The best movies like Zelda games to watch after Tears of the Kingdom

It’s finally here, Polygon readers: Tears of the Kingdom – The Legend of ZeldaThe much-anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda Breath of the WildPlay.

We’ll be playing the game, writing guides, and generally having a blast in Hyrule. What if the fun extends beyond the game itself?

Below, we’ve gathered a list of movies that have some similarities to Tears Of The Kingdom Or the Zelda series as a whole. Perhaps they share a common narrative or main character. They may have similar aesthetics. Maybe the vibes are just right, or there’s one crucial detail they share.

Enjoy these movies like Zelda games, whether you’re watching them while taking a break from Tears Of The KingdomOr you can play the music in the backround while exploring the world.

Castle in the Sky

Image: Studio Ghibli

What it is Studio Ghibli’s first anime production follows a boy named Pazu who, after rescuing a young girl named Sheeta who falls from the sky with a magical amulet, sets out on a quest to protect the amulet from Sheeta’s would-be kidnappers and search for a mythical city floating in the clouds.

Why it’s like Zelda: The most popular inspiration for Legend of Zelda : Breath the Wild’s art style (especially in the design of the Guardians, which resemble a mashup of a Laputian Robot Trooper and Jōmon sculptures), and the narrative similarities, it has a floating castle in the sky that resembles Hyrule Castle in one of the early trailers for Tears Of The Kingdom. —Toussaint Egan

What to watch: Castle in the SkyYou can stream or download the movie on HBO Max or on Amazon, Apple TV Google Play and Vudu.

Princess Mononoke

Image: Studio Ghibli

What is it? After a decade Castle in the SkyMiyazaki’s Studio Ghibli created this masterpiece, which follows a prince who is trying to find harmony among humans, the gods and a woman raised by wolves.

Why it’s like Zelda: In addition to the aesthetic similarities between Ghibli’s style and the Zelda games, Mononoke This film is about a boy who’s way too young to be given this kind of responsibility. But he sets off on a quest to preserve the earth and its animals in an environment that has fallen into chaos. Also, the film’s protagonist, Prince Ashitaka, has a cursed right arm that Strongly Embraced resembles Link’s arm in Tears Of The Kingdom. —Pete Volk

What to watch: Princess Mononoke The HBO Max channel is also available for purchase or digital download on Amazon.com, Apple TV and Google Play.

Labyrinth

Image: Sony Home Entertainment

What it is Jim Henson’s dark fantasy wonder about a teenage girl who has to travel to the center of a large maze to rescue her baby brother from the Goblin King David Bowie. This movie has been nominated both for the Hugo Award and a BAFTA award for its visual effects.

Why it’s like Zelda: Labyrinth Another movie where a teenager goes on an adventure in order to save someone they care about and hope for a more peaceful world. —PV

What to watch: Labyrinth You can watch it for free on Tubi or Pluto TV with advertisements, or you can rent or buy the digital version on Amazon, Apple TV or Google Play.

Free Solo

National Geographic Image

What it is An Oscar-winning documentary about famous free solo (aka climbing without ropes or other protective equipment) climber Alex Honnold, documenting his attempt to free solo climb Yosemite’s 3,000-foot-tall El Capitan rock formation.

Why it’s like Zelda: Link enjoys climbing! Link loves climbing! —PV

What to watch: Free Solo You can stream the movie on Disney Plus or buy it digitally on Amazon or Google Play.

Berserk

Image: Studio 4°C/Crunchyroll

What is it? Kentaro Miura’s dark fantasy masterpiece (which has been adapted into three separate anime) follows the story of Guts, a lone mercenary swordsman who battles through a dark medieval world to avenge his fallen comrades who were sacrificed by his former commander and friend, Griffith. Be warned: It’s also very brutal and graphic.

Why it’s like Zelda: Blood Moon Eclipses occur periodically. Breath of Wild, the one that revives every nearby enemy you’ve killed (aside from bosses)? Imagine if this eclipse You can also read about how to get in touch with us. transported you to a hell dimension where you’re flayed alive by a brood of demons who feast on your flesh, all so your ex-best friend can achieve his dreams. Berserk plays out like the darkest possible reimagining of Link’s story you could ever think of. And it’s awesome. —TE

What to watch: The Golden Age Arc, Berserk – Memorial EditionThe 2022 version is a newer, more modernized version. Golden Age Arc Crunchyroll offers a television series of the movie trilogy. It is also available for purchase digitally on Amazon. The anime series BerserkCrunchyroll is streaming the movie (2016).

Black Angel

Roger Christian/20th Century Fox

What is it? After returning from the Crusades, a medieval knight discovers that his family is gone and the country has been ravaged by an unknown disease. After crossing paths with a mysterious maiden, the knight makes it his mission to free her from the clutches of her captor: an otherworldly knight known as the “Black Angel.”

Why it’s like Zelda: The setting for the film was Scotland. Black AngelThe music is both beautiful and eerie. The knight’s quest to save the maidens feels as epic and personal as Link’s own to rescue Zelda and save Hyrule from the machinations of Ganondorf. —TE

What to watch: Black AngelIt is also available for digital purchase on Amazon and Google Play. Digital copies are also available on Amazon and Google Play.

The Sword in the Stone

Walt Disney Animation Studios

What is it? This animated adaptation follows the story of an orphan boy, who with the aid of Merlin the wizard, pulls out a magical blade from a stone. He then trains under Merlin’s guidance to be the rightful King of England.

Why it’s like Zelda: C’mon — the movie is literally about a child fated by destiny to unsheath a magical sword from a stone and unite a fractured kingdom. It doesn’t get much more archetypal than that, much less more Zelda-like. —TE

What to watch: The Sword in the StoneYou can stream the movie on Disney Plus or buy it digitally on Amazon, Apple TV Google Play and Vudu.