When it comes to the fantasy genre, The Lord of the Rings reigns supreme. In both the cinematic and literary worlds, the saga about the Hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and his quest to destroy the One Ring is widely considered the pinnacle of fantasy storytelling, thanks to its memorable characters, jaw-droppingly immersive world-building, and a story that has not only introduced but also perfected many of the tropes commonly associated with the genre. Very few fantasy movies surpass The Lord of the Rings, at least when it comes to sheer scope, ambition, and execution.

Another key aspect behind the trilogy’s success is how epic they are. Middle-earth is vast and expansive, full of wonder and danger in equal measure. The books and the movies make this story truly feel larger-than-life, creating a captivating world that often threatens to overwhelm because of its sheer scope. “Epic” even feels like an understatement to describe these exemplary movies, all three of which have truly become the standard for modern blockbuster cinema. Yet, there are at least three movies that feel more epic than The Lord of the Rings. Perhaps they feel grander in their storytelling, perhaps they offer more enveloping and cinematic executions, or maybe they just feel far more grandiose. Whatever the case, the three movies on this list feel more epic than Peter Jackson‘s undeniably stellar trilogy. To keep things fair, we’ll only include movies with elements of adventure and action, as well as similar thematic concerns to The Lord of the Rings.

‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)

No director has ever mastered the epic genre quite as well as David Lean. From The Bridge on the River Kwai to Doctor Zhivago, the iconic director helmed some of cinema’s all-time greatest epics. His magnum opus is undeniably Lawrence of Arabia, starring Peter O’Toole in the role that made him a legend. Set during World War I, the film sees British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (O’Toole) traveling to seek Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) and act as a liaison between the Arabs and the British in their fight against the Turks. Soon, Lawrence goes rogue and, aided by the native Sharif Ali (Omar Sharif), sets out on a desert journey to strike at the Turks when they least expect it.

Lawrence of Arabia is now considered a cinematic institution, and for good reason. This ambitious picture revolutionized filmmaking, pioneering editing techniques that marked a true before-and-after in the craft. In the acting department, O’Toole delivers one of the best performances ever captured on film, a larger-than-life and nearly overwhelming depiction of ambition and an identity in conflict with itself that further elevates this tale. Visually, Lean beautifully captures the vastness of the desert, turning the sands of the Arabian Peninsula into a hypnotizing, nearly otherworldly landscape that threatens to consume us. Thematically, Lawrence of Arabia is all about how legends are born. Watching Lawrence’s legacy being born before our eyes gives the film a timeless, haunting nature that makes the whole thing seem far more grandiose. The Lord of the Rings makes Middle-earth seem epic, but Lawrence of Arabia makes something far more impressive: it makes our world seem fantastical and almost mythical.

‘Ran’ (1985)

Many would say Akira Kurosawa is the greatest filmmaker in film history, and the claim would not be an overstatement. The legendary director left behind a rich cinematic legacy, including outright masterpieces like Seven Samurai, Ikiru, and Yojimbo. However, perhaps his greatest epic is his last, 1985’s Ran, an adaptation of Shakespeare‘s King Lear. Tatsuya Nakadai stars as Hidetora Ichimonji, a seventy-year-old warlord in the Sengoku period who decides to abdicate his throne and divide his territory between his three sons. However, his youngest refuses to pledge loyalty to his eldest, leading to an extended conflict that will destroy everyone.

The Bard’s stories are always an excellent source material for updating, and Kurosawa does it expertly in Ran. Translating the action to feudal Japan allows him to explore themes of honor, legacy, and the burden of power, resulting in a deeply psychological and insightful interpretation of a well-known story. Kurosawa complements this approach with some of the largest and most riveting battles ever depicted on the silver screen. Ran‘s depiction of warfare is majestic and unforgiving, yet also sumptuous and strikingly beautiful. The use of vibrant color and vast, natural landscapes makes the whole thing a sensory feast, demanding every bit of the audience’s attention but rewarding them with one of the most exhilarating tragedies in the medium. In pretty much every way that counts, Ran is the perfect representation of what a cinematic epic should be. Thematically poignant and visually glorious, the film is spectacle in its purest form, a film of such magnitude that one can’t help but feel humbled at witnessing it.

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Mad Max: Fury Road is the greatest action movie of the 21st century, and it’s not even particularly close. Balancing genres, themes, and approaches, George Miller‘s ambitious saga is basically one long car chase throughout the desert. Tom Hardy takes over the role of Max Rockatansky from Mel Gibson in this story set in a dystopian world where the Earth has been transformed into a wasteland and society has descended into chaos, reduced to their primal instincts. The loner Max soon finds himself allying with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a warrior and rebel aiding the five wives of a despot escape to a haven known as the Green Place.

To put it simply, Mad Max: Fury Road is the ultimate representation of epic cinematic action, the perfect encapsulation of everything that makes the genre thrive on the big screen. Exhilarating to a fault, explosive (literally), and offering arguably the greatest action sequences in the medium’s history, the film represents an exciting breakthrough in genre filmmaking. Yet, it never sacrifices the story’s emotional or thematic core for mere spectacle. Even with all its impressive set pieces, it still offers plenty of food for thought, full of clever commentary about totalitarianism, rebellion, and especially feminism. Charlize Theron’s Furiosa is undoubtedly the best female action hero since Linda Hamilton‘s Sarah Connor, becoming the embodiment of the film’s themes. Mad Max: Fury Road is unrelenting, a non-stop and adrenaline-pumping saga covered in sweat and oil. Witnessing it on the big screen is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the greatest testament to the power of the theater experience.