Top Ten Weapons from Fantasy Movies

Films are built on iconic images. Some frames of cinema are so ingrained into our brains that they can be summoned with a single word or phrase of music. It’s the reason I instantly have flashbacks every time someone says ‘Long Live the King’. Thank you, Disney. 

It’s easy to forget that fantasy movies represented a niche market for most of the early history of film. Most large-scale productions out of early Hollywood focused on historical epics like Gone with the Wind, or swashbuckling romances like The Adventures of Robin Hood. There was a huge market for Westerns and then Film Noir detectives, but very little in the way of fantasy. It would take until the advent of the blockbuster for fantasy and science fantasy movies to show up en masse. When they did, they brought some of the most iconic weapons ever to hit the screen with them! 

I’ve constructed a list of the top ten, but as with my previous rankings of fantasy literature weapons, I feel I need to lay out some ground rules: only one weapon per franchise. Plus, I’m going to include science fantasy movies in this list as well as straight fantasy movies. On top of this, the weapon must have become iconic in the movie in which it was depicted, not an already famous weapon that appears in the movie. 

So, without further ado, here’s the list… 

The Atlantean Sword – Conan the Barbarian

There can be few fantasy images as iconic as the movie poster for Conan the Barbarian. The sight of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, raising his magical sword above his head is pure old school eighties Dungeons and Dragons fantasy. This look, and the work of American artist Frank Frazetta that inspired it, defined the quintessential ‘barbarian’ style, and inspired countless imitators, the most famous being He-Man.

Frazetta also designed the cover art for the Conan books, but while you’ll see depictions of swords in those, none of them will contain the blade from the movie. The double-handed blade has a blunted middle section reminiscent of a Montante, and was a creation specifically for the motion picture.

Pursued by wolves after escaping captivity, Conan finds the blade in the tomb of an ancient king. Using it to cut through his chains and then slay his pursuers, he claims the sword as his own and movie magic is made. Arnie wields the Atlantean Sword through both Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer (although the latter undergoes a small redesign). The combination would become forever synonymous with the Governator himself, and a staple for the poster collections of fantasy lovers all over the world.

The Sword of the Daywalker – Blade

Picking an iconic marvel movie weapon was difficult because of my own rules. Nearly every suitable candidate, from Cap’s Shield to Mjolnir, has its origins in the comics. For a weapon made iconic by the movies, I have to take you back to the long distant year of 1998. Posh and Becks just got engaged, Dawson’s Creek was on the telly and a new action fantasy movie starring Wesley Snipes was about to be released. Put on your raincoat and get ready for the blood rave, we’re talking about Blade.

Blade sliced his way onto screen with an awesome array of weaponry, including head exploding anti-coagulant injectors, silver stake shotguns and whatever the hell that spinning boomerang thing was! But, for sheer style, nothing came close to the Sword of the Daywalker. 

Made to resemble a straight-bladed katana, the silver-edged sword has cleaved its way through an entire trilogy’s worth of vampires as Blade’s signature weapon. It was elegant in its simplicity, with its only piece of gadgetry being the handiest anti-theft device in pop culture history. The image of Blade’s long coat sweeping through the aftermath of the slaughter, while he casually slides the blade into its back holster, is pure movie magic. Quite literally, as the back scabbard was impossible to use. 

The best bit is that it’s a complete invention. There was no ‘Sword of the Daywalker’ in the Blade comics at the time the movie was made. The sword was so cool that comics afterwards started to draw him with versions of it, making this a rare case of the comics taking inspiration from their depictions in other media. You could say it was the Harley Quinn of comic book weaponry.

The Weirding Modules – Dune

A bit of science fantasy now. If you’ve read my previous article about fantasy literature, you’ll notice that this is a repeat franchise entry (it won’t be the last). I’m happy to throw my hands in the air as a Dune fanboy. I’m even one of those insufferable neckbeards who was into Frank Herbert’s masterpiece before the Timothée Chalamet version made it cool. That won’t be the version we’re talking about here though. For this entry we’re going to delve into the fever dream that was David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation, and as with anything Lynch, it gets weird.

There is a lot of fantastically bonkers stuff in this movie. Patrick Stewart being bald but still pulling off a ponytail, PVC Sado-Masochist gingers and Sting (yes, that one) in overdesigned speedos. For me, the most interesting addition is the Weirding Modules.

These guns use amplified and modulated sound as a weapon. The interesting part is that this technology links directly into the power of ‘the voice’, an ability used by the mystical Bene Gesserit sisterhood to command the wills of others. 

The movie paints the abilities of the sisterhood as being far more mystical than in the book. The Weirding Modules are emblematic of a shift in tone towards a more psychedelic style. Combined with the hallucinogenic prophecy scenes and the whispered psychic communications threaded through the movie, the modules embed the feeling that Paul Atreides and his soldiers are more than just desert nomads. They are part of something much larger and more important. 

The image of them riding through the desert on their sandworms, crushing the Harkonnen forces with explosive shouts of ‘Muad’Dib’, while the bombastic score by Toto (yes, Toto) plays in the background, is pure popcorn magic, and earns the Weirding Modules their spot on this list.  

Frying Pans – Tangled

Disney is the biggest producer of fantasy movies in history, which would, you’d think, make it easy to pull an iconic weapon out of a sea of examples. There were two main problems. Firstly, Disney’s reliance on fairy tales and other literature as sources offers the same problem as Marvel’s movies. Its most iconic weapons come from the fairy tale the movie is drawn from. Secondly, Disney’s family-friendly nature makes weapons of any sort less of a focus in their animated movies. Then along came Tangled.

This movie’s a personal favourite. I love the characters, the comedy, the way they wrap an insanely dark plot about kidnapping, gaslighting and abuse into a colourful fantasy backdrop. The thing I love most though, is the glow up received by the humble frying pan. First used as an improvised weapon by Rapunzel to knock out her love interest, Flynn Rider, this cast iron skillet would be used several times throughout the movie as a surprisingly effective bludgeoning weapon, eventually being adopted as the official weapon of the palace guard. 

Outside of being a stellar visual gag, the pan served as a great counterbalance to the delicacy of Rapunzel’s portrayal. She’s one of the youngest-looking Disney princesses and her colour palette of blonde and pink, combined with her innocence from being locked in a tower for her formative years leans into the stereotype of the damsel in distress. Pairing her up with a brutal and utilitarian improvised weapon hints at an edge and competence to her character without having to spell it out through dialogue. It was an idea so good it makes the movie poster!

Indiana Jones’ Whip – The Indiana Jones Series

Speaking of weapons that made the poster, this is one half of the most iconic costume duos of all time. How could it not be here? Simply saying ‘a whip and a hat’ is enough to bring the John Williams score blasting into the front of your mind. I’m willing to guarantee that anybody who saw the Indiana Jones movies as a child has tried whipping a bit of string round a branch and swinging out under it at least once. 

I debated whether these films counted as fantasy for a moment. Then I remembered that the core items from each movie in the original trilogy were essentially a magic box, some magic stones and a magic cup. Indiana Jones was a very different breed of fantasy adventure to anything I’d ever seen as a child, harkening back to the era of pulp adventure stories prevalent in the 30s through to the 50s. The mix of whimsy and romanticism made them the Spielberg movies of their time and they clearly inspired him.

Indy’s bullwhip is a constant companion throughout all of these adventures, serving not just as a weapon, but as a traversal method, a means of securing doors and a love interest acquisition device (see the end of Temple of Doom). Just like Rapunzel’s pan, it tells us a lot about his character without the use of dialogue. It’s an unorthodox weapon, ideal for a character that thinks outside the box. It’s multi-purpose, showing Indy’s pragmatic nature. It’s also rustic and old-fashioned even by the standards of its setting, showing his love of the past. It’s every bit as much a part of the character as his hat, and we love them both.

Cherlindrea’s Wand – Willow

Back into some old school fantasy for this one. Willow was the introduction to fantasy for a lot of kids my age, and served as a whimsical introduction to an important message: ‘Don’t judge a person by their appearance’. 

Starring a young Warwick Davis, this fable tells the story of Willow, a young wizard beginning to learn his powers, and the child he is tasked with protecting. The plot is a classic fairy tale, seeming to draw inspiration from an odd mix of the biblical stories of Herod and Moses, with a hefty dose of Snow White thrown in. An evil sorceress hears a prophecy that a child with a special birthmark will be her downfall, she attempts to have it killed, but it escapes when its midwife puts it into a little boat and sends it downstream to be picked up by a village of hobbit-like creatures called Nelwyn.

Willow is part of a group tasked with returning the child safely to human society and winds up as her unlikely protector through increasingly dangerous adventures. He is aided in his quest by the wand of his village elder wizard, Cherlindrea. The wand is an incredibly potent magical item, capable of focusing and amplifying its wielder’s magic, but takes the form of an unassuming tree branch. A not-so-subtle metaphor for Willow himself, it’s not much to look at, with all its true power hidden away. 

Willow’s journey is one of self-discovery and growth. As he learns to master the wand, he gains confidence and the ability to stand up for himself and appreciate his own worth. The wand stands as a symbol of that growth, and of the idea that anybody can be a hero, no matter how small.

Sting – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

This is the perfect example of how things can change from a book to a movie. I’m being a little cheeky with this entry, as Sting is absolutely a creation of the books and an argument could be made for it being iconic within them. However, I didn’t choose it as the most iconic weapon within the book, as the ring is a far more focal artifact. That changed in the movie because of a single choice. 

In the books, all of the blades forged in the first age city of Gondolin glow blue when orcs are near. So Glamdring, Orcrist and Sting all have this ability. Only two of those swords make an appearance in the first trilogy of films by Peter Jackson, and both were supposed to glow blue. Jackson decided that it worked better if it was only Sting that had the ability, as it made it more unique.

As a result, Sting becomes the focal point whenever orcs are near. Jackson’s trademark quick cut closeup draws the audience’s eyes to it constantly. It’s the party’s early warning signal that danger is approaching and therefore gets way more screen time and attention than in the books. Also, because these are always highly dramatic moments, they stick out more in the mind. This one editing decision takes Sting from being Frodo’s mildly interesting sword, to the equivalent of a red alert in Star Trek, stealing the thunder from even the One Ring.

The Sword of Inigo Montoya – The Princess Bride

This one comes from the heart. The Princess Bride is the movie I watch when the worst has happened and the world seems dark to bring a little brightness back into my day. It is one of my favourite films of all time and the loss of its director, Rob Reiner, was a blow I’m still not sure I’ve quite recovered from. 

The film is a loving pastiche of fantasy movies, centred around a grandfather telling his sick grandson a bedtime story. We see the story played out as though we’re there and are transported into a realm of evil princes, revenge plots, rhyming wrestlers, and what, in my opinion, is the finest example of sword fighting ever put to celluloid. The revenge subplot centres around a bandit called Inigo Montoya, attempting to hunt down his father’s killer. He carries his father’s sword, an elegantly crafted rapier.

The sword is a pure camp fantasy design, right down to the overly embellished hilt, but it’s Mandy Patinkin’s performance that makes every scene with it iconic. Whether it’s through the movie’s unmatched quotable dialogue or the sheer skill on display, we believe that he is one with the blade and the final confrontation with his father’s killer is a brilliant performance. Patinkin says he channelled all the rage he felt at the cancer that took his own father from him into the performance as he faces down the villain and it shows.

The whole film is a gem and this blade and the story behind it is a huge part of the reason why. As Wesley says ‘I have never seen its equal’. Ready for the next entry? As you wish.

Ramirez’s Sword - Highlander

Highlander is a perfect example of lightning-in-a-bottle movie making. This film has absolutely no right to be as good as it is. On paper it sounds like a joke. You’ve got immortal Scotsman Connor MacLeod, played by Frenchman, Christopher Lambert, who cannot do a Scottish accent. He acts opposite Sean Connery, one of the most famous Scotsmen of all time, who is playing an Egyptian, dressed as a Spaniard, with a Japanese sword. They engage in a series of sword fights, followed by magical electrical storms throughout history, to a soundtrack written by Queen. 

Ridiculous. Yet somehow it works, and underpinning the whole thing is that immortal silhouette of Connor MacLeod in his trenchcoat, spinning his ivory handled katana with a cheeky grin on his face. The sword itself changes hands throughout the movie, passing from Ramirez to MacLeod, and symbolising his transformation from a normal human to something at the same time more and less. 

It serves as a constant companion to MacLeod throughout the centuries of his life, and we feel the connection to Ramirez he maintains through it. It’s a symbol of his loneliness and the burden he carries with him. The memories of his best friend and his wife are wrapped up within it. Every time he looks at it outside of battle we get a flashback of his memories with them. It feels like a piece of them that he keeps with him, keeping them alive to keep him company. It’s a beautiful example of pathos through symbolism and one of the coolest character/weapon combinations in the history of cinema. A representation of the film’s ultimate question: who wants to live forever? 

Honourable Mentions

There were way too many options for this list. To be honest, if you ask me again in a week, it might change. But honourable mentions go to: 

• The weapons of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Disqualified as they became iconic through the TV series, but I still cannot shake that theme song from my head. 

• Riddick’s blades – Chronicles of Riddick – I know this was science fantasy, but the blades aren’t around enough to leave a lasting impression on the audience. The tea cup on the other hand…

• The sword of Fa Mulan – This was probably the hardest debate I had with myself as the sword is not in the original poem, however frying pans took it as they’re more of a focal point in the movie and last from beginning to end. Also frying pans are more fun.

• The Glaive – Krull – Whilst this is a fantastic movie (featuring some of the earliest appearances of Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane), it just didn’t have the widespread appeal of the other films on this list. Still a great movie though. 

Lightsabers – Star Wars

Be honest, you knew this was coming the minute you saw I was including science fantasy on this list. There is perhaps no sound in the history of cinema as instantly recognisable as the ignition and hum of a lightsaber. I toyed with the idea of putting a single lightsaber in this entry, but that almost felt like a disservice to all of the others. 

From the first moment that Obi-Wan activated that blade in 1977, no stick was safe. Kids have been waving them around, mimicking that swooshing hum for nearly fifty years and they have never shown signs of stopping. Lightsabers are totally inseparable from Star Wars. Even in spin off shows where there aren’t any Jedi, the audience is still waiting for that sound, with bonus points if it’s accompanied by the John Williams score. 

Perhaps the best part about them is something that could only be of use in film, lighting. Because the blade is a light source in itself, the lightsaber changes the way that light works in any scene they’re involved in. The bright colours can be used to drive tension in closeups or affect the room tone of any shot they’re in. The choice of red for Sith lightsabers means they will always look more intimidating due to the colour being psychologically associated with danger. Meanwhile, the softer colours of blue and green link the Jedi to calmer emotions, showing them always at odds with the violence of combat. 

It’s the perfect visual shorthand for hero and villain, accompanied by the coolest sound design in the history of cinema. It’s possibly the most iconic weapon in cinema history, which makes it all the more unbelievable that the original prop started life as a camera flash handle.

Conclusion

I know, I know. I’ve got it completely wrong and all my opinions are invalid. I’m sure anyone reading this is currently seething with white hot fury at how I DARED to leave their favourite item off the list. That’s the great thing about fantasy though. Because we usually experience it so young, it tends to latch onto us, becoming a part of who we are. 

I appreciate that passion. I think it’s the best thing about a genre that inspires imagination and joy. Feel free to share it, that’s what a comments section is for (obviously be nice). I’m sure I will be right there with you. Until next time.