Fairy tale films are popular and dearly loved around the world. Let's recall the best foreign fairy tale films that are worth rewatching this winter.
"Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz" (2024)
An Oscar-winning musical featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn is based on Gregory Maguire's novel. The film tells the story of the rise and rivalry of two great witches of the Land of Oz — the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and the Good Witch of the North, Glinda.
Discussions about the film adaptation of "Wicked" began in the late 2010s, when Salma Hayek, Amy Adams, and Lea Michele were considered for the lead roles. After a long pre-production phase and changes in the creative team (the film was initially to be directed by Stephen Daldry, but later John M. Chu, director of "Now You See Me 2," took over), filming finally began in 2021. As a result, "Wicked" received several prestigious awards, and the National Board of Review named it the best film — it is the first fantasy film in this category.
In the fall of 2025, a sequel titled "Wicked: Part 2" was released.
"Maleficent" (2014)
A fantasy fairy tale that initiated the trend of telling stories from the antagonist's perspective. The villainess Maleficent from "Sleeping Beauty," portrayed by Angelina Jolie, is a good fairy who becomes embittered after being betrayed by her beloved and turns to dark forces to protect her realm.
Remarkably, "Maleficent" owes its existence in part to the aforementioned musical "Wicked." It was after its success on Broadway that producer Don Hahn had the idea to look at the familiar story from a different angle. Hahn offered the project to Tim Burton, but due to his commitments on "Sweeney Todd," the director declined. Ultimately, the project was directed by Robert Stromberg, who had worked on "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland" — "Maleficent" became his directorial debut. The film secured a spot on the list of the highest-grossing films of the year, and five years later, Disney released its sequel.
"Alice in Wonderland" (2010)
It is no surprise that the adaptation of Lewis Carroll's absurdist novel was taken on by the world's leading storyteller, Tim Burton. Borrowing images and settings from the original work, Burton tells a completely different story that does not reinterpret but continues Carroll's narrative. In the film, Alice is no longer a child with a rich imagination but a young woman whose rebelliousness and eccentricity are being stifled by an arranged marriage. However, at a crucial moment, Alice escapes, leaving her fiancé and bewildered guests behind to once again follow the White Rabbit into incredible adventures.
A standout feature of the film, which made it beloved worldwide, is the outstanding work of costume designer Colleen Atwood, who also collaborated with Burton on "Edward Scissorhands," "Sleepy Hollow," and "Big Fish." As a result, the film won an Oscar for Best Costume Design and introduced one of the most recognizable characters in modern cinema (of course, we are talking about the Mad Hatter, played by Johnny Depp).
"Enchanted" (2007)
Almost every girl dreams of becoming a princess in her childhood, but what does it really mean to be a princess? Fairy tale princess Giselle experiences this firsthand when an evil witch transports her from her magical world to modern-day Manhattan, where there is no place for magic and happy endings. To return home, Giselle must battle the queen, but first — adapt to a new life that is so different from the one she is used to.
The film introduced Amy Adams to a wider audience, who at that time was more known as an indie film actress (for example, she was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the independent drama "Junebug"). In addition to the acting, viewers appreciated the ironic tone of the musical: "Enchanted" often references iconic Disney animated films and cleverly plays with how amusing fairy tale elements appear when confronted with reality.
"Stardust" (2007)
An adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel of the same name, directed by "Kingsman" director Matthew Vaughn. Young Tristan Thorn lives in a small village separated by an ancient wall from a magical parallel world. One day, he foolishly promises the girl he loves to bring her a star that has fallen on the other side of the wall. To keep his promise, Tristan embarks on a dangerous journey, where he will encounter a treacherous witch queen and discover the secret of his origins.
Interestingly, the film was initially to be directed by Terry Gilliam, but he declined the project as he had just finished working on "The Brothers Grimm" and did not want to take on another fairy tale.
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (2005)
The series of fantasy tales by British writer and theologian C.S. Lewis remains popular: by the time the film was released, over 100 million copies had been sold in more than 40 languages. The story of four children who are transported from wartime London to a magical world ruled by the cruel White Witch was entrusted to director Andrew Adamson, known for "Shrek." And it paid off — the film made it to the list of the highest-grossing films of the year and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Makeup and Visual Effects.
Despite widespread acclaim, the sequels — "Prince Caspian" and "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" — failed to replicate the success of the first installment, leading to the franchise's closure. Nevertheless, the first film remains a beloved fairy tale for millions of people around the world, captivated by the beauty of the enchanted snowy world and the majestic image of the lion Aslan.
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