Prime Video's Dungeons & Dragons Franchise Beats Any Fantasy Movie From The Past 20 Years

Published Oct 11, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT Kyle is a senior writer at ScreenRant and has been part of the team for over two years. Having led coverage on The Walking Dead projects alongside Rick & Morty, Kyle is well versed in numerous genres. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kyle is a passionate journalist who has a keen interest in TV and film. He has six years of experience studying journalism including a HND in Practical Journalism and a BA Honours in Journalism, Media and Communication and History. Alongside his love for TV and film, Kyle enjoys video games, football and Formula 1. The fantasy genre has long been a major part of storytelling, whether in movies, TV shows, games, or books. Even if it was once more of an acquired taste, there has always been an appetite for these larger-than-life worlds filled with mythical creatures and unique environments, making it no surprise that fantasy is more mainstream than ever. Countless hits like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones showed how versatile the genre is, but while the past 20 years have produced countless great movies, none of them beat Prime Video's Critical Role shows. Between The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein, the streaming platform clearly discovered a winning formula. The Legend of Vox Machina became part of fantasy history when it debuted, adapting a real-life Dungeons & Dragons campaign into one of the most compelling shows on TV. Four seasons later, it retains its flawless Rotten Tomatoes score, with every season earning 100% positive reviews from critics, highlighting its undeniable quality. Lightning struck twice for Critical Role and Prime Video when The Mighty Nein arrived, as yet another Dungeons & Dragons campaign that was turned into a beloved animated series. Competing with The Legend of Vox Machina was a tough task for The Mighty Nein, but it upheld a similar standard and certainly did the OG show justice. Despite the lively characters, The Mighty Nein's story was darker and more mature, yet it still resonated with most viewers. Both projects perfectly demonstrate how creative this genre can be while telling genuinely compelling stories, and no modern fantasy movie has quite reached these heights over the past decade or two. Prime Video's Critical Role Shows Beat The Past 20 Years Of Fantasy Movies Courtesy of Prime Video While there has been no shortage of elite fantasy movies over the past two decades, Critical Role's shows are still a step above. They feature all the things you could possibly ask for in a fantasy story. Character-wise, there are many differing personalities, each of which is lively in their own way, while the heroes have completely different backgrounds and motivations. Some are masters of magic, others have nailed the art of deception, while a few just love a gloves-off brawl. The worlds themselves are incredibly vibrant, with both shows being set in the fictional world of Exandria. However, each takes place on a different continent, giving fans the best of both worlds. The Legend of Vox Machina's Tal'Dorei is much more classic fantasy, featuring plenty of nature, mountainous areas, and a more explorative focus. The Mighty Nein's Wildemount is more politically charged, leaning into class divides and war in populated areas, allowing both locations to flourish in their own ways. The Mighty Nein also has a 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. As for the campaigns, they make for gripping storylines, with both The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein thriving in terms of emotion, humor, and drama. That's not to say modern fantasy movies don't have good world-building, storylines, or characters either, especially when looking at what has come out over the years. How to Train Your Dragon, The Shape of Water, and The Hobbit movies only scratch the surface when it comes to great releases over the last 20 years. However, with each Critical Role series being so fleshed out, expertly crafted, and flawlessly written, it's hard to think of many fantasy projects better than The Mighty Nein and The Legend of Vox Machina. Since LOTR, The Pendulum Of Fantasy Has Swung From Movies To TV MovieStillsDB Lord of the Rings remains the magnum opus of the fantasy genre, with few pieces of work coming close to competing with the franchise's popularity and success. However, since The Return of the King, there has been a gradual shift towards fantasy TV within the industry, which is now where the best projects in the genre lie. As the original Lord of the Rings trilogy was coming to an end, the likes of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Supernatural were just beginning, marking a changing of the guard. Slowly, fantasy TV got better and better, with Game of Thrones completely swinging the pendulum. Not only was it a major triumph for the genre, but it's still considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time, despite its controversial ending. Now, House of the Dragon is continuing to carry the torch, proving almost as successful in an era surrounded by great fantasy series. Alongside the Critical Role shows, the likes of Arcane, The Sandman, and Wednesday have all been major hits in recent years, proving just how strong the current landscape is. Looking at all these titles, it's fair to say the best fantasy shows over the past 15 to 20 years have eclipsed their cinematic competition, even if both are still thriving. Critical Role's The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein certainly helped raise the bar, but the TV industry has been nailing fantasy for quite some time, and hopefully, it just keeps getting better. The Legend of Vox Machina Release Date January 27, 2022 Network Prime Video Based on the characters and storylines from the first Dungeons and Dragons campaign in the web series Critical Role, The Legend of Vox Machina chronicles the adventures of a group of heroes for hire named Vox Machina as they attempt to protect the continent of Tal'Dorei. The Mighty Nein Release Date November 19, 2025 Network Prime Video A new animated fantasy TV series from the folks of tabletop sensation Critical Role. In The Mighty Nein, a group of fugitives and outcasts unite to protect their realm of Exandria. When an arcane relic known as The Beacon falls into dangerous hands, unlikely allies must navigate their secrets and scars to save reality from unraveling.