Dragons are and always have been a universal symbol in mythology and fantasy throughout most cultures around the world. Though each culture has their own version of what a dragon is, it is non-verbally agreed that a dragon is a large, serpent-like creature typically known for destruction, power, and often great wisdom. There are many adaptations of such folklore between games, shows, plays, and movies. 

When one hears “Dragon Movie”, the expectation would be a movie about or centered around a dragon or many dragons. Going off of this assumption and despite how popular dragons seem to be in our culture, there just aren’t as many dragon movies out there as one might think. Due to this, some of the movies on our list today include dragons but may not be about exclusively about dragons. Nevertheless, read on to see our picks for the best dragon movies of all time.

10. Maleficent (2014)

Starting off the list with the least dragon-y movie, Maleficent is Disney’s call back to the villain from the 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty. As the story goes, princess Aurora (Elle Fanning) is taken and put to sleep by Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) as revenge for past betrayals. The strange difference between the original and this new, re-imagining is that Maleficent never actually turns into a dragon, she instead uses her magic to transform Diaval into various creatures, one of which being a dragon near the end of the movie.

9. Spirited Away (2001)

Another on this list where a dragon is more of a cameo is Spirited Away, a magical tale from Hayao Miyazaki that delves into many, varied Japanese myths of old. Determined to save her parents from being turned permanently into pigs, Chihiro (Daveigh Chase and Rumi Hiiragi) must traverse a fantastical land of spirits, witches, and other mystical creatures. While the white dragon styled after Japanese folklore in this movie is not the main focus, it becomes a pivotal aspect to the plot and the protagonist’s arc. 

See our list of the best Studio Ghibli movies for more like this.