After wondrous stories and magical adventures, some fantasy movies leave audiences on a dark note. Some of the best fantasy movies of all time have been family-friendly stories that fans of all ages have enjoyed. However, there are also those dark fantasy movies that show a bleakness under all the fantastical elements.

There are plenty of happy endings in the fantasy genre, with good triumphing over evil and order restored to the world. Of course, sometimes it leaves a lasting impact to have an unsettling and dark movie ending that leaves the audience with more to think about, robbing them of the easy conclusion.

In some cases, these fantasy movies include endings that fit with their more horror-centric tone. In other cases, the dark endings seem to come out of nowhere in the otherwise enjoyable fantasy story. While the movies differ in their impact on the fantasy genre, these endings certainly leave an impression.

10

Krampus (2015)

Directed By Michael Dougherty

There are a lot of Christmas movies with fantasy elements, but Krampus is one of the rare ones that takes it in a dark direction. The movie follows a dysfunctional family on Christmas, with the youngest member, Max, losing his faith in the holiday, leading to them being targeted by the vengeful Krampus.

The movie ends with Max attempting to take back his loss of Christmas spirit. He then wakes on Christmas morning with everything back to normal and his family ready to celebrate the day. However, Max’s first gift is a bell from Krampus, with it being revealed that the family is inside a snow globe in Krampus’ collection.

There have been different interpretations of the end, with some feeling that it simply means Krampus will be keeping an eye on Max and his family. But the more chilling version is that Max and his family are trapped, cursed to live out this twisted version of Christmas forever.

9

Fallen (1998)

Directed By Gregory Hoblit

Fallen is one of Denzel Washington’s most underrated movies and a terrific blend of fantasy-horror and police procedural. Washington stars in the movie as homicide detective John Hobbes, who learns that the copycat killer that he has been chasing is actually a demon who is able to take over any host body it wants.

The demon even taunts the audience in narration for expecting a happy ending.

Hobbes learns that, once the body dies, the demon only has a limited time to find a new host. Therefore, Hobbes leads the demon out into the wilderness, where he is the only host, and poisons himself to ensure the demon dies with him. However, his sacrifice ultimately means nothing as a cat is seen in the forest, giving the demon a new host.

It is a real blow to have this heroic plan fail and for evil to continue on. The demon even taunts the audience in narration for expecting a happy ending. It is especially disturbing as the demon promised Hobbes that it would kill his young nephew next, something it can now do since it is back in the world.

8

Bridge To Terabithia (2007)

Directed By Gábor Csupó

Family-friendly fantasy movies can often be counted on to avoid dark endings. However, Bridge to Terabithia throws audiences for a loop with a sweet kid-centric story that suddenly delivers a devastating twist ending out of nowhere. The movie follows young Jess, an outcast who forms a bond with classmate Leslie, as the two invent their own fantasy world.

Bridge to Terabithia is based on the 1977 novel by Katherine Paterson.

Suddenly, in the climax of the movie, Jess returns to his home to learn that Leslie died in an accident, shattering his young world and filling him with guilt. While the movie ends on a bittersweet note, as Jess invites his younger sister to join him in Terabithia. Even still, it is hard to get over that emotional gut punch.

Especially involving the death of a young child, the tragedy overtakes the entire movie. Rather than being a fun fantasy movie, Bridge to Terabithia is remembered more as an unexpected tearjerker.

7

Time Bandits (1981)

Directed By Terry Gilliam

Time Bandits is a wonderful, weird cult fantasy favorite that has such a strange tone that it is hard to determine if it will end with a happy or dark ending until it arrives. The Terry Gilliam movie follows a young boy, Kevin, who discovers a magical portal in his bedroom, joining a band of dwarf thieves jumping through time.

Taika Waiтιтi made a short-lived Time Bandits TV series.

The movie ends with Kevin back in his bedroom, with the whole thing seeming like a dream. However, his parents then find a magical rock he got on his adventure. Before he can warn them that it is dangerous, they pick it up and suddenly explode, leaving young Kevin all alone.

The suddenness of the moment adds to the absurd humor of the movie, and it comes off less tragic given that his parents were not the kindest people. However, Kevin’s reaction is chilling as he stares at the smoking remains in disbelief and calls out for his mom and dad as the camera slowly pulls away.

6

Being John Malkovich (1999)

Directed By Spike Jonze

Being John Malkovich is a movie that really defies genres, but there are fantasy elements at play that allow this surreal premise to take place. Craig (John Cusack) is an aimless puppeteer who discovers a pᴀssageway that allows him to enter the mind of actor John Malkovich.

There is a sickening feeling in Craig’s fate, bringing to mind the Sunken Place from Get Out.

Through the mind-bending rules of the movie, Craig discovers a way that he is able to inhabit Malkovich’s mind permanently and control him, rather than simply inhabit it for a brief time. However, his plan goes wrong, and he instead enters the mind of his girlfriend’s newborn baby, trapped inside a body he has no control over.

Being John Malkovich is bizarre and completely hilarious with its absurd premise. However, there is a sickening feeling in Craig’s fate, bringing to mind the Sunken Place from Get Out. It is a particularly cruel prison as Craig is forced to watch his ex live a happy life with her new partner.

5

The Green Mile (1999)

Directed By Frank Darabont

The Green Mile is the second Stephen King adaptation set in a prison, but unlike The Shawshank Redemption, it includes fantasy elements that are typical of King’s work. Paul (Tom Hanks) is a prison guard overseeing death row at a prison in the 1930s, where he meets a gentle inmate, John Coffey, with extraordinary abilities.

Stephen King’s novel, The Green Mile, was released in 1996.

In The Green Mile ending, Coffey is not only proven to be innocent of the terrible crime he has been convicted of, but he also reveals he has healing abilities, which he used to save Paul and several others. However, Coffey decides that the evil of the world is too much to bear and accepts his execution.

While that is heartbreaking enough, it is then revealed that Paul has had his life extended due to Coffey’s powers. Now over 100 years old, Paul explains that he has had to outlive all of his loved ones and sees this “gift” as a punishment for allowing Coffey to die.

4

The Green Knight (2021)

Directed By David Lowery

The Green Knight is a brilliant subversion of the Arthurian legends while adapting one of the oldest fantasy stories there is. Gawain (Dev Patel) is a young knight in King Arthur’s court who accepts a challenge from a mysterious and fantastical green knight. Losing the challenge, Gawain must meet the knight in one year to have his head cut off.

Filled with fear and reluctance, Gawain does seek out the knight but flees to avoid his punishment. We then see his life unfold over the years, filled with death, betrayal, and hatred. It is finally revealed that it was all Gawain’s vision, and he decides to accept his fate after all, impressing the green knight.

The ending is meant to show Gawain choosing integrity over ambition and finding peace in the acceptance of his mortality. Nevertheless, it is still implied that he has to go through with that payment and lose his head.

3

The Prestige (2006)

Directed By Christopher Nolan

The Prestige is considered Christopher Nolan’s most underrated movie, and his only experimentation in the fantasy genre as of now. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman lead the story as two rival magicians in the early 1900s whose long-lasting feud turns ᴅᴇᴀᴅly over the years.

The tragedy comes in the two men facing the sacrifices they each made to beat the other.

The Prestige is a brilliant movie about obsession, and that is reflected in the final reveal that shows the level of dedication the two men went through to pull off the same seemingly impossible trick. Borden (Bale) has secretly been twin brothers, trading off roles sporadically. Meanwhile, Angier discovers real magic, cloning himself for each show.

The tragedy comes with the two men facing the sacrifices they each made to beat the other. Borden lost loved ones with his dedication to the lie. Even darker, Angier ensures that one version of himself dies each show so his secret isn’t discovered. However, he admits that he never knows if it will be himself or the clone.

2

The Witch (2016)

Directed By Robert Eggers

Filmmaker Robert Eggers’ career thus far has been filled with grounded and realistic stories filled with fantasy elements. He first started this trend with his debut movie, The Witch, which follows a Puritan family in 17th-century America as they establish a farm only to be haunted by dark forces.

As the tragedies grow, the oldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), is accused of being a witch. After all her siblings die, her parents turn on her, leading to their deaths as well. Now alone, Thomasin decides to give herself over to whatever dark force has forsaken her family. The final image sees her joining the coven of witches in the forest.

The audience shares the frustration of Thomasin throughout the movie as she is unjustly blamed for everything that is happening. However, our desire to see her survive is turned on its head by Eggers, as she embraces the very evil that killed her family.

1

Pan’s Labyrinth (2007)

Directed By Guillermo Del Toro

Guillermo del Toro is known for combining horror and beauty in his fantasy movies, which is reflected in his dark fantasy masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth and its ending. The movie is set in 1940s’ dictatorial Spain, following a young girl, Ofelia, who encounters a faun who insists she is the daughter of the royal family of the magical realm.

It makes for a bittersweet ending, as this kind-hearted child dies, but she at least gets a peaceful end.

The entire movie blends fantasy with the reality of the horrific era, making it unclear if the fantastical elements are happening or part of Ofelia’s imagination. This plays into the ending as Ofelia is brutally sH๏τ by her cruel stepfather, but in her dying moments, she is accepted into the magical realm to take her place among the royal family.

While some have taken it literally, the more popular interpretation is that this is Ofelia’s dying dream. It makes for a bittersweet ending, as this kind-hearted child dies, but she at least gets a peaceful end.