2001 Hit Film Ranked the 'Best Fantasy Movie' of All Time

Nicole MooreFri, May 1, 2026 at 3:34 AM UTC

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Throughout the history of cinema, audiences have flocked to fantasy films to be dazzled, enthralled, and take a break from mundanity. TimeOut highlighted the most beloved films from the genre by releasing a list of the "top 50 best fantasy movies of all time."

The list, which was in April 2026, featured hits like The NeverEndingStory from 1984, 1987's The Princess Bride, 1986's Labyrinth, Pan's Labyrinthfrom 2006, The Wizard of Oz from 1939, and Dark Crystal, released in 1982. The top five ranking included La Belle et la Bête from 1946, 2001's Spirited Away, Ugetsu Monogatari from 1953, and 1933's King Kong.

The first movie from Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings franchise, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), secured the list's top spot.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring has a score of 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 92 on Metacritic.

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Elijah Wood Opened up About Auditioning for Frodo Baggins

Elijah Woodfamously starred as the courageous Hobbit Frodo Baggins in the film franchise, adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved book series. In a 2025 interview on the Inside of You podcast, Wood, who started out as a child actor, said he wanted to be a part of the Lord of the Rings cast because he's a major fan of Jackson's 1994 film, Heavenly Creatures.

Wood said that he decided to film a self-tape audition, wherein he wore a Hobbit-like costume. In addition, the actor said that he hired a dialect coach to perfect Frodo's British accent. Wood said after he sent in the tape to Jackson's offices in London, he got an in-person callback.

In an interview regarding The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Jackson discussed Wood's self-tape audition. He explained that he had originally envisioned the iconic Hobbit being played by an English actor. However, those who auditioned to play Frodo didn't have the magical quality needed for the role.

Eventually, Jackson was presented with Wood's audition tape, which was on a VHS. The director said he knew Wood had previously starred in films, but had never seen any of his work. Jackson said once he watched the American actor's tape, he thought he was wonderful and a perfect Frodo.

This story was originally published by Parade on May 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”