12 Movies Like The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin You Need to Watch
Find 12 epic picks with fantasy, action, and drama energy, from House of the Dragon to The Rings of Power and other must-watch series.
If you’re searching for movies like The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin, you probably want big-world fantasy, ancient powers, and a hero journey with real stakes. This guide pulls together 12 picks that share that mix of myth, action, and drama, from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Masters of the Universe. You’ll also find genre-blending standouts such as Song of the Bandits, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Clash of the Thundermans. Whether you’re after swordplay, sorcery, or a science-fiction twist, these titles make a strong next watch.
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01
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
action · adventure · drama · fantasy
A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros: a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits await these improbable and incomparable friends.
Directed by Owen Harris, Sarah Adina Smith, Andrea HarkinCast Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, Daniel Ings, Shaun Thomas, Danny WebbMax -
02
Masters of the Universe
action · adventure · fantasy · sci-fi
A young man on Earth discovers a fabulous secret legacy as the prince of an alien planet, and must recover a magic sword and return home to protect his kingdom.
Directed by Travis KnightCast Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Jared Leto, Jóhannes Haukur JóhannessonAmazon Prime Video -
03
Clash of the Thundermans
action & adventure · comedy · crime · drama · kids & family · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
When Chloe develops a destructive new superpower, the Hero League orders her to an elite boarding school for superheroes to learn control of her abilities. Faced with the prospect of sending Chloe away for years, the Thundermans split apart, with Phoebe, Barb and Billy taking her into hiding. Max, Hank, and Nora track their rogue family members, until the two factions face off against each other in a full-on battle for the Thundermans’ future.
Directed by Trevor KirschnerCast Kira Kosarin, Jack Griffo, Maya Le Clark, Rosa Blasi, Chris TallmanParamount Plus -
04
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
action · adventure · drama · fantasy
Beginning in a time of relative peace, we follow an ensemble cast of characters as they confront the re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
Directed by Charlotte Brändström, Sanaa Hamri, Wayne Che Yip, Louise Hooper, J.A. BayonaCast Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Robert Aramayo, Markella Kavenagh, Owain ArthurAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
05
Song of the Bandits
drama · action & adventure · history · western
In the lawless land of Gando, fierce bandits will stop at nothing to fight for their precious homeland and loved ones — even if it means life or death.
Directed by Hwang Joon-hyeokCast Kim Nam-gil, Seohyun, Yoo Jae-myung, Lee Hyun-wook, Lee Ho-jungNetflix -
06
Daemons of the Shadow Realm
animation · action · adventure · drama · fantasy
Yuru, a young hunter, lives in a small village deep in the mountains, hunting wild game and leading a humble life with Asa, his younger twin sister. Their peaceful lives are torn apart when a dragon’s roar echoes across the sky. What secrets lurk within their village? What fate awaits them?
Directed by Masahiro AndôCast Kenshô Ono, Yume Miyamoto, Yûichi Nakamura, Rikiya Koyama, Misaki KunoNetflixHulu -
07
House of the Dragon
action · adventure · drama · fantasy · romance
The Targaryen dynasty is at the absolute apex of its power, with more than 15 dragons under their yoke. Most empires crumble from such heights. In the case of the Targaryens, their slow fall begins when King Viserys breaks with a century of tradition by naming his daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne. But when Viserys later fathers a son, the court is shocked when Rhaenyra retains her status as his heir, and seeds of division sow friction across the realm.
Directed by Clare Kilner, Geeta Vasant Patel, Miguel Sapochnik, Greg Yaitanes, Loni PeristereCast Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Sonoya Mizuno, Kurt EgyiawanMax -
08
Lord of the Flies
drama · thriller
After a plane crash, a group of schoolboys find themselves stranded on a tropical island without adults. Ralph is elected leader and, with the help of the intelligent Piggy, strives to maintain order and civilization. Jack, responsible for the signal fire, becomes increasingly focused on hunting and power struggles. This leads to tensions within the group, gradually pushing the boys from hope and structure into chaos and tragedy.
Directed by Marc MundenCast Winston Sawyers, Lox Pratt, David McKenna, Ike Talbut, Thomas ConnorNetflix -
09
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
animation · action · adventure · drama · fantasy · mystery
When human sailors are attacked by mysterious creatures of the deep, only one person can stop the war between land and sea: the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia.
Directed by Heechul KangCast Doug Cockle, Joey Batey, Anya Chalotra, Christina Wren, Emily CareyNetflix -
10
Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentosho
animation · action · adventure · drama · fantasy · history
Jinta journeys through a century-spanning epic, all while questioning why he wields a sword.
Directed by Shannon Reed, Kazuya AiuraCast Kelly Greenshield, Aaron Campbell, Taku Yashiro, Ai Kayano, Yôji UedaHulu -
11
Song of the Samurai
action · drama
Follows the Shinsengumi samurai corps during late-Edo period Kyoto, centered on former street fighter Hijikata Toshizo and his brotherhood with Kondo Isami and Okita Soji as loyalty, betrayal, and war test them.
Directed by Kazutaka WatanabeCast Yuki Yamada, Nobuyuki Suzuki, Aoi Nakamura, Kanata Hosoda, Shûhei UesugiMax -
12
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
animation · action · adventure · drama · fantasy
A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and traitorous lord of Rohan seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg.
Directed by Kenji KamiyamaCast Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Miranda Otto, Luca Pasqualino, Lorraine AshbourneMax
Wrapping Up
That’s the heart of this list: fantasy stories with scale, danger, and characters worth following. Whether your taste runs toward the royal politics of House of the Dragon, the mythic sweep of The Rings of Power, or the adventurous energy of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, there’s plenty here to explore. Bookmark this page if you like keeping a running watchlist, because it’s updated regularly with fresh recommendations. Come back whenever you want another reliable set of picks that match the same epic mood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 4, 2026