While every decade has a unique spin on the fantasy genre, there’s some enduring and nostalgic about the 2000s. Though the 1980s are typically remembered as a breakthrough era for sci-fi and fantasy, the 2000s will likely go on to be considered an equally influential period of filmmaking. Some of the most iconic franchises, like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, were released throughout the 2000s. However, it wasn’t just cinematic universes that shone during this period, as standalone projects were just as successful at creating intricate worlds that audiences could escape into.