Best tv shows like Gormenghast
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A four-episode television serial based on the Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake. It was produced and broadcast by the BBC. Gormenghast is an ancient city-state which primarily consists of a rambling and crumbling castle. The narrative, based on the first two of the three Gormenghast novels by Mervyn Peake, begins with the birth of a son, Titus, to the 76th Earl, Sepulchrave Groan, and Countess Gertrude. This mismatched pair (he'd prefer the melancholy privacy of his library; she'd prefer the company of her menagerie of cats and birds) also have a teenaged daughter, Fuchsia, who resents her new brother but comes to love him dearly. Simultaneously, a young kitchen apprentice, Steerpike, takes advantage of an altercation between head cook Swelter and the Earl's manservant, Mr. Flay, and escapes from the kitchens. Gormenghast is rigidly feudal in structure, but Steerpike has ambitions.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 232 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, serious, epic, captivating, fairy tale, gothic, dark fantasy
Best tv shows and movies like Gormenghast (2000):
Similar in 77%
Fungus the Bogeyman (2015)
Plot Summary:
An adaptation of Raymond Briggs' children's classic that mixes live action and CGI animation to follow the adventures of a family of green monsters who live in the slimy underground world of Bogeydom. Fungus and his wife Mildew suspect their son Mould is illicitly dabbling in human culture, sparking a family argument that sees the boy flee to the surface. Above ground in Daventry, Daryl Hedge's go-getting wife Wendy won't let him forget it that he is unemployed, while his daughter Lucy has fallen for a disagreeable older boy called Dean.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 292
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: UK
Duration: 67 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, funny, feel good, captivating, entertaining, realistic, spooky
Similar in 80%
Fairy Tales (2008)
Plot Summary:
Four contemporary adaptations of classic fairy tales, Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Emperor's New Clothes and Billy Goats Gruff.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 116
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, anthology, touching, captivating, stylized, sex comedy, modern day adaptation
Similar in 75%
True Dare Kiss (2007)
Plot Summary:
True Dare Kiss is a British television drama produced for BBC One. It is written by Debbie Horsfield and produced by Marcus Wilson and features Dervla Kirwan, David Bradley and Lorraine Ashbourne. It concerns the reunion of four sisters and a brother following the death of their estranged father, uncovering the truth, hiding secrets, and a cataclysmic event in the past. The series, set in the city of Manchester in the North-West of England, was aired in six parts from 28 June 2007. Filming for the series began on 8 January 2007.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 110
Genere: Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, serious, suspenseful, disturbing, tense, bleak, realistic, saga
Similar in 80%
Nicolas Le Floch (2008)
Plot Summary:
Paris, 1761. Brilliant young Parisian police commissioner Nicolas Le Floch works under Monsieur de Sartine, the Royal Lieutenant General of Police. Louis XV's kingdom is plagued by conspiracies and murders. With the help of his faithful subordinate Bourdeau, Nicolas solves mysterious disappearances and sorts out awkward scandals.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 462
Genere: Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: detective, tense, serious, captivating, realistic, historical drama, weird
Similar in 76%
Neverwhere (1996)
Plot Summary:
Richard Mayhew leads an ordinary life in London when one day a girl named Door falls, injured, across his path. The next thing he knows, his life is gone and he's pulled into the fantastical world of London Below. Pursued by the murderous Messrs. Croup and Vandemar, Door and Richard with the help of Hunter and the Marquis de Carabas, attempt to find the Angel Islington, who knows the secret behind the murder of Door's family, and possibly a way for Richard to go home.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, offbeat, serious, cult classic, stylized, urban fantasy
Similar in 81%
Tales from the Neverending Story (2001)
Plot Summary:
Twelve-year-old Bastian Balthazar Bux had lost the wonderful imagination he had as a child somewhere between growing older, watching TV, going to school and playing with his Gameboy. But when his mother dies suddenly, Bastian's limitless imagination is reborn. Bastian comes across a magical book, 'The Neverending Story,' in a curious little bookstore. Inspired by the book, Bastian creates an enchanted world called Fantasia, inhabited by dragons, dark knights and assorted heroes and villains.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 923
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Germany, Canada
Duration: 375 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, stylized, semi serious, fairy tale, exciting, serious, nostalgic
Similar in 89%
The Colour of Magic (2008)
Plot Summary:
As Rincewind involuntarily becomes a guide to the naive tourist Twoflower, they find themselves forced to flee the city of Ankh-Morpork to escape a terrible fire, and begin on a journey across the Disc. Unknown to them, their journey & fate is being decided by the Gods playing a board game the whole time.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Country: UK
Duration: 191 min
Plot tags: exciting, humorous, light, funny, enigmatic, parody, epic, cult classic, semi serious, spoof
Similar in 82%
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001)
Plot Summary:
Jack Robinson is a wealthy business man with no time for anything but work. However, a family curse is looming over him - no man in the Robinson line ever lives past the age of thirty. With his upcoming birthday appears the remains of literally giant skeleton and a mysterious woman who claims to have once known the giant. Jack decides to go with her to another world where all is revealed to him along with the story of his ancestor, the original Jack and the Beanstalk. In order to save his own life and the world of the giants, Jack must right the wrongs of the past and return the magical harp and goose that lays the golden eggs to their rightful home.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, feel good, humorous, semi serious, mind bending, epic, mysterious, exciting, stylized
Similar in 81%
Marco Polo (2007)
Plot Summary:
Assigned to accompany two priests on a mission to convert the court of Kublai Khan to Christianity, Marco Polo is abandoned in the mountains when the priests, doubting the very existence of China, turn back. Polo eventually pushes bravely forth alone toward the fabled country where he is accepted as an envoy into Khan's court. Marooned on the far side of the world, Polo, accompanied by his servant, Pedro, advances as a Mongol grandee for twenty extraordinary years. What he eventually brings back with him to the West is a chronicle that changed history forever.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 165 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, epic, captivating, serious, realistic, stylized
Similar in 83%
The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby (2012)
Plot Summary:
A modern interpretation of the classic Dickens novel.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 63
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, captivating, emotional, tense, realistic, modern day adaptation, period drama
Similar in 82%
Don Quixote (2000)
Plot Summary:
The classic tale of a man's dream, his epic journey, and one true love.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, humorous, captivating, tragicomedy, fairy tale, period piece, costume drama, serious, baroque, masterpiece
Similar in 88%
Camelot (1967)
Plot Summary:
King Arthur establishes the ideals and laws of Camelot but is tragically forced to enforce these laws against his own wife.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 179 min
Plot tags: emotional, intense, lyrical, colorful, atmospheric, captivating, stylized, arthurian, fairy tale, costume drama
Similar in 77%
The Odyssey (1968)
Plot Summary:
Odysseus' journey told in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. After fighting in the Trojan War, Odysseus spends years trying to return home to Itaka.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 836
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Italy, France, West Germany
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: enigmatic, breathtaking, epic, heroic, scenic, fairy tale
Similar in 83%
Hercules (2005)
Plot Summary:
Hercules is a 2005 RHI Entertainment television miniseries, chronicling the life of the legendary Greek hero, Heracles, called Hercules in this series. It is most often aired on television as a two-part miniseries: the first part documents his early life in Tiryns and his desire and marriage to the lady Megara; the second part follows the more widely-recognised part of his life, in seeking redemption for the madness-induced murder of his family. The series incorporates Hercules's murder of his family—usually not included in modern interpretations of the character—and includes five of his twelve labors from Greek mythology. The series alters some of the elements of the myths including placing the giant Antaeus as his father while in Greek myths his father was the king of the gods, Zeus.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 240 min
Plot tags: epic, exciting, serious, captivating, fairy tale, baroque
Similar in 77%
Alice (2009)
Plot Summary:
Everything you know about Alice's adventures in Wonderland is about to be turned upside down in this modern-day miniseries event. Stars Kathy Bates, Caterina Scorsone, Matt Frewer, Harry Dean Stanton and Tim Curry.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: UK, Canada
Duration: 184 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, atmospheric, exciting, bleak, offbeat, light, enigmatic, absurd, touching, surreal
Similar in 77%
Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003)
Plot Summary:
Under Paul ‘Muad'Dib’ Atreides' rule as Emperor, the planet Arrakis has enjoyed a renaissance. However, the revolution that Muad'dib inspired has transformed into a brutal jihad that has plunged all of humanity into a bitter, neverending cycle of interstellar war. Now a conspiracy on Arrakis threatens to rob Muad'Dib of his throne and his life.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 266 min
Plot tags: futuristic, atmospheric, epic, intense, bleak, serious, suspenseful, stylized, saga, cult classic
Similar in 83%
Earthsea (2004)
Plot Summary:
A reckless youth is destined to become the greatest sorcerer that the mystical land of Earthsea has ever known.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Fantasy, Drama, Adventure
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: captivating, serious, stylized, epic, historical drama, epic fantasy, vintage
Similar in 87%
Merlin (1998)
Plot Summary:
The legendary wizard tells his story of his war against Queen Mab of the Sidhe and his creation of Camelot.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 182 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, epic, exciting, atmospheric, light, arthurian, dark fantasy, entertaining, mystical, gothic
Similar in 88%
The Shannara Chronicles (2016)
Plot Summary:
A young Healer armed with an unpredictable magic guides a runaway Elf in her perilous quest to save the peoples of the Four Lands from an age-old Demon scourge.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 63000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 42 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, serious, suspense, apocalyptic, entertaining, sexy, costume drama, cliffhanger
Similar in 79%
Shadow and Bone (2021)
Plot Summary:
A teenage orphan who grows up in the land of Ravka. Her entire life changes after unexpectedly harnessing a power she never knew she had to save her best friend.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 111000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspense, captivating, mysterious, disturbing, unusual plot structure, apocalyptic, anime, mystical, beautiful
Similar in 82%
The Hexer (2002)
Plot Summary:
Wiedźmin is a 2002 fantasy television series. 13 episodes were made. The series received relatively poor reviews, particularly in the light of the failure of the preceding movie. The story is based on the stories of The Witcher, by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Poland
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, suspense, suspenseful, dark fantasy, bleak, comic
Similar in 87%
The Magicians (2015)
Plot Summary:
Brakebills University is a secret institution specializing in magic. There, amidst an unorthodox education of spellcasting, a group of twenty-something friends soon discover that a magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real— and poses grave danger to humanity.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 55000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, disturbing, fairy tale, suspenseful, suspense, erotic, funny, spiritual, costume drama
Similar in 84%
Ivanhoe (1997)
Plot Summary:
This grand six-part adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's rousing adventure of the Middle Ages tells the epic tale of the idealistic young knight Ivanhoe (Steven Waddington) and his battle against the evil Templar Bois-Guilbert (Ciarán Hinds. Caught between the rivalries and religious struggles are Ivanhoe's betrothed Rowena (Victoria Smurfit) and the brave, beautiful Jewess healer Rebecca (Susan Lynch), who wins Ivanhoe's heart with her courage. Set against the historical backdrop of a Britain straining under the corrupt rule of Prince John while Richard the Lionhearted fights in the Crusades.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 270 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, costume drama, exciting, epic, serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, period drama
Similar in 80%
The Mists of Avalon (2001)
Plot Summary:
A unique re-working of the Arthurian epic, based on the novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon tells the familiar tale but with an important twist: The story is told through the eyes of the women who wielded power behind King Arthur's throne. Filmed on location in Prague, The Mists of Avalon follows the women of Avalon through the ultimate fulfillment of their destinies.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy
Country: Czech Republic, Germany, USA
Duration: 183 min
Plot tags: epic, exciting, fairy tale, atmospheric, arthurian, captivating, entertaining, serious, erotic, period piece
Similar in 82%
Emerald City (2016)
Plot Summary:
A modern reimagining of the stories that lead to 'The Wizard of Oz'.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: exciting, tense, captivating, breathtaking, fairy tale, epic fantasy
Similar in 83%
The 10th Kingdom (2000)
Plot Summary:
Two centuries after Snow White and Cinderella had their adventures, the Nine Kingdoms ready themselves for the coronation of Prince Wendel, Snow White's grandson, to the throne of the Fourth Kingdom. But an evil once-queen has freed herself from prison, and turns the prince into a golden retriever. Wendel, by means of a magic mirror, escapes into a hitherto-unknown Tenth Kingdom (modern day New York City) and meets Virginia and her father Tony. Pursued by trolls, cops, and a wolf in man's form, the three blunder back into the Nine Kingdoms and begin their adventures to restore Wendel to his human form and throne, and find the magic mirror that will take Tony and Virginia back home, all the while unknowing that Virginia already has a connection to the Nine Kingdoms that may prove deadly before we reach Happily Ever After.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Country: UK, Germany, USA
Duration: 417 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, exciting, scenic, feel good, humorous, colorful, cult classic, epic, dark fantasy, visually appealing
Similar in 89%
The Wheel of Time (2021)
Plot Summary:
Follow Moiraine, a member of the shadowy and influential all-female organization called the “Aes Sedai” as she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women. Moiraine believes one of them might be the reincarnation of an incredibly powerful individual, whom prophecies say will either save humanity or destroy it.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 132000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: dark fantasy, exciting, captivating, suspenseful, atmospheric, sad, epic fantasy, queer cinema
Similar in 89%
Merlin (2008)
Plot Summary:
The unlikely friendship between Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, and Prince Arthur, heir to the crown of Camelot.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 86000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: epic, exciting, arthurian, humorous, fairy tale, captivating, mythical, stylized, mystical, funny
Similar in 75%
The Witcher (2019)
Plot Summary:
The witcher Geralt, a mutated monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. Based on Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher Saga.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 558000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: Poland, Hungary, USA, UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: dark fantasy, exciting, atmospheric, captivating, brutal, epic, serious, suspenseful, bleak, erotic
Similar in 83%
Game of Thrones (2011)
Plot Summary:
Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the farthest north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night's Watch, is all that stands between the realms of men and icy horrors beyond.
IMDB Rating: 9.2
IMDB Votes: 22000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 4189 min
Plot tags: epic, captivating, atmospheric, dramatic, stylized, breathtaking, serious, exciting, sexual, heroic