Magical children vs. the forces of darkness: 5 of the most famous fantasy "movie competitors" to Harry Potter

It's hard to find people who don't know who Harry Potter is. Thanks to the series of bestselling books by J.K. Rowling, 8 wonderful full-length films were made, which are considered classics of the genre today.

Tom's Guide writes: "The films, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, follow the adventures of an orphan boy who discovers he has magical powers and must fight evil to save a wizarding community. And if you haven't watched any of these movies yet, we can only advise you to do so as soon as possible. However, what about those who have already seen all 8 movies and want to see something in the same style?

Here's a list of 5 fantasy "competitors" to the Harry Potter saga that will probably quench your thirst for cinematic magic.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

In the early 2000s, "A Series of Unfortunate Events" was quite seriously competing with Harry Potter when it came to children's fantasy about orphaned wizards.

The plot of the film is based on the fairy tale of the same name by the American writer Daniel Handler, known under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket.

The tragic death of the parents: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, forced the children to go to live with Count Olaf, a distant relative of the family. Unfortunately, the count is a cruel schemer who dreams of getting the Baudelaire inheritance. Running away from the house of their evil relative, the teenagers hide first with their mysterious Uncle Monty and then with their nervous Aunt Josephine. However, the annoying Olaf does not stop pursuing the family.

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

Long before the Harry Potter story was conceived by J.K. Rowling, "The Chronicles of Narnia" had already been fascinating children for generations.

Fortunately, the 2005 movie version of the epic, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," did not disappoint the audience. This can be judged by the box office receipts of the film - three films of this franchise have grossed about 1.5 billion dollars at the global box office.

What is the plot of the first part of "The Chronicles" about?

When London is being bombed during World War II, the parents of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy decide to send them to the countryside, to a family friend. While playing hide-and-seek, the youngest, eight-year-old Lucy, hides in a large wardrobe and magically enters a parallel world, Narnia. Once on the snowy lawn of the fairy world, the girl meets a faun named Tumnus.

When Lucy returns home, she tells her brothers and sister everything, but they do not believe her, thinking that her sister has too much imagination. However, the children soon become convinced that Narnia is not fiction, and they are destined to play an important role in her life.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

The main character of the movie is Percy Jackson, an ordinary twelve-year-old boy. And he could not even imagine that his father is actually the mighty Poseidon. Everything falls into place when, during a school trip, Percy's teacher turns into a bloodthirsty monster and tries to kill him.

Soon, the boy's mother is kidnapped, and he finds himself in a camp for "demigods" where he has a lot to learn. Ahead of Percy lies a long journey with many incredible adventures, as he needs to free his mother and prevent the impending war of the gods.

The Mystery of the House with a Clock in Its Walls

There are many parallels between "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" and Harry Potter. They both depict young orphans sent to live with their relatives after a car accident that killed their parents. In both films, children accidentally discover the world of magic and are forced to fight the forces of darkness.

However, unlike Harry Potter, "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" was originally conceived as a standalone film, despite the desire of many fans to see a sequel.

The Timekeeper (Hugo)

In terms of plot, "Hugo" has little in common with Harry Potter, except that it is also based on a popular children's book and tells the story of an orphan who discovers the world of magic.

After his father's death, Hugo is forced to live with his uncle Claude at a Paris train station. And this makes him very depressed. But one day, Hugo finds the key to his late father's wind-up doll, and from that moment on, everything changes.

Now he will have to go on incredible adventures, and most importantly, the boy will finally reveal the secret of his father's death and find real friends who will help him cope with the dangers.