10 Foreign Fairy Tale Adaptations That Transport You to Magical Realms

Around the world, beloved fairy tales are reimagined with fresh settings and modern perspectives. This collection highlights ten notable adaptations that transport audiences to vivid, magical realms through bold visuals and new storytelling angles.

1. Maleficent

Maleficent

• Countries: United States, India, Canada, Italy, United Kingdom, Zambia — 2014
• Genres: Fantasy, family, romance, adventure
• Running time: 1h 37m
• IMDb: 6.9

Set in a lush border realm between the magical and human worlds, this reimagining presents Maleficent as a complex figure with a rich backstory. The tale follows a bond that turns to betrayal, culminating in a curse that shapes the fate of Aurora. The film is praised for a fresh, character‑driven approach and stunning visual design.

2. Cruella

Cruella

• Countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland — 2021
• Genres: Comedy, crime, drama
• Running time: 2h 14m
• IMDb: 7.3

In a daring prequel, Estella — a budding fashion talent — climbs the ranks of London’s design world in the 1970s. As she uncovers dark links to a powerful figure, her transformation into Cruella de Vil unfolds. The film is renowned for its inventive costumes and its exploration of ambition and identity.

3. Il racconto dei racconti (Tales of Tales)

Il racconto dei racconti

• Countries: Italy, France, United Kingdom — 2015
• Genres: Horror, fantasy, drama
• Running time: 2h 14m
• IMDb: 6.4

The film presents three fairy‑tale narratives inspired by the Basile collections. One tale follows a queen seeking to conceive through extraordinary means, another depicts a king arranging his daughter's marriage to a grotesque giant, and the third features a ruler beguiled by two elder sisters. The movie intensifies dark, magical elements with a modern, unsettling tone.

4. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

• Countries: United States, Mexico, France — 2022
• Genres: Animation, musical, fantasy, drama, adventure, family
• Running time: 1h 57m
• IMDb: 7.6

Del Toro’s Oscar‑winning animated adaptation moves Pinocchio to fascist‑era Italy, where a wooden boy must navigate war, responsibility, and the loss of childhood. The film is noted for its dark, expressive visuals and thoughtful storytelling that deepen the classic tale.

5. Gretel & Hansel

Gretel & Hansel

• Countries: United States, Canada, Ireland — 2020
• Genres: Horror, fantasy
• Running time: 1h 27m
• IMDb: 5.5

After being driven from home, the siblings travel through a perilous medieval landscape and meet an enigmatic elder woman with ambiguous intentions. The film reframes the Grimm tale by placing the spotlight on Gretel, exploring themes of trauma, survival, and female resilience.

6. Belle (Ryu to Sobakasu no Hime)

Ryu to Sobakasu no Hime (Belle)

• Country: Japan — 2022
• Genres: Animation, fantasy, drama, music
• Running time: 2h 1m
• IMDb: 7.0

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, this version reimagines the Beauty and the Beast story as a contemporary online fable. A teenage girl creates a secret avatar in a global virtual world and confronts a dangerous dragon that disrupts the digital realm. The film blends Western fairy‑tale motifs with distinctive Japanese social themes.

7. Beauty and the Beast (La belle et la bête)

La belle et la bête

• Countries: France, Germany, Spain — 2014
• Genres: Fantasy, thriller, drama, romance, family
• Running time: 1h 52m
• IMDb: 6.4

A traveling merchant becomes trapped in a castle with a mysterious beast. The Beast grants a chance to bid farewell to his family, but Belle ends up staying, gradually uncovering the castle’s secrets and rethinking the creature’s nature. The film nods to a celebrated 1946 French classic and features notable European performances.

8. Into the Woods

Into the Woods

• Country: United States — 2014
• Genres: Musical, horror, fantasy, drama, comedy, adventure
• Running time: 2h 5m
• IMDb: 5.9

This Disney musical stitches together several fairy tales, following a Baker and his wife who seek to break a curse by sacrificing items they hold dear. Along the way, familiar characters such as Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack cross paths, yielding a darker take on “happily ever after.” The cast includes Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and James Corden.

9. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

• Countries: Canada, United States, United Kingdom — 2018
• Genres: Fantasy, adventure, family
• Running time: 1h 39m
• IMDb: 5.6

Inspired by E. T. A. Hoffmann’s tale and Tchaikovsky’s ballet, the story follows Clara Stahlbaum as she journeys through four magical realms — Sweet, Snow, Flowers, and Entertainment. The film showcases lavish worlds and grand design, delivering a spectacular visual experience, even as reception varied among critics.

10. Alice Through the Looking Glass

Alice Through the Looking Glass

• Countries: United States, Thailand, United Kingdom, India, Canada — 2016
• Genres: Fantasy, detective, adventure, family
• Running time: 1h 53m
• IMDb: 6.2

Following Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, this sequel sends Alice back to Wonderland to help Time fix a mistake from the past. The tale blends quirky gadgets, time travel, and Burton’s surreal world as a new director crafts a visually rich continuation.

Expert Comment

Film critics note that these adaptations reshape familiar characters within distinct historical or cultural contexts, deepening storytelling beyond the original versions. The result ranges from darker, more mature takes to vibrant, family‑friendly spectacles, broadening fairy tales for a global audience.

Summary

These ten adaptions show cinema’s ability to reframe classic fairy tales for new times and audiences. By shifting perspective, setting, and tone, they explore themes from identity and power to childhood and trauma. The variety demonstrates how storytellers keep fairy tales fresh while honoring their timeless magic.

Key insight: Reimagining fairy tales lets filmmakers tackle modern issues while preserving the enduring wonder of ancient myths.