THEME EXPLORATION

magical world-building

28 films · 3 directors

Tracing the thread…

FILMS THAT EXPLORE THIS

Ashes and Diamonds

Ashes and Diamonds
1958 · Andrzej Wajda

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
2016 · David Yates

Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver

Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver
2018 · Dennis Gansel

Macario
1960 · Roberto Gavaldon

Miracle in Milan

Miracle in Milan
1951 · Vittorio De Sica

The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game
2014 · Morten Tyldum

Like Water for Chocolate

Like Water for Chocolate
1992 · Alfonso Arau

Come and See
1985 · Elem Klimov

Closely Watched Trains

Closely Watched Trains
1966 · Jiří Menzel

Ultimatum
1938 · Robert Siodmak

A Man Escaped
1956 · Robert Bresson

Atlantics
2019 · Mati Diop

Spirited Away
2001 · Hayao Miyazaki

The Square
2017 · Ruben Östlund

Volver
2006 · Pedro Almodóvar

Black Book
2006 · Paul Verhoeven

Nine Lives
1957 · Arne Skouen

The State of the World

The State of the World
2007 · Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog
2020 · Jeff Fowler

The Road Warrior

The Road Warrior
1981 · —

Zoology
2016 · Ivan I. Tverdovsky

Ek Din
2026 · Sunil Pandey

Raja Shivaji
2026 · Riteish Deshmukh

Benediction
2018 · Terence Davies

Emitaï
1973 · Ousmane Sembène

Era notte a Roma

Era notte a Roma
1960 · Roberto Rossellini

I Aim at the Stars

I Aim at the Stars
1960 · J. Lee Thompson

Julia
1977 · Fred Zinnemann

DIRECTORS WHO EXPLORE THIS

Visually sumptuous fantasy spectacle grounded in intimate character struggles and moral complexity.

Guillermo del Toro Mexico

His films meticulously construct intricate magical worlds with gothic aesthetics and fantastical creatures that blur reality and imagination.

Hayao Miyazaki Japan

He creates immersive, whimsical animated worlds with rich internal logic where magic feels organic and essential to the narrative.