George R.R. Martin’s favorite Disney film is a dark dragon fantasy, and it isn’t exactly kid-friendly. In a piece for The Daily Beast, the Game of Thrones creator reveals that his personal top-10 list of fantasy films includes Dragonslayer, praising its eerie atmosphere and standout creature effects. He even argues that Vermithrax Perjorative—a fearsome, fire-breathing dragon—is superior to the dragons seen in Game of Thrones. As Martin puts it:
"Vermithrax Perjorative is the best dragon ever put on film (the dragons in Reign of Fire are a close second) and has the coolest dragon name as well."
Vermithrax is undeniably impressive. The effects were crafted by Industrial Light & Magic, George Lucas’s famed special-effects house, and the dragon earned an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. Yet, Vermithrax isn’t exactly Disney-friendly. The creature demands virgin sacrifices, a chilling detail that sits at odds with Disney’s family image. It’s also worth noting that Dragonslayer arrived in the 1980s, a decade when Disney experimented with darker, scarier fare such as The Watcher in the Woods.
But Martin’s affection for Dragonslayer goes beyond dragons and mood. He notes several parallels with his own world-building and, in particular, with Game of Thrones. The film’s morally gray antagonists, the brave yet imperfect heroes, and the complex emotional threads resonate with the grim, morally ambiguous tone Martin is known for.
In Martin’s own words from The Daily Beast, Dragonslayer features a brave, noble princess who is woven into a romance that’s complicated by deception. The male lead, Galen, is a central figure, while Caitlin Clarke’s character disguises herself as a boy for a large portion of the story—an early, surprising example of gender-bending for a Disney film. The villains aren’t simply one-note tyrants; they’re depicted with plausible motives that blur the line between good and evil. Vermithrax, too, is portrayed with motives that feel understandable within the story’s context.
Dragonslayer isn’t the most widely beloved entry in Disney’s catalog, and it isn’t the obvious pick for fans seeking the more lighthearted adventures typical of Raya and the Last Dragon. Still, Martin’s enthusiastic endorsement is compelling, and it highlights several commendable aspects of the film that merit attention—even if the movie isn’t suited for every viewer. It’s a reminder that even a studio known for family-friendly fare can produce works that linger in the imagination for their darker, more mature themes.
What do you think about Dragonslayer in the context of modern fantasy? Do you agree with Martin’s assessment that Vermithrax ranks among cinema’s best dragons, or do you lean toward the dragons in contemporary fantasy–horror hybrids? Share your take in the comments and tell us which elements of Dragonslayer you find most impactful or controversial.
