Fantastic Fungi is a 2019 American documentary film directed by Louie Schwartzberg.^[2] The film combines time-lapse cinematography, CGI, and interviews in an overview of the biology, environmental roles, and various uses of fungi.^[3] The film features interview segments with Paul Stamets and Michael Pollan, and is narrated by Brie Larson.

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 100% approval rating based on 23 reviews, with an average ranking of 7.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "As visually dazzling as it is thought-provoking, Fantastic Fungi sets out to make audiences see mushrooms differently -- and brilliantly succeeds."^[4] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 70 out of a 100 by 8 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[5]

Critics praised Schwartzberg's time-lapse cinematography. Some critics found the narration unnecessary.^[6][7]

Josh Kupecki of The Austin Chronicle said "visual affectations aside, Fantastic Fungi is an engaging look at the scope of an organism that is so much more than a pizza topping or an ingredient in beef stroganoff".^[8] Andrew Pulver of The Guardian wrote "With its spectacular footage of growth and decay and impassioned speeches about the magic of mushrooms, this documentary is a treat for the eye and ear".^[9] Rex Reed of The New York Observer called the documentary "charming",^[10] while John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter called the film an "[e]ye-opening eye candy".^[6]

According to Robert Abele of the Los Angeles Times "it edges a little too close to being a commercial, but that's a nitpick when the totality of Fantastic Fungi is so entertaining, informative and appealingly hopeful about the hard-working cure-all for our ailing world lying beneath our feet".^[11]

• Edible mushroom
• Evolution of fungi