Fantasy movies have been around for nearly 100 years, if not more, and there have been some real abominations since. Whether these films are based on books or not, fantasy films still require all the correct ingredients to be good, which include, but are not limited to, lighting, visuals, scripting, direction, editing, sound design, and, of course, casting. Casting is an especially important part of it, as the wrong actor in a role can totally destroy a movie.

Of course, not all fantasy films have made the wrong choices. In fact, a good number have only utilized actors that are an ideal fit for the role, allowing their respective films to go down in history as some of the greatest ever made. , which remind fans why casting is so important and why these films are so beloved in the first place.

Ask any fan of ,and they'll likely agree that the eight films, made by various directors, all nailed the casting choices. Despite swapping hands numerous times, with four different directors taking the reins on the series, each and every one of them managed to find only the best actors for their respective roles. The "golden trio," played by , , and , is still commonly associated with their roles even 15 years later. For many, Daniel Radcliffe is Harry Potter, and the same logic applies to pretty much every other actor in the series.

There's as Professor McGonagall, as Professor Snape, as Draco Malfoy, as Sirius Black, as Luna Lovegood, and so, so many more roles that wound up being played by the ideal actor. with each other, along with the , has allowed the films to stay fresh, ensuring that they are .

The casting of might seem a bit odd at first glance. There are only a couple of human roles in the film, with the majority of the characters being puppets, and thus played by voice actors and puppeteers. Still, even though they don't physically appear in the movie, the talent behind this film is not to be underestimated. As for the human roles, it seems a bit strange to feature as the antagonist, Jareth the Goblin King, but he was absolutely perfect in this role, and no one could have taken his place.

Even the film's protagonist, Sarah (), is able to capture the teenage angst and remorse at wishing her baby brother away to a tee. David Bowie's punchy baritone and extravagant style suit the elaborate musical numbers wonderfully, and the voice performances of the puppet characters are pretty amazing, too. and that the right actors can easily elevate a film.

The original version of is another cinematic classic, and by far the most beloved adaptation of 's children's novel. Many of the main characters were children, which could kind of be hit or miss, as many child actors are. However, every single one of them brings a brilliant performance, with the film being spearheaded by as the eponymous chocolatier.

Wilder perfectly portrays Wonka's untrustworthiness, seeming like an innocent business owner at first, yet one can tell that he has cleverly orchestrated the entire event. Wilder is perfectly complemented by the child actors, each of whom looks the part and acts it too, from Veruca Salt's () pompous greediness to Mike Teevee's () addiction to technology. There have been many adaptations of Dahl's work, but.

is a movie jam-packed with action, based upon the historical Battle of Thermopylae, albeit with a few fantastical aspects based on Greek mythology mixed in. When it comes to portraying Spartan warriors, director needed to find someone who was seasoned in the action department, but also capable of having a commanding and inspiring presence, so who better to pick than ?

Butler plays the real-life King of Sparta, , who valiantly sacrificed his life during the battle, along with the lives of his 300 Spartans, in order to give the rest of Greece time to prepare for the coming Persian invasion. Butler does an exceptional job, embodying the sacrificial energy that surrounded the Spartans, knowing that their deaths were imminent, but still gritting their teeth and fighting to the last. Along with Butler, pretty much every other actor knocked it out of the park. There's no question that 300 is brilliantly cast, but perhaps as much as they should.

is a Disney musical fantasy comedy film that aims to seamlessly blend live action and animation, making the film extra vibrant and memorable. While the movie is beloved for many reasons, one aspect that is often overlooked is how brilliant the casting decisions are. The word that best describes the choices for the cast is "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." The eponymous magical nanny with a flying umbrella is played by Dame , who absolutely kills it, as always.

To be honest, though, most, if not all, of the parts played by Dame Andrews could never be played by anybody else, whether it be on stage, on the small screen, or the big screen. , as were the rest of her fellow castmates. Not only are the live-action roles excellently selected, but so are . Mary Poppins is over 60 years old, yet it remains one of the textbook examples of a brilliantly cast film.

The franchise has seen its ups and downs, but the first film is most definitely the best. No matter how good or bad the franchise's movies are, though, one constant is as the main character, Captain Jack Sparrow. Captain Sparrow is a bit of an eccentric goofball, yet an efficient pirate, and it's impossible to imagine literally anybody else playing the part.

This thrilling pirate adventure also boasts great performances from as Will Turner, as Elizabeth Swann, and as the villainous Captain Hector Barbossa. Like Depp, it's impossible to imagine anyone else taking their places, because they're all just so perfect in their positions. While Pirates of the Caribbean hasn't always been very consistent, , especially the first film.

is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, due in part to the phenomenal casting choices made on behalf of the crew. plays Dorothy, which arguably became her most famous role, filled with exceptional vocal performances and emotional acting. But she's not the only brilliant actress: as the Wicked Witch of the West is also a highlight, with her part being responsible for many of the stereotypes one thinks of when they imagine a witch, from the green skin to the pointy hat to the broomstick.

Sure, the recent recast in the prequel film was perfectly fine (also necessary considering the original cast of the first film has passed away in the nearly 100 years since its release), but the new actors will never live up to the greatness of the originals. The Wizard of Oz is ,utilizing actors who are not only capable of performing a demanding role but who also look the part, too.

is a fantasy comedy about a Princess who reunites with a lost love against the wishes of the Prince she is supposed to marry, with the story being framed as a grandfather reading the tale to his sick grandson. Much of the story takes place in a fantastical world inhabited by tongue-in-cheek fantasy tropes and fairy tale clichés, but its self-awareness is part of the reason why people like it so much.

Another reason, though, is its impeccable casting. From as Westley to as Inigo Montoya, to as Princess Buttercup, and even to as Prince Humperdinck, there wasn't a single wasted role or line of dialogue in this film. Oh, and let's not forget as Vizzini or as Vizzini's muscly henchman, Fezzik. , providing an unmatched sense of energy. with each other, and the film is made all the better for it.

Director went on record in the Appendices of trilogy to state that casting is an absolutely crucial part of the filming process, and that an actor can really make or break the movie depending on whether or not they're the right fit. Make no mistake: Jackson knows how to put his money where his mouth is. in any way, even the minor speaking roles with only one line.

as Gandalf? Perfect. as Aragorn? Spot-on. as Saruman? Even better, considering he was the only member of the cast to actually meet , the author of the books that the films are based on. And of course, there's as Gollum, a role that just isn't the same without his iconic voice or motion capture performance. The movies are pretty near perfect, from their script to their cast, and there's very little debate about that amongst critics.

Say what you will about Peter Jackson's prequels to The Lord of the Rings, but trilogy has equally perfect casting, featuring returning actors in their previous roles, along with new actors in a whole new set of roles. One wouldn't expect the quiet and sophisticated to deliver a good performance as the enormous dragon, Smaug the Terrible, but he does. And that's not even touching upon the brilliant performance at the film's heart: Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins.

Even the 13 dwarves in this film are all perfectly picked in terms of the actors behind them, and some of them don't even speak. There's no doubt that many die-hard fans of The Lord of the Rings definitely didn't enjoy The Hobbit, even if it wasn't as bad as some think. But if there's one thing that can still be agreed on, it's Peter Jackson's impeccable eye for talent and ability to utilize exactly the right person for a challenging or major role.

NEXT: 10 Most Perfectly Acted Movies of All Time, Ranked