Witches have always been a source of fascination in modern culture, with the use of magic and powerful spells filling our imaginations with storytelling potential. Movies featuring witches have been especially popular, captivating our minds and offering up a visual feast of spooky and enchanting tales. From the fantastical to the downright ghoulish, here’s our guide to the greatest witch movies that have captivated audiences around the globe.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
One of the most iconic witch movies of all-time has to be The Wizard of Oz, released way back in 1939. This classic musical fantasy film sees a young Dorothy Gale, the brave hero of the story, embark on an epic journey to the magical Land of Oz, with her beloved dog Toto. It’s here that she meets the Wicked Witch of the West and several other iconic characters. The film’s special effects and incredible cinematography made it an instant classic.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is another much-loved classic, released in 1971. This beloved Disney movie follows the story of a young girl and her two brothers, who go on an exciting quest to seek out an ancient spell. Along the way they uncover the secret to an enchanted bedknob, which can transport them to magical worlds. It’s an enchanting tale that young viewers of the time simply loved, and it’s still popular today.
The Craft (1996)
The Craft, released in 1996 and directed by Andrew Fleming, is another classic of modern witch cinema. This movie follows a group of teenage outcasts as they discover they have powerful supernatural abilities. Little do they know that they have been granted these gifts by an evil witch, who is determined to bring destruction to their community. It’s a spooky and gritty teen movie, which offered a modern twist on the classic witch theme.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Hocus Pocus is one of the most beloved witch movies of modern times, released in 1993 and directed by Kenny Ortega. It follows the story of three wicked witch sisters, who are accidentally freed from their centuries-old prison by a young boy. He must now find a way to stop them before they can feast on the souls of children in his hometown. It’s a fantastically spooky movie, jam-packed with laughter, adventure, and all kinds of creatures from the mystical world.
The Witches (1990)
The Witches is another classic movie, based on the classic Roald Dahl novel of the same name. Directed by Nicolas Roeg, this movie follows the story of a young boy who is targeted by a coven of witches, and must fight for his survival against the powerful witches. With some impressive special effects and a captivating story-line, this movie was a delight for children and adults alike.
The Worst Witch (1986)
The Worst Witch is another 1990s classic, based on the beloved children’s novel by Jill Murphy. This movie follows the story of Mildred Hubble, a young witch who is enrolled in an exclusive school of magic. Despite her best efforts, she is a bit of a klutz and is always getting into all kinds of trouble. It’s an adorable film and a great one to watch with the kids.
Practical Magic (1998)
Practical Magic is another charming movie, released in 1998 and directed by Griffin Dunne. It follows the lives of two sisters, who come from a long line of witches. As they struggle to keep their secret and protect their family, they also have to contend with an evil witch who is determined to exact her revenge. It’s a captivating and exciting film, full of emotion and with some great performances from Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
Little Witch Academia (2013)
Little Witch Academia is a newer animated movie, released in 2013. This movie follows the story of Akko, an ordinary girl who is determined to make it as a witch. She enrolls in a prestigious magic academy, which has a long and proud history of magical excellence. Along the way she meets a fascinating cast of characters, battles with evil forces, and ultimately discovers that magic comes from the heart, not from books and spells.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The Blair Witch Project is a modern classic, released in 1999 and often hailed as a pioneer of the “found footage” genre. This movie follows three student filmmakers as they venture deep into the Black Hills of Maryland to uncover the truth behind an age-old legend of a Witch. This popular horror movie spawned an entire series, and influenced many movies that followed in its wake.
The Old Witch (2020)
The Old Witch is the latest movie on our list, released in 2020. This horror movie follows the story of a young woman, who returns to her hometown to investigate the mysterious death of her grandmother. As she delves deeper into her investigation, she is confronted with an ancient evil that has been lurking in the shadows. A fantastically spooky movie with some truly frightening scenes, it’s one to check out if you’re in the mood for a horror movie with a witch theme.
The Witch (2015)
The Witch, released in 2015, is a stunning horror movie that broke the mold when it comes to witch cinema. It follows the story of a Puritan family in the New England wilderness of 1630, who are besieged by an unseen force when they move to a remote farmstead. As their paranoia grows, it quickly becomes clear that something supernatural is at work in their midst. Gripping and intense, this movie was an instant classic.
10 Witch Movies to Watch
Now you know about some of the greatest witch movies that have been released, why not take yourself on a journey and explore the world of witch cinema? Here’s our selection of ten witch movies you should definitely check out:
The Wizard of Oz (1939), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), The Craft (1996), Hocus Pocus (1993), The Witches (1990), The Worst Witch (1986), Practical Magic (1998), Little Witch Academia (2013), The Blair Witch Project (1999), The Old Witch (2020), The Witch (2015).
Witch movies have captured the imaginations of audiences around the world, offering up a rich vein of mythology and storytelling. From the iconic ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to the modern classic ‘The Witch’, these movies have spooked, enchanted, and captivated their viewers. Whether they inspire fear or intimidation, there’s no denying the allure of watching witch movies. So why not sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy one of these magical tales of witches and wizards?
