From the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West to the glamorous Supreme of American Horror Story, we look at witches in film and television across the decades, and why we continue to love them to this day.
Witches have long captivated pop culture, evolving from the pointy-nosed caricatures of old to complex, glamorous, and unforgettable characters. And honestly? We’re obsessed. So join us as we pay homage to the most iconic ones across film and television in this carefully curated list.
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The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wicked Witch of the West is the first truly iconic witch of the silver screen, played deliciously by character actress Margaret Hamilton in MGM’s Technicolor extravaganza The Wizard of Oz. We all know the story: Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) finds herself in the magical land of Oz after a tornado carries her there. To get back home to Kansas, she travels by foot along the yellow brick road to meet the Wizard at the Emerald City with her newfound friends—the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. But hot on her trail is the evil, green-skinned Wicked Witch, who seeks revenge after Dorothy accidentally kills her sister. Sure, the character is a total caricature (something the musical Wicked later tries to redeem), but it’s a devilishly good time complete with a hooked nose, sharp nails, and that unforgettable cackle.
Bewitched (1964)
The sitcom is as charming today as it was in 1964, not because of its crafty and creative practical visual effects, but because of the love story and marriage at the center of its story. Old-fashioned American boy Darrin Stephens (Dick York, later replaced by Dick Sargent due to medical issues) marries who he believes is an equally old-fashioned American gal, Samantha (the effortlessly enchanting Elizabeth Montgomery). On their wedding night, however, he discovers that his new bride is a real broomstick-flying, spell-casting witch. Though startled at first, the couple decides to make it work, and Samantha does her best to refrain from using magic at home. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Chaos and comedy ensue as supernatural mishaps disrupt suburban life, made even more delightfully disastrous by Samantha’s headstrong, human-hating, and fabulously over-the-top mother, Endora (Agnes Moorehead).
Suspiria (1977)
Later remade with the same stylish flair in 2018 by auteur Luca Guadagnino, the original Suspiria remains a truly atmospheric horror film whose surreal imagery, unsettling score, strong performances, and eerie mood can still send a chill down your spine. Set in a German ballet school, it follows new student Suzy (Jessica Harper), who struggles to settle in as she frequently falls ill and begins to experience strange happenings in the institution’s halls. Soon, she sets out to uncover the sinister truth behind the academy, which—spoiler alert—is witchier than you’d think. Often regarded as one of the great horror films of the 1970s and directed by giallo master Dario Argento, Suspiria remains surprisingly underseen by mainstream audiences, yet it truly deserves its place among the greats of the genre.
The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
Michelle Pfeiffer, Cher, and Susan Sarandon play three witches in a small town, all of them falling for Jack Nicholson’s devil—until they decide it’s time to take charge and use their magic to bring him down. Oh, it’s all such fun, fuzzy, and gloriously big-haired 1980s energy! Adapted from John Updike’s 1984 novel of the same name, The Witches of Eastwick was a major box-office hit in 1987, and not just because of its glittering cast. It’s simply a damn good time at the movies. Flying over swimming pools, high school bands playing like a professional orchestra, voodoo-fueled chaos, ginormous wigs, and even a scene involving cherry-induced vomiting; in The Witches of Eastwick, you get equal parts camp, comedy, and horror in one wickedly entertaining package.
The Witches (1990)
Many millennials will remember watching The Witches on TV as kids, especially since it often played on HBO. Did it scare them? Absolutely. Was it something they’d watch again and again whenever it was on? Totally. Adapted from Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel, The Witches follows Luke (Jasen Fisher), who, while on vacation in the countryside with his grandmother, discovers that their hotel is hosting a secret convention of evil witches. After overhearing the Grand High Witch’s (Anjelica Huston) plan to turn every child into a mouse, he teams up with his grandmother and the hotel manager to fight back. Cartoonish in tone yet completely irresistible, The Witches features one of the most memorable and unsettling scenes in the Roald Dahl cinematic canon: the moment the witches unmask their glamorous disguises to reveal their true, terrifying faces.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
One of the most popular films on this list, Hocus Pocus owes its enduring popularity to a generation raised on Disney movies and home video—and honestly, we’re glad it does, because it’s that good. Funny and endlessly entertaining, it introduces the lore of Salem in a way that’s both spooky and accessible, sparking curiosity about its dark history. It tells the story of the Sanderson Sisters (played with glorious camp by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy), who are sentenced to death in Salem in 1693 for taking the life of a child. However, before dying, they cast a curse: one day, when a virgin lights the Black Flame Candle, they will return to steal the lives of the town’s children. Three hundred years later, high schooler Max Dennison (Omri Katz) accidentally fulfills that prophecy on Halloween night. With the help of his younger sister, his classmate, and a bewitched black cat, Max must stop the witches before dawn. Brimming with comedy, iconic Halloween imagery, and even a few great musical numbers, Hocus Pocus isn’t just a good witch movie, but also a genuinely delightful comedy classic.
The Craft (1996)
The Craft walked so American Horror Story: Coven could fly. This twisted ’90s teen film about a coven of high school witches was a moderate box-office hit yet a critical disappointment upon release. Over time, however, it earned cult status for its grounded portrayal of witchcraft (more hair-falling curses and mild levitation rather than lightning bolts from fingertips); moody, gothic ’90s fashion (which has since come back in style); and a fierce, committed performance from Fairuza Balk as Nancy, the coven’s power-hungry leader. The film follows four wannabe witches whose lives quickly turn dark when they discover the true power of The Craft, and Nancy’s thirst for black magic begins to grow. Add in a killer alt-rock soundtrack featuring the likes of Letters to Cleo and Heather Nova, and you’ve got a film that’s stylishly brooding and spellbinding.
The Crucible (1996)
Arthur Miller’s 1953 play The Crucible remains one of his most important and enduring works. It received mainstream Hollywood treatment in 1996 with a stellar cast led by Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis and ultimate ’90s It-girl Winona Ryder. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, and inspired by true events, the film follows John Proctor (Day-Lewis), a married man whose past affair with the young Abigail Williams (Ryder) sets off a tragic chain of events. When Abigail and a group of girls are caught performing a ritual intended to curse Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth (Joan Allen, in an Oscar-nominated performance), hysteria sweeps through the town. What follows is a literal witch hunt and an intense portrayal of paranoia, morality, and mass fear that brings the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692 vividly to life.
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Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)
Sorry, Netflix fans, but we’ll take the ’90s version of Sabrina the Teenage Witch over the darker, Riverdale-adjacent reboot any day. Made with the same lighthearted charm as the 1960s Bewitched sitcom, the original Sabrina turned Melissa Joan Hart into a bona fide teen star and sweetheart. Sure, she could cast spells and had a talking cat, but really, she was just a relatable teenage girl navigating school, family, and boys. With its humor, endearing characters, and magical mishaps, the series ran for seven seasons and 163 episodes, earning consistently high ratings and an enduring place in pop culture. Proof that sometimes, the lighter touch really does work its magic.
Practical Magic (1998)
Practical Magic received negative reviews upon its release but has since garnered a devoted following, especially among millennials who’ve cherished it since childhood. Like Hocus Pocus, whose passionate fanbase led to a long-awaited sequel in 2022, Practical Magic is finally getting its own continuation, with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman returning for the next chapter of their spellbinding story. The original stands out for its grounded, emotional take on witchcraft, focusing less on spectacle and more on the bond between women—particularly the women in the Owens family, who are cursed so that every man they fall in love with is doomed to die. The story follows two sisters: Sally (Bullock), a widowed mother of two trying to rebuild her life, and Gillian (Kidman), a free-spirited wanderer who returns home after accidentally killing her abusive boyfriend. Together, they turn to magic to bring him back to life, ignoring their aunts’ warnings about the darkness of such practices.
American Horror Story: Coven (2013)
While Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story was already a hit before its third season, Coven turned the anthology into a full-blown cultural phenomenon. When the story of the witches of Miss Robichaux’s Academy and their search for the next Supreme premiered in 2013, it became the television event everyone was talking about week after week. Coven remains the high point of the series, showcasing why it became both a fan favorite and a critical darling: the world-building is impeccable, the performances deliciously over-the-top, and the story irresistibly addictive. Set in New Orleans, it follows the students of a witch academy eager to discover who among them will become the next Supreme after their fading leader, Fiona Goode (played with fierce, glamorous bite by Jessica Lange). Their power struggles—along with a centuries-old rivalry with voodoo queen Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett)—make Coven a wickedly entertaining blend of horror and camp. To this day, its biting one-liners, iconic imagery, and unforgettable characters continue to live on in pop culture, memes, and everyday slang. Balenciaga! (IYKYK).
The Witch (2015)
Robert Eggers first made his mark on cinema with The Witch, a hauntingly authentic and deeply unsettling portrait of a New England family in 1630. Living in isolation at the edge of a vast forest, the family’s faith begins to unravel when their young son mysteriously vanishes under the watch of their eldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy in her breakout role). As paranoia festers and their fears turn inward, suspicion grows that Thomasin herself may be in league with the Devil. Bleak, slow-burning, and unnervingly realistic, The Witch is not for the faint of heart. Its stark imagery and period-accurate dialogue immerse viewers in a world where superstition and hysteria feel terrifyingly real. Eggers’ meticulous attention to historical detail and atmosphere marks him as one of modern cinema’s great craftspeople of dread. For those brave enough to face its darkness, The Witch is as rewarding as it is disturbing.
Wicked (2024)
Last year’s smash hit Wicked joins pop culture’s witch canon as the first installment of Hollywood’s take on the famed Broadway musical. It feels fitting for Wicked to close out this list, acting as a bookend to The Wizard of Oz, where the iconic green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West first appeared. This time, she has a name—Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo, who earned a Best Actress nomination)—and a backstory. The film follows her misunderstood youth at Shiz University, where she becomes rivals and eventually friends with fellow student Glinda (Ariana Grande). Their bond is tested when they cross paths with the Wizard of Oz, setting the stage for even more story in the upcoming sequel, including expanded Oz lore. Wicked was a massive success, earning around $750 million at the box office (making it the most successful film on this list) and garnering ten Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
Photos courtesy of Kinorium.com
