Game of Thrones andHouse of the Dragon have helped popularize a dark fantasy aesthetic characterized by menace-looking warriors in glinting armor, twisted-looking castles, and the return of eerie old magic. To make up for the absence of these TV shows, it's not uncommon for fantasy fans to look into the past for unique fantasy movies, seemingly forgotten in time. After all, the fantasy films from the '80s and '90s directly inspired many elements of modern fantasy movies and TV shows.

Classics like Conan, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and Willow continue to influence popular culture through their bygone style. However, there is still a wealth of other fantasy movies that remain hidden gems. This retro or dark fantasy deserves revisiting by any fan of the genre. It melds the impressive effects of horror and sci-fi with the glamor, adventure and theatricality of historical fiction dramas to create worlds, heroes...