80s Fantasy Classics You Need To See

The 1980s were an excellent time for Fantasy Films. Visual effects were finally starting to catch up with the imaginations of some of our greatest filmmakers, and some incredible sword and sorcery epics were brought to the big screen. Here are three of our favourites:
Excalibur: John Boorman’s magnificent take on the Arthurian legend is one of the most gorgeous films of the eighties. It’s also a hard-R, sexually charged, and adult take on the material that was so controversial the director had to prepare an alternate PG-rated version for pay TV that could air during the day.
The Sword and the Sorcerer: Albert Pyun’s low-budget sword and sorcery take was designed as a quick cash grab that would ride on the coattails of the big-budget Conan The Barbarian. To everyone’s surprise, the movie grossed almost as much as the movie it was ripping off, and it became a staple of afternoon cable viewings for a generation of kids.
Time Bandits: This movie kickstarted Monty Python member Terry Gilliam’s career as a director. An irreverent fantasy, it was a major international success that still ranks as one of his most loved films.
Which of these three movies is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
For more MOVIE NEWS, visit: www.joblo.com
SUBSCRIBE for more of all the LATEST JoBlo Videos here: goo.gl/R9U81J
#Excalibur #TimeBandits

[@redmoondesignbeth9119]

My son decided at 5 to become an animator after watching "Wizards" (Ralph Bakshi) with his older brother. He ended up teaching animation in the community college with a GED where he met Ralph's son and then did a project for Ralph.

[@XxX-vi9if]

That's so cool!

[@marSLaZZ66]

Excellent !!

[@Angl0sax0nknight]

I absolutely loved Excalibur as a kid in the 80s.

[@trinaq]

I adore Time Bandits, it honestly deserves more love. I used to watch this, ET and Never ending Story, all one after the other.

[@Angl0sax0nknight]

Time bandits was scary to me as a kid. Those horse monsters were truly terrifying. As a adult I see it differently.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

If there is a three hour version of Excalibur I would love to see it!!🤞

[@GEMINIEARTHWALKER]

It sounds like something we'll never get to see, rewatching it again, the cuts are painfully obvious. It's still one of my favorite films of all time

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@GEMINIEARTHWALKER yup👍

[@exiledpreest]

Never saw it, but def am interested

[@RobMacc]

Watch the trailer, where there are at least snippets of the cut scenes. Who knows where the excised footage is now or what shape it is in...

[@rickytimmons5294]

Would LOVE to see that. This movie has held a special place in my heart since when I first saw it at the cinema, and it still stands, in my opinion, as the best version of the Arthurian Legend.

[@GregsGameRoom]

Freaking love Excalibur. No other Arthur movie has come even CLOSE to matching it.

[@morimo11]

Me too. Saw it in the theater with my dad.

[@fistimusmaximus6576]

Same, "Knights, squires! prepare for battle! (music kicks in).

[@Rockstar-bq5fm]

Great video, Excalibur is and probably forever will be the GOLD standard of material. It’s honestly my favourite movie of all time and I think I realise that now

[@tkskagen]

TIME BANDITS and KRULL are held proudly within my DVD collection!

[@slyane7320]

Yes my friend!

[@Dr_1212]

Awesome 😎 As a born in 80.s guy I remember all these Awesome movies Excalibur time bandits Baron munchausen classics

[@meerkat7406]

Sword & The Sorcerer is a fun gem of a movie. While he had a successful TV run, Lee Horsely to me had an Errol Flynn screen presence in this movie. Always wished he broke out of TV and did more movies. The actor, who played villian Titis Cromwell is the great actor Richard Lynch. Really enjoyed this one.

[@chasehedges6775]

80s movies are the best.

[@trinaq]

They really are, they're absolutely timeless, and are still enjoyed by new generations.

[@rb6719]

Which is a favorite? ALL OF THEM! My brother and I watched these at the drive-in (yes i'm that old) and then on cable tv all the time. There need to be more movies like this these days. Good fantastical entertainment with no hidden message or meaning. Just good fun that's worth watching again and again.

[@Jabberstax]

Excalibur is a brilliant movie.

[@antimatta8714]

I randomly watched " Excalibur" yesterday? Creepy coincidence.😆

[@tylerdordon99]

Excalibur has the most perfect epic fantasy aesthetic ever.

[@shallendor]

Excalibur was such an entertaining film, one of the best fantasy films!

[@andybobandy641]

I believe Excalibur is probably the movie that I have seen the most during my lifetime. It was my favorite since it came out in junior high and I probably seen it off and on five thousand times since then.

[@SirSmoldham]

TREMENDOUS LOVE. All are awesome picks I practically idolized to my friends when they came out. I must have been born out of time. Thanks for your specifics. Gilliam RULES. RESPECT to Pyun.

[@jamesabernethy7896]

I'm a child of the 80's myself. I've seen parts of most of these movies but only seen a couple in full. Some of these do have a darker edge than others so didn't get played as much as some of the other 80's classics. Nice video with some important facts and great Nostalgia.

[@coyote4237]

My three buddies and I wanted so bad to see Excalibur in the theater, but none of us were 18. So, it was my mom who drew the short straw to be the adult who took us. During the scene where Arthur is conceived, a guy in the packed theater said loudly enough for all to hear, "In his armor." I had never been so embarrassed in my life. Excalibur was amazing, and still my favorite movie.

[@Rockstar-bq5fm]

I’ve never actually seen the Sword and the Sorcerer unbelievably. I’m gonna watch it right now

[@mattmozgiel2111]

Time Bandits is such a wonderful movie. I'd really like to see Gilliam get to make his Theseus and the Minotaur movie he's had plans for.

[@dqreps]

Dude, Excalibur is awesome!!! Love that movie!!! Also: 20:44 "I can't wait to bed you wench" What. A. Legeeeeeeeend!!

[@brianstiles1701]

As an old school D&D kid, my holy trinity in the 80s was Conan, Excalibur, and Beastmaster

[@necrosunderground]

Yes! And, just to test your nerd mettle, have you ever heard of "The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire?" If I remember correctly, it was originally supposed to be a pilot for a series that never got picked up, but ended up being a TV movie. I completely swiped the Heartbow from that as a quest item XD But yeah, all those, and a dash of Dragonslayer, and the D&D nights were good to go. Ah, memories...

[@BertrumArthur]

In SnS, “Xuesha” was played by “Richard Moll”, who later went on to play “Bull” on “Night Court”.

[@peteuplink]

I'd never seen Excalibur until I watched it last week. I thought it was excellent :D

[@dls3939]

Excalibur was one of my favourite films as a kid, that and Conan I must have worn both those tapes out re watching them. Don't think my folks ever realised how bloody Excalibur actually was back then.

[@reynaldogonzalez2118]

One of the greatest films of all time.

[@white-dragon4424]

The irony about Excalibur's score, which I think is pretty unique amongst movies, is that none of the parts that the movie's most remembered for were written by its composer. Jones did the incidental music and Celtic type jigs, whilst the huge operatic pieces that everyone thinks of when remembering the movie were by Wagner and Orff. The love theme? Wagner. The Grail theme? Wagner. The main and end titles? Wagner. And the scene as Arthur and his knights are riding out of Camelot for the last time? Carl Orff. As you can tell by the amount of Wagner in this movie (as well as the famous helicopter scene in Apocalypse Now), he absolutely kicked major arse when it came to opera, to the extent that even John Williams took most of his inspiration from Wagner when he wrote the Star Wars scores! Oh, and Gabriel Byrne said in interview that he was encouraged to take the part of Uther when he was told that they were going to use Wagner as part of the score.

[@OlympicLeprechaun]

My favorite film soundtrack hands down. Not only for the music itself but for how brilliantly Boorman incorporates it into the action. In film the music is normally composed to enhance the filmed action. But it appears Boorman does it in reverse, filming and editing images for the music. The last scene in particular where Percival casts Excalibur into the hand of the Lady of the Lake is the most perfect union of music and visuals I have ever seen and always raises goosebumps every time I watch it.

[@white-dragon4424]

@@OlympicLeprechaun Siegfried's Funeral March from Twilight of the Gods. If you listen very carefully, it's looped slightly when Perceval is talking to the dying Arthur, but it's only noticeable if you scrutinise the film and know the piece off by heart like I do. Still a superb scene though, one of the things that got me into the legend in the first place. Here's the best recording of it that I know of, played by the London Philharmonic, one of the best orchestras in the world: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYnLZn2mp7Ckn7c

[@davidkymdell452]

Wagner from the point of Leitmotiff but in terms of straight melody, Gustav Holst probably even more so.

[@glazdarklee1683]

Thank you for this. I graduated from High School in 1980, so I have a special fondness for the films of that decade. And a special fondness for the "R" rated films of that decade, as they were the first I was allowed to see.

[@mikefisher2673]

I too graduated in 1980 some excellent films were released then.

[@bensneb360]

The best King Arthur movie of all time, it is so faithful to the source material

[@rickybobby8879]

Time Bandits and Excalibur are 2 of my favorite movies from my childhood. I can still watch them in awe and bought them just in case the world grinds to a hault and i can manage to hook up solar panels to a TV and blue ray set up. Along with Conan the Barbarian, Road Warrior, The Warriors, Escape from NY and Big trouble to name a few others.

[@curiousworld7912]

I remember seeing 'Excalibur' in theater when it was originally released, and it blew me away. It wasn't like any film I'd seen. The 'fantasy' seemed very real in its way, and the various actors and actresses were all stellar, as many of their careers attest. 'Time Bandits' had much the same effect - it was so much 'more' than I could have expected. T. Gilliam has long been one of my favorite directors (not to mention, his various Monty Python turns), and some of most beloved films were made by him ('Baron Munchausen' is one). And I totally agree with you about David Warner - a great actor, who always improves whatever he is in. Thanks for a fun look back, and one I hope serves as an intro to great '80s fantasy films to a younger audience. :)

[@scottharkins]

Just throwing it out there since I don't see it commented yet, but Ladyhawke deserves to be on this list.

[@sarlaccstapeworm990]

As a "Gen-Xer", I remember watching ALL of these great movies back in the 80's! I wish SO badly that my children (and grandchildren) could've grown up in such an exciting era of the NON-'woke' fantasy/adventures that relied on such GREAT practical effects and epic storytelling to stoke the imaginations of the youthful dreamers of that generation! "The Never Ending Story", "Dragon Slayer", "Time Bandits", the "Conan" movies (namely the first one).... There'll NEVER be a period of filmmaking THAT great, EVER again!! 😌🙏

[@speybondon]

Dragon Slayer is massively underrated if you ask me. Great movie, from Disneys good days...

[@sarlaccstapeworm990]

@@speybondon Yeah, it is definitely underrated! Disney USED to develop some really great content. We're going to have to keep those classics fresh in our memories though, because they'll never again produce anything even close to that! It's really a damn shame.

[@Hesguilty]

My dad took us to see it in the movie theatre when I was just a little kid and I loved it and still do. Great movie that's in my personal top ten.

[@stevebojo4378]

Excalibur. It's one of those films that I stop everything and watch every time it's on.

[@JessicaDwyer]

If you loved these feel free to check out the rest of the Fantasizing About Fantasy Films series so far kzbin.info/aero/PLrMX9ct-uNyMypxrBewnsqm0TgsIET4sw

[@xavilend]

Excalibur was utterly unlike anything else and still is, really surreal and down right strange movie to behold, but it's absolutely awesome too

[@morimo11]

I’m an 80’s kid and saw most of these in the theater. Good times.

[@rubensalvador9422]

Thank you for this post. Love this section of Fantasizing About Fantasy Films. I was wondering if you consider going over some fantasy tropes from the 80's films like villains and particularly the heroes weapons. Keep up the great work!!!

[@yensid4294]

All 3 of these films are in my top fave fantasy movies list. I am assuming the Time Bandits portion was recorded a while ago since David Warner died last year? Still a nice tribute ❤ The 80s was a good decade for fantasy & horror fans.

[@jerrypeacock2234]

Excalibur and sort of the saucer two of my all-time favorite movies and I thank you for reviewing them, that said, and I hate being that guy who feels the need to point out your mistake but Elizabeth cromwell's, well call her wench was Paladin's sister not Alana

[@mrmrgaming]

David Warner is masterful at what he does. He really does not get the praise he should. Loved his turn at comedy in The Man With Two Brains alongside Steve Martin.

[@barukkazhad8998]

Ahh..time bandits 😂 love it ..and you have reminded me of Jabawoki and Brazil 😮

[@csj9619]

Excalibur is a fantastic film. It was played often on HBO back in the early 90's and I watched it every time I noticed it was on.

[@davidkymdell452]

I was really young when I saw this, probably too young. I had very strong...feelings.....when Helen Mirren was on screen lol.

[@sekaramochi]

The sword and the sorcerer, a three blade sword that fires off the to outer blades and when you think the main blade is broken Get ready for a surprise

[@TheNervousnation]

All Excalibur did for me as a child was send me to the middle school library to learn how to draw medieval weapons and armor. Perhaps it requires a rewatch.

[@ziggygunz2447]

I'll always remember Excalibur and the first time I found it. I thought I'd seen most of the really good and really strange 80s action/fantasy films but man did this movie prove me wrong lmao

[@WilAdams]

Richard Lynch's death robbed us all of seeing him play the role of the Reverend Sunlight Gardner in the adaptation of Stephen King's novel 'Talisman'. Sometimes you see a role (like Iron Man) and an actor (Robert Downey, Jr.) who seemed born to play that role. That is why we were robbed by Hollywood not adapting the book while Richard was still alive. Since the role of Sunlight Gardner is a duo role (meaning that Richard would have been able to play two men who were both evil, but in very different ways.

[@barukkazhad8998]

Ooooh ..Excalibur...FANTASTIC

[@colincolin1806]

Great movie, great commentary.

[@sekaramochi]

Okey please just do a video about David Warner himself, we would all love to see it. He is such an amazing actor, by the way there was six lights

[@sekaramochi]

Oh you had to bring up the most amazing cartoon character EVER. Spawn , when Albert transforms into Spawn, fück you Ironman. But must admit the violator was shite, dudes you blow the budget on that one scene And we thank you for it♥️

[@slyane7320]

This is a great start into the 80s sword and scorcey films...but there are many more to be be discussed...Beastmaster,Deathstalker,Krull etc...but still a great start!!!

[@JessicaDwyer]

Have you met me? :) kzbin.info/aero/PLrMX9ct-uNyMypxrBewnsqm0TgsIET4sw

[@samanthab1923]

There is a famous gaffe where a knight is smoking a cigarette as he attacks a castle. Also Uther makes love in full armor 😆

[@michaelmiller3012]

When you are horny enough to restart a brutal war JUST to do another man's wife, and impatient enough that when you finally get to the prize that all you have the time to do is get the codpiece off of your FULL PLATE armor... it's not making love. It's making f#ck.

[@GEMINIEARTHWALKER]

It was a heavy metal sex scene

[@vapoet]

Excalibur is the gold standard for Athurian movies. I've yet to see anything else come close. Best Merlin by far.

[@KermdoubleO7]

Hey nice work, I enjoyed your narration.

[@artcamp7]

you should have done Dragonslayer 1981

[@slyane7320]

Good call my friend! Very overlooked!!!

[@JessicaDwyer]

We did. Disney got angry and we had to pull it :( kzbin.info/aero/PLrMX9ct-uNyMypxrBewnsqm0TgsIET4sw

[@Azphreal]

Excalibur is one of the greatest films ever made.

[@themonkysuncle]

We actually saw this movie on a field trip in school as a kid

[@defpixel]

Legend and Dragonslayer would be at the top of my list.

[@Kaiju-Driver]

Great stuff!

[@andreasmueller4063]

Not being funny, but David Warner passed away last July.

[@philip2010]

There's not very many fantasy movies anymore I think the 80s was the heyday it also brought us the Conan movies

[@michealbohmer2871]

"So, that's what an invisible wall looks like."

[@sekaramochi]

Have you ever worn true chainmail, without the armer is still fücking heavy, not to mention the sword itself

[@Graysonn1]

I thought this vid was a load of suggestions but you just stitched together a load of stuff that you already had. A vid with say 10 movie suggestions would actually be good.

[@warriorontheedgeoftime4224]

I'm glad I'm old enough to say that I got to see all of these movies in the cinema when they came out, Excalibur was a AA rating, but my older brother managed to blag the woman at the ticket counter that I was 14 and she printed the tickets... Click click 😂

[@1400IntruderVS]

Fantastic

[@noneed4me2n7]

Nigel Terry looks so much like the actor who plays the old Cleon on foundation. So much so I had to check. It wasn’t him. He passed in 2015. Missed that bit of news.

[@happiaxxident]

I’ll add “The Blood of Heroes” with Rutger Hauer (‘89). Technically a sci-fi sports fantasy but if you like post apocalyptic fantasy; this is for you!

[@lovswr]

13 year-old me totally did not understand one minute of this movie, in ‘81 but it had named people & magic so I thought it was cool as hell.

[@sekaramochi]

Pure love always amazing videos And Please please please never stop ♥️

[@stevekasan3105]

Conan and Excalibur are the ultimate peak of 80s fantasy. Many try to duplicate both films but never come close. Flesh & Bone is the closest to these movies

[@Delekhan]

"Mom, Dad, it's evil, don't touch it!". Poof. Yes!

[@MermaidGal90]

Can y'all please do a video on "The Company of Wolves" (1984)???

[@nancyomalley6286]

Kevin looked like a British version of Elliott from "E.T."

[@giorgiopalmas7934]

Who didn't fall in love with Helen Mirren after seeing The Long Good Friday and Excalibur?

[@sonofacheron]

Excalibur is more than a movie; it is a religious experience. The quest for the Grail is the story of Redemption.

[@quantumparadox2518]

Where’s Hawk the Slayer and Dragonslayer I spent countless hours in the 80s watching these movies while playing AD&D

[@JessicaDwyer]

If you got to the Fantasizing About Fantasy Films playlist Hawk soars proudly. Dragonslayer got taken down because Disney is mean.

[@quantumparadox2518]

@@JessicaDwyeri remember you making that Hawk video now. Beastmaster was another favorite. You cover all the gems

[@ronfroehlich4697]

Dragon Slayer is underappreciated

[@anthonykoeslag]

Excalibur is an excellent film

[@sekaramochi]

Green lighting is so cool, unless Ryan Reynolds is in it😭

[@JayVandemark-v1f]

Love Excalibur 😌😌😌😌😌😌😌an awesome movie 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@mikebruno7123]

Excalibur was freakin' BONKERS...sex, magic, shiny armour, and Wagner!!!

[@jonathanfeldheim6554]

did I hear Molar Ram used as a verb in there?

[@maxconing812]

Burning tires and giving the whole crew cancer is crazy

[@doctornova3015]

I actually wrote an instrumental song years ago that i named pure concentrated evil.

[@BadWisdom523]

Bold to open the segment with the wtf ending

[@gorequillnachovidal]

this woman is good

[@nismansspil]

Excalibur shaped me

[@mrfelipemendes]

Excalibur was GoT 30 years before GoT…

[@candjim]

Imagine being an amoured knight of the round table and then needing to go to the toilet!?!

[@Steven-mk4gg]

I dont want to be that guy, but that's not how full plate worked. You still had access to your man parts.

[@sekaramochi]

Sorry did some mention the wizard of oz, also starring Sean Connery

[@sekaramochi]

Omg We're so proud up for this♥️ Sorry please continue 😯

[@NealKlein]

Wow. Within the first ten likes. And for a favorite film, no less. Thank you JoBlo.

[@asgads]

Excalibur is how to do a dark souls movie

[@sekaramochi]

David Warner pure love evil bad dude even when playing Pacman in Tron

[@scotbotvideos]

Point of order: David Warner died in 2022. RIP MCP.

[@Fuuntag]

Beards.