Here are a few Zelda-like movies to watch when you’re not busy playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, from Castle in the Sky to The Sword in the Stone.
It’s finally here, Polygon readers: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the long-awaited sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, is out and available to play.
We’ll be playing the game, writing guides, and generally having a blast in Hyrule. But what if you want the fun to extend beyond the game?
Below, we’ve gathered a list of movies that have some similarities to Tears of the Kingdom or the Zelda franchise as whole. Maybe they have a similar narrative or lead character. Maybe they have a similar visual aesthetic. 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 Kingdom or putting them on in the background while you continue to explore the wide world of the game.Castle in the Sky
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: Aside from serving as one of the most obvious inspirations for Legend of Zelda: Breath of 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
Where to watch it: Castle in the Sky is available to stream on HBO Max, or for digital rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu.Princess Mononoke
What it is: About a decade after Castle in the Sky, Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli made this masterpiece following a young prince looking to bring harmony between humans, gods, and a young woman raised by wolves.
