Lovecraft Country
In Lovecraft Country, a man named Atticus Black embarks on a dangerous road trip across Jim Crow America to find his missing father. Along the way, Atticus and his friends encounter unexpected enemies. Apparently, some monsters aren’t as obvious as they seem.
Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time takes your favorite storybook characters and tosses them into the modern world. The saga begins with Emma Swan, a woman who, years ago, gave her child up for adoption. When her son, Henry, suddenly appears, he claims that he’s the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. At first Emma isn’t convinced—but as she spends more time with Henry, she wonders if his story is real.
Shadow and Bone
Shadow and Bone is based on Leigh Bardugo’s best-selling novel of the same name. The Netflix adaptation stars Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov, an orphaned mapmaker with a secret power that could unite sworn enemies—if they’ll let her. There are seven books in the series and two seasons on Netflix. Unfortunately, the streamer cancelled the show, but who knows? Another platform could swoop it up any minute. Until then, you can watch Alina’s story unfold onscreen, then turn to the novels to learn the rest.
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The Changeling
The Changeling is part sci-fi, part fantasy, and an absolute thrill. The series stars LaKeith Stanfield as Apollo Kagwa. When Apollo’s wife, Emma, suddenly disappears, he embarks on a mission to find her. His search leads to a mystical journey through New York City.
Locke & Key
Locke & Key follows three siblings who move into a new house after their father is murdered. Their new digs come with special keys that open the door to a magical world. Locke & Key is based on Joe Hill’s comic-book series of the same name and is a fun watch for the whole family.
The Umbrella Academy
Another graphic-novel adaptation? Yes, but this one is the best. The story begins in 1989, when 43 infants are born from women who weren’t pregnant the day before. Seven babies are adopted by a zany billionaire named Sir Reginald Hagreeves, who trains them to save the world. Years later, when Hagreeves is killed, his children reunite to solve the mystery.
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Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a classic for a reason. This saga follows a Time Lord known as the Doctor who travels across the universe. He makes frequent stops on Earth—jumping through time periods along the way—to save mankind. Multiple actors have played the Doctor over the decades, but this year marks a new era for the series, with Ncuti Gatwa as the first Black actor in the role.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
The Spiderwick Chronicles is based on Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black’s fantasy children’s books—but you can enjoy this series as an adult, too. The show follows Helen Grace and her three children, who move from New York to Spiderwick, Michigan. The change of scenery presents many challenges. Like the league of magical beings spotted near their new home.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
This one is for lovers of Greek mythology. A beloved book series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians was recently adapted into a TV show by Disney+. It’s about Percy Jackson, a young boy who discovers he’s the son of Poseidon. Soon after, he’s whisked away to a camp for demigods, where he learns to control his powers.
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Renegade Nell
Renegade Nell is a historical fantasy loosely inspired by the story of Nell Jackson, a young 18th-century woman accused of murder. Nell is forced into a life on the run, and her journey takes her through war-torn Europe. Along the way, she discovers that she is destined for greatness—but first, she has to deal with that whole murder thing.
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
This behemoth prequel to The Lord of the Rings turns back the clock thousands of years to the Second Age, a time of wealth, war, discovery, and so much more. Lavishly made by a team that clearly reveres Tolkien, Rings of Power is enthralling, visually spectacular, and appropriately mythic. Have fun getting lost in Middle-earth.
House of the Dragon
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The Witcher
Henry Cavill (and soon, Liam Hemsworth) stars as Geralt in The Witcher, a monster hunter who must also protect the crown princess. Netflix’s adaptation is the latest work in a collection that includes Polish fantasy novels and popular video games depicting Geralt’s adventures with elven kings and sorcerers.
The Sandman
Neil Gaiman’s dark fantasy comic-book series comes to life in The Sandman, the first live-action adaptation for the king of the dreams. Imprisoned for nearly 100 years, Morpheus returns to the world of the Dreaming to collect rogue nightmares and fix an unstable unconscious realm.
Interview with the Vampire
Anne Rice’s legendary Gothic novel gets a sensuous modern rendering in AMC’s Interview with the Vampire. After the 1994 misfire starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, finally, this is Interview as readers know and love it: opulent, graphic, and unabashedly erotic. Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid turn in dazzling performances as Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt, two undead lovers making up and breaking up in turn-of-the-century New Orleans. Full of sound, sex, and fury, Interview with the Vampire is a feast for the senses.
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Good Omens
Why not have a double dose of Neil Gaiman on this list? Good Omens is a comedy about the forces of Heaven and Hell gearing up for Armageddon on Earth. An all-star cast, including Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Jon Hamm, and Frances McDormand, play angels and demons seeking to prevent the coming of the Antichrist.
Sweet Tooth
After a viral pandemic wipes out most of the human population, mysterious part-animal, part-human babies begin to appear around the world. Gus, a half-deer child, might be the source of a cure, putting him in dangerous crosshairs. In Netflix’s ambitious adaptation of Jeff Lemire’s graphic novels, the characters blend the fantastically absurd with moments of kindness—perfect for a planet that actually went through a pandemic of its own.
Outlander
Romantic and readying for season 6 (!), Outlander adapts Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling series about a World War II nurse who is magically transported back in time to 18th-century Scotland. It’s there she meets a dashing Highland warrior, and we can imagine what transpires from there.
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The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time has everything a good fantasy series could need: young heroes setting out on a quest to save the world, a magical prophecy about a dragon, and a villain spreading darkness across the land. Based on Robert Jordan’s best-selling series, The Wheel of Time finally got a live-action adaptation on Amazon over 30 years after its original publication.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
A prequel to the beloved Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal, Age of Resistance highlights and celebrates the work of the legendary puppeteer by expanding his fantasy world of Gelflings. The trio of heroes spark a rebellion against the Skeksis—the part-reptile, part-bird rulers—who threaten the survival of the planet.
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