15 B-List Fantasy Movies from the 2000s That Became Unlikely Cult Classics

These B-list movies, ones that didn't make a huge splash when they first hit theaters, somehow found their own unique audiences, turning into cult classics over time; they're the kind of films that might not have had the biggest budgets or the most famous actors, but they were packed with creativity, quirky characters, and stories that stuck with us.

1. MirrorMask (2005)

Helena, a young girl with a rich imagination, finds herself in a dream-like world after her mother falls ill; she embarks on a quest to retrieve the MirrorMask, an artifact capable of saving both the fantasy world and her reality, encountering various creatures and challenges along her way.

2. The Fall (2006)

In a Los Angeles hospital of the 1920s, a stuntman with a broken heart and spirit befriends a little girl with a broken arm, telling her a fantastical story that, as it unfolds, mirrors his inner despair and the possibility of redemption, leading them through a visually stunning journey intertwined with both their realities and imaginations.

3. Ink (2009)

A mysterious creature, Ink, kidnaps a child in her sleep, propelling her father, guided by dream-world warriors, on a surreal journey through parallel worlds to rescue her; this path is fraught with battles against forces that feed on fear and despair.

4. Stardust (2007)

Young Tristan Thorn ventures into a magical realm to retrieve a fallen star for his beloved but discovers the star is a woman, Yvaine, who is sought after by witches and a prince aiming for the throne; their adventure for survival blooms into love and leads to Tristan's discovery of his true lineage and destiny.

5. Lady in the Water (2006)

Apartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains, only to discover she is a water nymph from a storybook, leading him and the apartment's tenants on a mission to protect her from creatures that aim to prevent her return to her world.

6. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

In post-Civil War Spain, young Ofelia meets a faun in an ancient labyrinth who reveals she is a princess from an underground kingdom and must complete three dangerous tasks to reclaim her immortality, all while her real world crumbles under the tyranny of her sadistic stepfather, a Fascist officer.

7. Immortal (Ad Vitam) (2004)

In 2095 New York City, a pyramid appears, housing ancient Egyptian gods; a mysterious woman with blue hair, Jill, is linked to the gods' plans, while a man named Nikopol finds himself revived and entangled in a plot involving Horus, amidst a society where humans and mutants coexist uneasily.

8. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

Hellboy, a demon working for the government's paranormal bureau, battles a vengeful prince who seeks to awaken an unstoppable robot army; with humanity in the balance, Hellboy and his team face treachery and their own personal demons on a quest to save the world.

9. Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

Two imaginative fifth-graders, Jesse and Leslie, create a fantasy kingdom called Terabithia in the woods, where they reign as king and queen, until tragedy strikes, leaving Jesse to draw strength from their created world to deal with loss and come to terms with reality.

10. The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Will and Jake Grimm, con artists who pretend to rid villages of enchanted creatures, are forced to confront a genuine magical curse in a haunted forest where girls are disappearing, challenging their skepticism and forcing them to become the heroes they've always pretended to be.

11. The Secret of Moonacre (2008)

After her father's death, young Maria Merryweather moves to the Moonacre Manor and discovers she is the last Moon Princess; she must find the lost pearls of the Moon before the next full moon to prevent an ancient curse from destroying the valley she's come to call home.

12. City of Ember (2008)

In an underground city built to survive the apocalypse, two teens, Lina and Doon, find clues left by the builders that may lead to the surface, embarking on a journey filled with discoveries and dangers to save their city from darkness as its power source begins to fail.

13. The Chronicles of Riddick ( 2004)

Escaped convict and survivalist Riddick finds himself caught between opposing forces in a galactic war, becoming the unlikely savior against an invading empire known as the Necromongers, leading him on a journey to discover his origins and destiny.

14. Dragon Hunters (Chasseurs de dragons) (2008)

In a fantastical world of floating lands, two unlikely heroes, Gwizdo and Lian-Chu, and their pet dragon, Hector, set out to slay the world's most fearsome dragon to secure the reward that will save their home, facing unexpected challenges and discovering true bravery.

15. Eragon (2006)

A farm boy, Eragon, discovers a dragon egg, leading him to become the last Dragon Rider; with the help of his dragon, Saphira, and allies, he embarks on a quest to overthrow the tyrannical king and restore freedom to the land of Alagaësia, learning of his destiny along the way.