Some Of The Best Fantasy Series Available For Streaming
The fantasy genre has had a decidedly mixed success rate when it comes to adaptation. Often, the prohibitive costs required for elaborate world-building scuttle any possibility of a compelling yet complex story. Nevertheless, there are many great fantasy series to stream, featuring both live-action and anime, with many crossing over into other genres such as science fiction and detective stories.
My Lady Jane (2024)
Based on the historical figure of Lady Jane Grey, this fantasy based on the YA novel takes Lady Jane and transforms her into a plucky teen. Smart and interested in science, Jane endures what one expects from a story about the aristocracy—an arranged marriage, scheming, and secrets. Add to that some magic, and it becomes a historical tale suitable for tweens.
Amazon Prime Video, My Lady Jane (2024)
Shadow And Bone (2021)
A fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo’s popular Grishaverse trilogy, the story follows an orphan, Alina Starkov, who discovers she has magical abilities. Alina is also a cartographer and with her skills and her magic, she may be the key to saving her land ravaged by war.
Netflix, Shadow And Bone (2021-2023)
Pushing Daisies (2007)
A comedy-drama from Bryan Fuller, this is the story of Ned, a pie maker with the ability to bring the dead back to life. Aided by his abilities, Ned solves crimes with the help of his previously deceased childhood crush.
ABC, Pushing Daisies (2007-2009)
Game Of Thrones (2011)
This one’s the big one, obviously, and if you haven’t seen it, you’re very much in the minority, at least among fans of fantasy. It is worth another watch, even with some of the problems in later seasons. The visuals and world-building are impressive and many of the performances are worth a second or third viewing.
HBO, Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
House Of The Dragon (2022)
If you’ve watched Game of Thrones enough for your liking but you still want more, House of the Dragon is a prequel series worth a watch. Focusing on the Targaryen dynasty and their rise to power, a strong cast and a focus on political intrigue make this a worthy precursor to the mighty Game of Thrones.
HBO, House Of The Dragon (2022-)
Merlin (2008)
Merlin is a British reworking of the legends of King Arthur and the wizard Merlin. In this version of Camelot, magic has been banned, and Merlin must keep his powers hidden while trying to restore magic to the kingdom. A fan favorite, Merlin tells its story with wit and imagination and is worth a viewing.
The Sandman (2022)
The Sandman is an epic Neil Gaiman story brought to life for Netflix. The production is worthy of the comic book series and the complex lore Gaiman created. An all-star cast rounds out this lush, appropriately dream-like production.
Good Omens (2019)
Another adaptation of a Neil Gaiman story, this production was guided by Gaiman himself, and it remains faithful to his vision. An angel and a demon, played by Michael Sheen and David Tennant respectively, team up to prevent the apocalypse. Visually influenced by the films of Terry Gilliam, the chemistry between the two leads is addictive.
Amazon Studios, Good Omens (2019-2025)
Dead Boy Detectives (2024)
Here we have another Neil Gaiman adaptation—this one is set in the same universe as The Sandman. Two ghosts become best friends and they exist while avoiding Death, who would take their souls to the next life. Within their ghostly existence, they start a detective agency and solve supernatural mysteries.
Netflix, Dead Boy Detectives (2024)
The Legend Of Vox Machina (2022)
This animated series is based on the Dungeons & Dragons web series Critical Role. A fantasy tale of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, this series transcends the limitations of its source material, providing solid voice acting, animation, and complex storytelling.
Amazon Studios, The Legend of Vox Machina (2022-)
The Witcher (2019)
Although conceived and first appearing in the wake of Game of Thrones' success, The Witcher soon proved itself by focusing on the high fantasy traits of an epic narrative and character development. The world-building and lore are complex, but it’s exactly what devotees of high fantasy want, after the splashy spectacle of Game of Thrones.
His Dark Materials (2019)
A fantasy drama based on Philip Pullman’s trilogy, the story follows an orphan, Lyra, as she searches for her missing friend. What follows is the discovery of a conspiracy related to the invisible substance known as Dust. Fans were thrilled with the quality of this adaptation, which stayed loyal to the source material.
BBC, His Dark Materials (2019-2022)
Arcane (2021)
Based on the multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends, Arcane is a series mixing 2D and 3D animation. The story broadens the source material with epic world-building and its steampunk and art deco visual design.
The Magicians (2015)
Conceived as Harry Potter for grown-ups, the story takes place in a school for magicians. The series manages to flip the script by telling the story from the perspective of a fan of a series of YA fantasy books who finds out that the fantasy world in those books is real, and is threatening the real world.
NBCUniversal, The Magicians (2015-2020)
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (2022)
Can a prequel to the legendary trilogy of books, which basically started it all, possibly have any hope of success? Yes, if you are committed to the story and the world-building of the original, and the producers of this series did just that. The visuals are wonderful, and the story is complex enough for the most devoted Tolkien fan.
Amazon Studios, The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (2022-)
Gravity Falls (2012)
An animated series on the Disney Channel, and ostensibly a kids’ cartoon, Gravity Falls manages to combine a coming-of-age story with comedy, a bit of satire, and some fantasy elements into a quite compelling story. The lore is rich (there’s even a best-selling companion book released eight years after the show ended), and the story works for both kids and adults.
Walt Disney, Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance (2019)
Jim Henson’s beloved 1982 film The Dark Crystal was not a big hit but fans of both fantasy and Muppets have made the film into a cult favorite. An expansion on the original story, the series combines puppeteering and practical effects and this prequel is a perfect tribute to Henson’s genius.
Netflix, The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance (2019)
Warrior Nun (2020)
A fantasy series on Netflix, Warrior Nun is based on the comic book character Warrior Nun Areala. In the story, a quadriplegic orphan discovers she has supernatural powers and she unwittingly joins an ancient order of warrior nuns. The series is a fun YA story about battling demons with some detailed lore bringing it all together.
Netflix, Warrior Nun (2020-2022)
Disenchantment (2018)
Simpsons creator Matt Groening pours more of his true self into another animated series, this time set on a parody of medieval fantasy stories. Much like Groening’s beloved Futurama, Disenchantment is filled with satire and irony but is also devoted to the genre it’s parodying.
Netflix, Disenchantment (2018-2023)
A Discovery Of Witches (2018)
A British historian, Diana Bishop, is also a witch and she discovers a manuscript filled with evidence of magical creatures. This fantasy romance is based on the All Souls trilogy and it focuses on both the magic and witchcraft elements of the story, but also Diana’s relationship with vampire and biochemistry scholar Matthew Clairmont.
Bad Wolf, A Discovery Of Witches (2018-2022)
Ghosts (2021)
A journalist inherits a country estate and she and her husband, a chef, turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. The property is haunted, and the ghosts wreak havoc on the couple’s attempt to run their business. The ghosts come from different eras and the humor comes from the interactions between the ghosts and the problems they cause for the two living humans.
Locke & Key (2020)
A horror-fantasy comic is the basis for this series focusing on orphaned sibling who relocate to their slain father’s Victorian estate. They battle a demon while searching for magic keys hidden throughout the massive house.
Netflix, Locke & Key (2020-2022)
Masters Of The Universe: Revelation (2021)
A rethinking of the original 1980s childhood favorite He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, this Netflix sequel is darker and geared more toward adults, probably those former children who grew up on the original. This animated series features the voice work of Mark Hamill, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Game of Thrones' Lena Headey.
Netflix, Masters Of The Universe: Revelation (2021)
Outlander (2014)
Outlander is a time-travel romance that follows WWII nurse Claire Randall who is transported to 1743. She meets Highland warrior Jamie Fraser and the steaminess of their relationship remains a highlight for the show’s devoted fanbase. More time-jumping ensues but the core romance remains the main draw.
Tall Ship Productions, Outlander (2014-)
Penny Dreadful (2014)
Penny Dreadful is a horror fantasy that is both campy but also genuinely scary. A woman is on the run from evil forces and the story combines many horror elements as werewolves, vampires, witches, and other assorted monsters wreak havoc on Victorian London. The visuals are pure Gothic and it’s impossible not to feel overwhelming compassion for Rory Kinnear’s Frankenstein’s monster who, in this story, is abandoned just as he comes to life.
Neal Street Productions, Penny Dreadful (2014-2016)
Percy Jackson And The Olympians (2023)
In this story’s universe, the Greek myths are real, and the titular character finds out he’s the son of Poseidon. Framed for stealing Zeus' lightning bolt, Percy has a series of adventures through the world of the Olympian gods. Based on Rick Riordan's YA fantasy series of novels.
Walt Disney, Percy Jackson And The Olympians (2023)
Stranger Things (2016)
A victim of its own success, and perhaps a case of diminishing returns with each subsequent season, Stranger Things nevertheless remains a well-made, wonderfully acted mix of 80s nostalgia and horror tropes. A cultural phenomenon, this series made binge-watching pretty much mandatory.
Netflix, Stranger Things (2016-2025)
Supernatural (2005)
This long-running fantasy series about monster-hunting siblings managed to combine offbeat stories and humor with some good chemistry between the leads. With a whopping 327 episodes, this is one of the longest-running fantasy shows on TV.
Warner Bros., Supernatural (2005-2020)
Twin Peaks (1990)
When Twin Peaks premiered in 1990 on broadcast television, audiences were perhaps not prepared for David Lynch’s vision. The first episode and much of the first season were well-received by audiences but the viewing numbers trailed off as the story became more complex and surreal; anyone expecting a murder mystery with a conventional solution walked away confused. Nevertheless, this was a cultural phenomenon, with its moods, music, and strange characters.
What We Do In The Shadows (2019)
A truly hilarious show about vampires, What We Do in the Shadows is shot in documentary style a la The Office, which makes for some wonderful meta jokes about a human film crew being let in on the secret world of vampires. Technically a sitcom, What We Do in the Shadows, like many single-camera sitcoms of the last 25 years, is worth repeated viewing, if only to catch all the rapid-fire jokes and sight gags.
FX Productions, What We Do in the Shadows (2019-2024)
The Wheel Of Time (2021)
A large-budget series produced in the wake of Game of Thrones' success, this fantasy is rich in visuals and effects, with a complex story. A sorceress investigates a prophecy about a being powerful enough to destroy the world. The lore and mythology are dense, perfect for fans of high fantasy, but it may prove too much for casual fans.
Amazon Prime Video, The Wheel Of Time (2021-)
Xena: Warrior Princess (1995)
This was a classic 90s series, long-running, action-packed, and quite funny. Lucy Lawless became a star and a sex symbol, and the show pushed a few boundaries for its time, especially with Xena’s relationship with her “companion”, Gabrielle. A spin-off of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena quickly surpassed that show. It maintains a devoted fan base to this day, with Xena herself held up as a feminist icon.
Universal, Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)
Castlevania: Nocturne (2023)
In revolutionary France, Richter Belmont fights a ruthless vampire who seeks power in the chaos of late-18th century France. This adult animated series is a sequel to Castlevania, which in turn was based on a video game series.
Netflix, Castlevania: Nocturne (2023-)
Jentry Chau Vs The Underworld (2024)
This American animated supernatural-action television series was created by Echo Wu for Netflix. An animated series, the story concerns a 16-year-old girl who rediscovers her long-suppressed powers.
Netflix, Jentry Chau Vs The Underworld (2024-)
Parasyte: The Grey (2024)
This South Korean science fiction horror series is a live-action spin-off of the Japanese manga series Parasyte. The story concerns parasitic creatures that violently take over human hosts. This series was genuinely scary and was well-received by English-speaking audiences on Netflix.
Climax Studio, Parasyte: The Grey (2024-)
Solo Leveling (2024)
A television series based on the South Korean web novel, Solo Leveling is an anime adaptation that concerns Jinwoo and his quests. Utilizing the logic of portal fantasies, where a fantasy world is entered, Jinwoo’s quests take place through pop-up portal windows. He seeks to “level up”, where he increases his ability by completing tasks and fighting his enemies.
A-1 Pictures, Solo Leveling (2024-)
Better Than Us (2018)
This Russian science fiction series concerns an android named Arisa, who is purchased by a family. The android is wanted by an evil corporation. This series was picked up by Netflix.
Sputnik Vostok Production, Better Than Us (2018-2019)
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
43 random women find themselves giving birth despite not being pregnant, with no signs of pregnancy the day before. Industrialist Sir Reginal Hargreeves creates the Umbrella Academy for seven of those children, to develop their natural powers and save the world. Years later, after Hargreeves’ demise, they reconvene to save the world from another apocalyptic threat.
Netflix, The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024)
Sweet Tooth (2021)
Based on a comic series, Sweet Tooth is about a hybrid boy—part human, part deer—who lives in a world where such hybrids are illegal. A dystopian tale, the series combines absurd elements with genuine emotion, without ever being cutesy or saccharine.
It did, however, get pretty creepy during the show’s ad campaign. Netflix came under fire after they placed ads that looked all too real in USA Today newspapers. People weren’t happy with the headline splashed across the front page, "Hybrid babies born across the US"—or the unsettling accompanying “photo” of one of those hybrids.
Netflix, Sweet Tooth (2021-2024)
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