Summary

• Enormous battle sequences are a staple of the fantasy genre and have become a major market in Hollywood.
• The best battles require high production value, believable CGI, and strong narrative value.
• Examples of standout battles include the Battle of Hogwarts, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and the Battle of the Bastards.

Enormous battle sequences are a fantasy genre staple, and some stand out as the best in movies and TV shows. Given the immense box office success of the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter films, along with the cultural acclaim for HBO's Game of Thrones, fantasy has become one of Hollywood's biggest markets in the 21st century. These projects set a gold standard for large-scale battles, showing high-stakes wars with added fantasy elements like dragons and magic.

With high standards set by massive films and shows, it's fair to say that the best battles require high production value and believable CGI. But narrative value is also a significant factor. The Sack of King's Landing in Game of Thrones season 8 is a well-constructed, high-budget battle sequence, but it's tainted by poor narrative decisions. Oppositely, the Battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 elicits a powerful emotional response due to the narrative implications for many characters involved.

10 War Of The Stepstones

House of the Dragon (2022-)

With one season of primarily buildup, HBO's House of the Dragon hasn't seen much battle. Still, episode 3 saw the final battle of the War of the Stepstones, where Daemon Targaryen ended a several-year-long war by single-handedly drawing out the Crab-Feeder's forces from the caves they'd hidden away in. The battle cleverly shows Daemon's combat prowess and that he can fight dirty when he has to. Rather than leading men into battle, he goes rogue and handles things independently. The House of the Dragon season 2 trailer showed much larger battles on the way.

9 Battle Of The Five Armies

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

While less acclaimed than Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, his prequel Hobbit trilogy still caps off with an epic battle. The Battle of the Five Armies shows different fighting styles of Elves, Orcs, and Dwarves put to use, and it's filled with great characters like Thorin, Thranduil, and Bard trying to survive amidst the chaos. In of scale, the Battle of the Five Armies is hard to top, but the overt CGI usage gives it a strange, unnatural look that pales in comparison to the authentic feeling of battles in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

8 The Siege Of The North

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most beloved animated shows ever made, and the Siege of the North is the climactic battle of season 1. The finale is as cinematic as short-form cartoons get, split into two episodes, with significant character moments in both. Katara's evolution as a waterbender is a huge step forward for her progression, and Aang's "It's not over" line and his merging with the ocean spirit are some of the show's best moments.

7 The Final Battle

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Many of Hayao Miyazaki's films dip into fantasy elements, but Princess Mononoke is the closest to all-out epic fantasy. Its climactic battle features giant boars, wolves, and humans hoping to hunt the Forest Spirit. Taking place in Iron Town and the surrounding forests, the multi-faceted battle sees Ashitaka and San trying to keep peace while Lady Eboshi goads conflict. Auteur filmmaker Miyazaki's style is fully displayed in his most brutal film.

6 The Battle Of Beruna

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

The original Chronicles of Narnia movies had mixed reviews, but in of a high-fantasy battle, the climactic Battle of Beruna is hard to top. Both sides, filled with various creatures, meet on opposing ends of the field. The mix of mythological creatures, animals, and human characters adds an element of excitement to the battle, and the Chronicles of Narnia movie has one of the best soundtracks in fantasy movies, adding to the buildup before the sides clash. The Battle of Beruna is a ton of fun and is incredible for a fantasy film geared toward younger audiences.

5 The Battle Of Blackwater Bay

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Game of Thrones season 1 didn't have many battles, as the series was still on a relatively low budget. However, season 2, with the penultimate episode "Blackwater," proved that television could be just as epic as any movie. The wildfire explosion of Stannis's fleet is one of the most insane visual spectacles in the entire series, but even after losing a significant force, the battle rages on. It's the first time in the series that the Lannisters actually seem vulnerable, with an overwhelming force breaching King's Landing head-on.

4 The Battle Of The Pelennor Fields

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

For a significant portion of The Return of the King, Minas Tirith is under siege from the armies of Mordor. The Pelennor Fields battle consists of multiple stages, and the most notable moment is the Ride of the Rohirrim cavalry charge, one of the most thrilling and emotional sequences in the entire series. In of stakes, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields is essentially the last stand for freedom in Middle Earth, with the beautiful city of Minas Tirith representing a beacon of civilization. Not to mention, characters like Éowyn, Faramir, and more have character-defining moments amidst the action.

3 The Battle Of Hogwarts

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

The Harry Potter series isn't known for sprawling battles, but the final film does have a pretty significant one. Unlike other fantasy battles that use primarily swords and spears, the Battle of Hogwarts has a unique premise of wizards dueling with wands. Almost every remaining character shows up to fight in the conflict, and mystical creatures like Dementors and Giants bolster the evil side. There are several significant emotional deaths, as well as some of the most epic wizard duels in the Harry Potter movies.

2 The Battle Of The Bastards

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

By the final few seasons of Game of Thrones, there were so many fantastic battles, but the Battle of the Bastards stands out due to its production value and high stakes. With Jon Snow just returning from death, it seems unlikely he'd be killed again so quickly, yet anything seems possible once the battle begins. Jon's force is much smaller than Ramsay Bolton's, who emotionally manipulates his foe to weaken his position. For nearly an entire episode, the battle rages on. It's intense, gory, and ultimately satisfying when the good guys snatch victory from the despicable Ramsay.

1 The Battle Of Helm's Deep

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

The Battle of Helm's Deep is commonly considered not only the best fantasy battle but also one of the most epic movie battles ever. The dark, rainy atmosphere makes the presence of Saruman's Uruk-hai even more devastating, as they seem like an unstoppable force approaching the walls. There are fun character moments from the Fellowship characters throughout the battle, such as Legolas and Gimli's banter, and iconic dramatic moments, like Gandalf's arrival and Théoden and Aragorn's charge out the gates.