The fantasy genre encompasses films of whimsy and wonder that feature magic, mysticism, daring quests, otherworldly creatures, and bizarre new worlds. But films in this genre aren't easy to classify, as there tends to be a crossover into the science fiction and other realms. The Wizard of Oz, for example, is both a musical and a fantasy film. Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze's tear-jerking Ghost is a romantic fantasy. As a rule of thumb, it's perhaps best to think of a fantasy film as one whose central theme involves the supernatural, magic, swords and sorcery, or mythical people and places.

Fantasy films can be hard to sell, but if done well they can be lucrative, as is the case with the Harry Potter movies, Indiana Jones adventures, and the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy. Over the years, many fantasy films like Conan the Barbarian, The Princess Bride, Ladyhawke, and Clash of the Titans have become cult classics. Films in the fantasy genre can be very expensive to create, often requiring elaborate costuming and innovative special and visual effects. Depending on the subgenre, production costs can quickly become overwhelming, especially when one is attempting to create a new world or mythical creatures.

Subgenres of the fantasy realm include:

• Sword and Sorcery(Conan the Barbarian, Excalibur, Dragonslayer, Harry Potter, Dragonheart, King Arthur)

• Surrealism (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Labyrinth, The Fisher King, Big Fish, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)

• High Fantasy (The Lord of the Rings trilogies, Ladyhawke, Willow, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

• Adventure Quests(The Indiana Jones trilogies, The Neverending Story, The Dark Crystal, The Time Machine, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)

• Classic or Romantic Fantasy (Lost Horizon, It's a Wonderful Life, The Princess Bride, Heaven Can Wait, Ghost, Edward Scissorhands, Peggy Sue Got Married)

One of the master technicians of the fantasy realm is Ray Harryhausen, whose mastery of stop motion animation made silver screen history with such films as Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans, One Million Years B.C., The Valley of Gwangi, 20 Million Miles to Earth, and the Sinbad adventures.