Movies like The Magic Book (1996)
The best movies like The Magic Book (1996) are Four Kids and It (2020), FairyTale: A True Story (1997) and Pan (2015). If The Magic Book hooked you with its family and fantasy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedDescendants (2015)7.2/10 from 2,601 votes
- NewestA Tooth Fairy Tale (2025)Released 2025
Four Kids and It (2020)
A group of kids on holiday in Cornwall meet a magical creature on the beach with the power to grant wishes.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFairyTale: A True Story (1997)
In 1917, two children take a photograph, which is soon believed by some to be the first scientific evidence of the existence of fairies. Based on the true story of the Cottingley Fairies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPan (2015)
Living a bleak existence at a London orphanage, 12-year-old Peter finds himself whisked away to the fantastical world of Neverland. Adventure awaits as he meets new friend James Hook and the warrior Tiger Lily. They must band together to save Neverland from the ruthless pirate Blackbeard. Along the way, the rebellious and mischievous boy discovers his true destiny, becoming the hero forever known as Peter Pan.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Blue Bird (1940)
Peasant children Mytyl and Tyltyl are led on a magical quest for the fabulous Blue Bird of Happiness by the fairy Berylune. On their journey, they're accompanied by the anthropomorphized presences of a Dog, a Cat, Light, Fire, and Bread, among other entities.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
When Clara’s mother leaves her a mysterious gift, she embarks on a journey to four secret realms—where she discovers her greatest strength could change the world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Dirt Bike Kid (1985)
When his mother sends Jack off with money to buy groceries, he comes home with a magic supercharged dirt bike instead. His mother is furious, but when Jack uses the magic bike to save the local hot dog stand from the clutches of corrupt big business, he becomes the town hero.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisElla Enchanted (2004)
Ella lives in a magical world in which each child, at the moment of their birth, is given a virtuous "gift" from a fairy godmother. Ella's so-called gift, however, is obedience. This birthright proves itself to be quite the curse once Ella finds herself in the hands of several unscrupulous characters whom she quite literally cannot disobey. Determined to gain control of her life and decisions, Ella sets off on a journey to find her fairy godmother who she hopes will lift the curse. The path, however, isn't easy -- Ella must outwit a slew of unpleasant obstacles including ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, elves and Prince Charmont's evil uncle, who wants to take over the crown and rule the kingdom.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGodmothered (2020)
A young and unskilled fairy godmother that ventures out on her own to prove her worth by tracking down a young girl whose request for help was ignored. What she discovers is that the girl has now become a grown woman in need of something very different than a "prince charming."
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisShorts (2009)
A young boy's discovery of a colorful, wish-granting rock causes chaos in the suburban town of Black Falls when jealous kids and scheming adults alike set out to get their hands on it.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Princess and the Goblin (1991)
The story is about the Princess Irene and a young warrior boy named Curty. Irene must use her magic power to fight off goblins and save the kingdom.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisA Tooth Fairy Tale (2025)
Van, the brave son of a tooth fairy leader, meets the goblins girl Gemma on his first mission. Despite the myths about ancient disputes between fairies and goblins, they share common values. When the greedy Spider Queen threatens both tribes, they must work together.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & family
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisPinocchio (2022)
A wooden puppet embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHappily Ever After (1989)
In the aftermath of her more famous adventure, Snow White must team up with the dwarves' seven female cousins to battle the late Evil Queen's warlock brother and rescue the captured Prince.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisAnastasia: Once Upon a Time (2020)
Anastasia Romanov escapes through a portal when her family is threatened by Vladimir Lenin, and she finds herself in the year 1988, befriended by a young American girl.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisMaleficent (2014)
A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. She rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal – an act that begins to turn her heart into stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading King's successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom – and to Maleficent's true happiness as well.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisInkheart (2008)
The adventures of a father and his young daughter, in their search for a long lost book that will help reunite a missing, close relative.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Little Mermaid (1976)
The little mermaid rescues a prince from drowning and falls in love with him. To be with him, she makes a deal with the evil sorceress: her beautiful voice against a life on land.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLegend (1985)
Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller, chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest. He must save the beautiful Princess Lili and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness, or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPrince Charming (2001)
After an extramarital indiscretion, a fairy-tale prince and his sidekick are turned into frogs for all eternity or until the prince can convince a maiden to kiss and then marry him.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCinderfella (1960)
When his father dies, poor Fella is left at the mercy of his snobbish stepmother and her two no-good sons Maximilian and Rupert. As he slaves away for his nasty step-family, Maximilian and Rupert attempt to find a treasure Fella's father has supposedly hidden on the estate. Hoping to restore her dwindling fortunes, the stepmother plans a fancy ball in honor of the visiting Princess Charmein whom she hopes will marry Rupert. Eventually, Fella's Fairy Godfather shows up to convince him that he has a shot at winning the Princess himself.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWhile the Clocks Are Ticking (1977)
Schoolgirl Masha gets into the fabulous city cheerful workers, which with the help of servants and cap of invisibility inhibits the evil Korol Kropodin I. Before the townspeople finally get rid of oppressors, Masha is a party to the exciting events and adventures.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
O Terezce a paní Madam (1976)
Princess Terezka was a girl like a pod until the moment when Mrs. Madam took over her upbringing. The princess even cries from her etiquette. Famous doctors and their potions do not help. However, when Terezka is secretly taken from the castle by her beloved Tonek to her parents in a country cottage, her illness is over. The king promises that whoever finds Terezka and brings her back to the castle will get her hand in marriage and half the kingdom to go with it.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy & family
Sokoliarova dcéra (1981)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy & family
O nebojácné Bětce (1990)
A story about how it is sometimes very easy to make a bad decision, but very difficult to make up for it... Prince Philip managed to sacrifice his friend's life quite easily, but it was not so easy to deal with his own conscience. Although the prince regrets his action, he does not know how to make amends. It is only the fearless and clever Bětka who manages the seemingly impossible and together with the prince rescues Martin from the captivity of the evil sleigh.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
O princi, který měl smůlu (1990)
About Prince Leopold, who is not independent due to the poor upbringing of his royal parents. He makes up thousands of excuses for whatever he has to do. He likes to claim that he is unlucky and that if he had a dwarf, he would grow up too. The White Lady from the painting wants to help the maid Lidka, who loves the prince. So she conjures up a real dwarf for him, who makes Leopold's life "unpleasant". Will the prince's love help him grow up and get rid of the dwarf and his excuses?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy & family
Descendants (2015)
A present-day idyllic kingdom where the benevolent teenage son of King Adam and Queen Belle offers a chance of redemption for the troublemaking offspring of Disney's classic villains: Cruella De Vil (Carlos), Maleficent (Mal), the Evil Queen (Evie) and Jafar (Jay).
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMasha and the Beasts (1995)
The girl Masha lives in modern Moscow. One day she went on vacation to the village to her grandmother. When she went to the forest to pick mushrooms with her friends, she got lost and got into a fairy tale. Masha finds a house where three bears live, and their neighbors live next to the house - an unknown animal, a cat, a fox, a chicken and a parrot. She enters the house, tastes the honey. When she wants to sleep, she hears the music of the fox and looks out the window. At this time, the owners come to the house - the bear Mikhail Ivanovich, the bear Nastasya Petrovna and the bear cub Mishutka, and Masha is hiding...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy & family
Aschenputtel (2011)
Once upon a time there was a orphan. The new stepmother and her daughter, Annabella, treat her badly and let her sleep in the ashes. One morning, in the woods, Cinderella meets a hunter who turns out to be Prince Victor.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
Die Sterntaler (2011)
Mina, a poor girl with a big heart sees stars falling from the sky and turning into Gold Talers before they land. With that money the girl can ask the king to let her parents go home.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
Die zertanzten Schuhe (2011)
Twelve princesses sleep in twelve beds in the same room; every night their doors are securely locked, but in the morning their shoes are found to be worn through as if they had been dancing all night. The king, in mourning, promises his kingdom and a daughter to any man who can discover the princesses'secret within three days and three nights, but those who fail within the set time limit will be put to death.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The Magic Book?
The closest matches to The Magic Book are Four Kids and It (2020), FairyTale: A True Story (1997) and Pan (2015). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The Magic Book?
Start with Four Kids and It (2020), the closest match to The Magic Book.
What is the highest-rated movie like The Magic Book?
Descendants (2015), rated 7.2/10 by 2,601 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The Magic Book?
A Tooth Fairy Tale (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
How are movies similar to The Magic Book chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Magic Book, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.