animated film using magic realism, Encanto features the family Madrigal, who lives in a small town and keeps everything there running smoothly by helping the townspeople with their family’s variety of strange gifts.
From controlling animals to super strength, the family appears to be the only unusual one in a fairly realistic world. The harshness of the outside world is kept from the Madrigals and their village due to the huge mountains and their gifts helping get everything done that needs to be. While it seems overly magical, the real world and real events still took place, making it a magical realism world.
1 The Princess Bride
It is also possible for magic realism movies to be set in fantasy lands, such as Florin where the story of The Princess Bride takes place. Despite having sword fights and many things commonly found in fantasy tales, there is no magic throughout the film except for the strange large rodents found in the fire swamp and Miracle Max’s ability to create miracles commercially.
The epic romance of Wesley and Buttercup and their adventures, though fascinating and strange, is purely possible in the strictest sort of sense. The fantastical elements are limited enough that The Princess Bride remains magic realism, and one of the best films of all time as considered by many.