This article contains mention of violence, sexual situations, and self-harm.
Fantasy movies are often perceived as being for younger audiences, but the best R-rated magical films push beyond this conception. These dark and gritty projects are for older viewers and attempt to connect with this target audience by including more intense writing and performances. Since fantasy is a broad genre, the movies that fall within it can deal with magic, mystical creatures, fairy tales, and additional story elements that take audiences to otherworldly places. It’s important within fantasy films that take on dark topics for the worldbuilding to be just as effective as any other addition to the genre.
Movies with an R-rating used to have a harsher reputation before today, as more films and projects fall into this category than ever.
Movies with an R-rating used to have a harsher reputation before today, as more films and projects fall into this category than ever. Plenty of live-action dark fantasy TV shows have taken the TV sphere by storm, but for a long time, movies were the only place where graphic depictions of sensitive material could exist. A film doesn’t necessarily have to be overly violent or sexual to earn an R-rating, as fear, language, and other elements factor into how it’s rated. However, many films still incorporate these aspects while balancing them with a strong script and moving story.
10 Underworld (2003)
Directed by Len Wiseman
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Underworld is a 2003 action-horror film directed by Len Wiseman. The plot revolves around Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire warrior caught in a centuries-old conflict between vampires and Lycans, a race of werewolves. As she delves deeper into the ongoing war, Selene uncovers hidden truths that challenge her allegiance and perception of both factions. The film features a dark, gothic aesthetic and blends elements of horror and thriller genres.
Director Len Wiseman Release Date September 19, 2003 Studio(s) Screen Gems , Lakeshore Entertainment , Laurinfilm , Subterranean Productions LLC , Subterranean Productions UK Ltd. , Underworld Produktions GmbH Cast Kate Beckinsale , Scott Speedman , Michael Sheen , Shane Brolly , Bill Nighy Runtime 122 Minutes Writers Danny McBride Expand
Kate Beckinsale plays a stone-cold vampire assassin in the cult classic Underworld, which follows a centuries-old rivalry and hatred between vampires and werewolves. Though it was critically panned at its release in 2003, Underworld still garnered a few sequels and has carved out a place for itself in the history of vampire stories. One of the most memorable parts of Underworld is the cohesive stylization and moody lighting that lend themselves to the overall atmosphere of the project.
Her fight sequences are well-choreographed, and
Underworld
has enough blood and gore to unsettle even the least squeamish viewer.
Beckinsale’s Selene is the protagonist of the film, and she’s one of the most lethal characters in the story. Her fight sequences are well-choreographed, and Underworld has enough blood and gore to unsettle even the least squeamish viewer. The crux of the narrative sees Selene meet Michael, a human who turns out to be a vampire-werewolf hybrid and the connection that forms between them. After spending so much of her life reviling werewolves, Michael starts to change her mind, and she reexamines her fight.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
Underworld (2003) |
31% |
79% |
7 / 10 |
Related 8 “Rotten” Action Movies That Became Classics Anyway
Though critics & audiences often differ on the reception of movies, action films can still gain popularity despite negative reviews & low scores.
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9 Constantine (2005)
Directed by Francis Lawrence
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Constantine, directed by Francis Lawrence and released in 2005, stars Keanu Reeves as John Constantine, a supernatural detective. Based on the DC Comics Hellblazer series, the film follows Constantine as he battles against dark forces from the underworld with the help of a determined police officer, played by Rachel Weisz. The film meshes elements of horror and action as Constantine navigates a demonic landscape.
Director Francis Lawrence Release Date February 18, 2005 Cast Keanu Reeves , Rachel Weisz , Shia LaBeouf , Djimon Hounsou , Max Baker , Pruitt Taylor Vince Runtime 121 Minutes Writers Jamie Delano , Garth Ennis , Kevin Brodbin , Frank A. Cappello
In one of the movies that defined Keanu Reeves’ career, Constantine, Reeves puts a fantastical spin on the action hero character he’s come to embody. Also starring Rachel Weisz and Tilda Swinton, Constantine boasts a strong cast of characters who take on the mysticism of the story with serious and faithful performances. Reeves plays the exorcist Constantine, who can see past the veil to witness angels and demons descending to Earth, and he uses his gifts to save people but also to prolong his tragic life.
One of the biggest reasons Constantine received its R-rating is because of how much the narrative revolves around self-harm and suicide. This, accompanied by the imagery of heaven and hell that are prevalent throughout the story, made Constantine a lightning rod for discussion and criticism. However, over time, Constantine has been reevaluated, and though some of the visual effects are somewhat dated, they’re still effective in scaring the audience and driving home the movie’s themes.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
Constantine (2005) |
46% |
72% |
7 / 10 |
8 Highlander (1986)
Directed by Russell Mulcahy
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Connor MacLeod, born in 16th century Scotland, is one of a few immortals who can only be killed by beheading. Now, in 1985, the immortals who have survived their centuries-long secret war meet in New Yor for the “Gathering” to fight for the mysterious “Prize.” It’s up to MacLeod to make sure that the Prize does not fall into the hands of his enemy, Kurgan.
Director Russell Mulcahy Release Date March 7, 1986 Studio(s) 20th Century Cast Christopher Lambert , Roxanne Hart , Clancy Brown , Sean Connery , Beatie Edney , Alan North Runtime 116 minutes Writers Gregory Widen , Peter Bellwood , Larry Ferguson Expand
Highlander represents a unique time in movie history for the speculative fiction genre. The 1980s saw an increase in sci-fi and fantasy films as the influx of CGI technology and new visual effects made more experimental ways of filmmaking possible. In Highlander, Christopher Lambert plays an immortal man from 16th-century Scotland, Connor, and the story catches up with him keeping a low profile in present-day New York. Sean Connery joins him as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, another immortal who becomes Connor’s ally after his archnemesis, the Kurgan, tracks him across time.
Chronicling Connor’s journeys throughout the world as he ages,
Highlander
sees the violence and destruction of many ages through the main character’s eyes.
Like so many older fantasy films, Highlander is now considered a cult classic, thanks to Connery and Lambert’s great and slightly campy performances. Many of the reasons that critically initially panned the film are why it’s so well-appreciated today, as its unabashedly joyful and outlandish nature makes it fun to watch to the very end. Chronicling Connor’s journeys throughout the world as he ages, Highlander sees the violence and destruction of many ages through the main character’s eyes.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
Highlander (1986) |
69% |
79% |
7 / 10 |
7 The Crow (1994)
Directed by Alex Proyas
The Crow 2
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Based on the comic series, The Crow is a supernatural-action film that follows a murdered musician who returns from the dead for vengeance. Eric Draven and his fiancee are murdered during a violent home invasion – but supernatural forces have other plans for Draven. Resurrected by the power of a mysterious crow, the now superpowered Draven takes on the mantle of “The Crow” and seeks revenge against the entire gang that killed him and his wife.
Director Alex Proyas Release Date May 13, 1994 Studio(s) Dimension Films Cast Brandon Lee , Ernie Hudson , Michael Wincott , Rochelle Davis , Bai Ling , Sofia Shinas , Anna Levine , David Patrick Kelly Runtime 102 Minutes Writers David J. Schow , John Shirley Expand
There are many differences between the new 2024 adaptation of The Crow and the original movie, and all of them point to the fact that the 1994 iteration is better. While the 2024 version might have better and more consistent visual effects, nothing can beat the atmosphere and tone of the first movie, as well as Brandon Lee’s unforgettable performance as the Crow. The Crow is an early example of a dark twist in the superhero genre, as after Eric is resurrected, he sets off on a brutal path of revenge.
The way the Crow targets his victims and eventually finishes them off is intensely violent and is what sets The Crow apart from other vigilante narratives like Batman. Additionally, the story’s fantasy elements come into play as Eric’s transformation into the Crow happens because he was tragically killed and is brought back to ease his vengeful soul. Despite his actions, it’s easy to feel deeply for Eric, as he doesn’t deserve his terrible fate, and his enemies are far worse than he is.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
The Crow (1994) |
87% |
90% |
7.5 / 10 |
6 The Northman (2022)
Directed by Robert Eggers
The Northman 3
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Robert Eggers’ The Northman adapts the ancient legend of Amleth, the basis for Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. When a young Viking prince (Alexander Skarsgård) witnesses his uncle (Claes Bang) murdering his father (Ethan Hawke), he flees and swears revenge. Returning after years of honing his skills as a warrior, Amleth hunts his uncle in a bloody and brutal tale of revenge and retribution, hoping to rescue his mother (Nicole Kidman).
Director Robert Eggers Release Date April 22, 2022 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Cast Claes Bang , Ian Gerard Whyte , Nicole Kidman , Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson , Kate Dickie , Olwen Fouéré , Katie Pattinson , Ethan Hawke , Gustav Lindh , Willem Dafoe , Doa Barney , Ralph Ineson , Ian Whyte , Bjork , Alexander Skarsgard , Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson , Anya Taylor-Joy , Murray McArthur Runtime 136 minutes Writers Robert Eggers Expand
The director of The Northman, Robert Eggers, is well-known for his unsettling and sweeping epics like The Witch and The Lighthouse, and his latest film is no exception. Deeply in conversation with Norse mythology, The Northman stars Alexander Skarsgård as a Viking warrior prince, Amleth, whose uncle usurps the king, which Amleth narrowly escapes, and vows to get vengeance on his uncle. The story follows Amleth’s attempts to reclaim his throne and his learning the truth about his father.
The brutal and gorgeous landscape of northern Europe, where the movie takes place, is a stark background for which the violence and atrocities of the narrative are committed.
The Northman also features Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga, Amleth’s love interest, and the pair soon join together to plot against Amleth’s uncle and retake control of the land. The brutal and gorgeous landscape of northern Europe, where the movie takes place, is a stark background for which the violence and atrocities of the narrative are committed. It’s not an uplifting or happy tale, as Amleth is cursed by his own vows of servitude to his father, but as an epic, it will stand the test of time.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
The Northman (2022) |
90% |
64% |
7 / 10 |
5 Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Directed by Tim Burton
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Sleepy Hollow is a supernatural horror thriller by director Tim Burton and Starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Based on the original tale by Washington Irving, Sleepy Hollow follows constable Ichabod Crane as he is sent to the titular northern New York town to investigate a series of beheadings. However, the scholarly Crane’s foe is a supernatural being that cannot be explained – The Headless Horseman.
Director Tim Burton Release Date November 19, 1999 Studio(s) Mandalay Pictures , American Zoetrope , Tim Burton Productions , Scott Rudin Productions Cast Johnny Depp , Christina Ricci , Miranda Richardson , Michael Gambon , Casper Van Dien , Jeffrey Jones Runtime 106 Minutes Writers Andrew Kevin Walker , Kevin Yagher Expand
Loosely based on the well-known short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton put his unique flair on the tale, which stars a young Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Like most works by Burton, Sleepy Hollow is a supernatural fantasy film with plenty of horror elements, making it a gory addition to the genre. Sleepy Hollow also includes elements of crime and thriller stories, as it’s up to Ichabod Crane to deduce who controls the Headless Horseman and get to the bottom of a conspiracy.
Visually, the film is the perfect thing to watch during the fall to get into the mood for Halloween, as it’s scary but has enough intriguing elements that it’s not pure horror. Though it strays from the source material, Sleepy Hollow stands apart as its own project, even if its characters are a little underdeveloped. For some of the movie, the audience can’t be sure if the terrifying ghost of the Headless Horseman is real or a figment of the town’s imagination, but Burton makes sure to immerse the viewer in the supernatural world before long.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
Sleepy Hollow (1999) |
70% |
80% |
7.3 / 10 |
4 Hellboy (2004)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Hellboy PG-13ActionAdventureFantasySci-Fi Where to Watch
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Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge. Starring Ron Perlman as the titular hero. His powers include superhuman strength, high levels of endurance, resistance to injury, and a healing factor that makes him immune to all diseases. Hellboy can also understand ancient languages and has a utility belt with numerous tools and weapons.
Director Guillermo del Toro Release Date April 2, 2004 Cast Ron Perlman , John Hurt , Selma Blair , Rupert Evans , Karel Roden , Jeffrey Tambor Runtime 122 minutes Writers Andrew Cosby
There are quite a few masterworks of dark fantasy on this list directed by Guillermo del Toro, and each demonstrates why the prolific filmmaker has become inextricably linked to the genre. Ron Perlman transforms into Hellboy, AKA Abe, donning prosthetics and costumes that make him almost unrecognizable. Based on the comic series of the same name, Hellboy, the movie follows Hellboy’s transformation into an unlikely superhero thanks to his incredible strength and otherworldly powers.
Critics and audiences quickly realized that
Hellboy
was something special and pushed the fantasy genre further in dealing with the darkest parts of human history.
Hellboy has gone on to become an expansive universe that includes multiple movies and has become a staple of the dark fantasy genre. Critics and audiences quickly realized that Hellboy was something special and pushed the fantasy genre further in dealing with the darkest parts of human history. The movie’s dedication to using lots of practical effects has helped it stand the test of time, and leaning into its more graphic and explicit elements has introduced decades of older audiences to an exciting iteration of the superhero film.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
Hellboy (2004) |
81% |
66% |
6.8 / 10 |
3 The Green Knight (2021)
Directed by David Lowery
The Green Knight 1
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An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in a more profound journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger.
Director David Lowery Release Date July 30, 2021 Studio(s) A24 Cast Dev Patel , Emilie Hetland , Ralph Ineson , Helena Browne , Alicia Vikander , Joel Edgerton , Erin Kellyman , Barry Keoghan , Anthony Morris , Sean Harris , Kate Dickie , Sarita Choudhury Runtime 125 minutes Writers David Lowery Expand
Dev Patel’s underrated fantasy drama, The Green Knight, is an exciting addition to the canon of tales and fables about the legendary King Arthur. However, the film is a twist on the well-known story as it follows Gawain, a knight of the Round Table, as he undergoes the challenge of the titular Green Knight. Thirsting for fame and glory, Gawain accepts the challenge of the Green Knight, unaware that the cost of his notoriety will later be his life.
In his search for the Green Knight and his church, Gawain learns a lot about himself and about the true meaning of bravery and sacrifice. The Green Knight incorporates some surrealist elements into the story and the look of the project, making it difficult for the audience to determine what’s real and what’s a figment of Gawain’s imagination. This allows the movie to incorporate violent and intense scenes, making the world of King Arthur feel more rooted in reality than ever before.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
The Green Knight (2021) |
89% |
50% |
6.6 / 10 |
Related Every King Arthur Movie, Ranked Worst To Best
The Arthurian legend infused with magic and mysticism remains a popular choice for filmmakers to adapt, but which King Arthur movie ranks best?
2 The Shape Of Water (2017)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
The Shape of Water 4
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Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water is set in Baltimore, Maryland in 1962, and follows Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins), a shy, mute woman who works as a custodian at a secure government facility. While at her job, Elisa meets and falls in love with a human-amphibian hybrid man, who is being held and experimented on at the facility by the evil Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon). Risking her life and the lives of her friends, Elisa hatches a plan to help her amphibian lover escape, pursued by Strickland and his forces in the government.
Director Guillermo del Toro Release Date December 1, 2017 Studio(s) Searchlight Pictures Cast Richard Jenkins , Doug Jones , Octavia Spencer , Michael Shannon , Sally Hawkins , Michael Stuhlbarg Runtime 123 Minutes Writers Guillermo del Toro , Vanessa Taylor Expand
It might not seem likely that a story about the romance between a woman and a humanoid fish creature would win Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards, but The Shape of Water is much more than meets the eye. Directed by del Toro, The Shape of Water is one of his most romantic works to date and is true to the stunning visuals and tragic tone he’s known for. Set during the Cold War, The Shape of Water deals with how people faced the repression of self-expression and sexuality that was rampant during this time.
Elisa and the Amphibian Man instantly form a connection due to their shared feelings of being outsiders and being ostracized by others.
Sexual scenes and moments of graphic violence contribute to The Shape of Water getting an R-rating, but the movie is most concerned with its tender love story above all else. Elisa and the Amphibian Man instantly form a connection due to their shared feelings of being outsiders and being ostracized by others. Though the fantasy element puts an extreme twist on this, it’s still relatable for audiences and makes it easy to root for the pair to escape their stifling circumstances.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
The Shape of Water (2017) |
92% |
73% |
7.3 / 10 |
1 Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
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Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth follows Ofelia, a ten-year-old girl living in 1940s Spain who learns she is actually a long-lost fairy princess. With the help of a faun, she is set a series of tasks to complete in order to return to her true home in the fairy underworld. Ivana Baquero stars as Ofelia, with Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, and Doug Jones making up the rest of the main cast.
Director Guillermo del Toro Release Date January 19, 2007 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Cast Sergi López , Doug Jones , Ivana Baquero , Ariadna Gil , Maribel Verdú Runtime 118 minutes Writers Guillermo del Toro Expand
Perhaps the greatest fantasy movie of the 20th century, Pan’s Labyrinth isn’t a fairytale for children, as the magical aspects of Ofelia’s quest aren’t the only frightening elements of the story. Set in Spain in the summer of 1944, much of Pan’s Labyrinth is explicitly about the Spanish Maquis revolutionaries who were fighting against fascism during this period. Though Ofelia, the protagonist, is young, she comes to understand the villainy at work through the violence committed against the Maquis and the evil of her stepfather, Captain Vidal.
Much of the darkness in Pan’s Labyrinth comes from Vidal and the horrible crimes he commits against the people who oppose him. The violence shown onscreen is part of what gives the film its rating, as well as the fear factor, as the supernatural moments get terrifying. In the sequence when the Pale Man chases Ofelia, it’s impossible not to be scared. The movie themes in Pan’s Labyrinth are in conversation with much of del Toro’s other work, which grapples with how fantasy and storytelling reflect the problems of the outside world.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
IMDB Rating |
|
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) |
95% |
91% |
8.2 / 10 |