From the Sanderson Sisters and Cassie Nightingale, to the Blair Witch and Wanda Maximoff, there are plenty of witches out there to cast a spell on you. Some of these supernatural beings are bad, others are downright evil, while a few are quite lovely… when you get to know them.
But whether you’re after a good witch, an evil witch, or you’re simply leaning toward stories about witchcraft, wizardry, covens, and warlocks, what are the movies you should check out? Why, the films listed in this post, of course!
Below you will find a list of the best witch (or witch-related) movies, guaranteed to pop your potion and bubble your broth. These are the films you should check out, if you want a dash of magic, or a touch of the macabre in your life.
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Hocus Pocus (1993)
First up, and arguably one of the most famous witch movies of all-time, which increases in popularity on an annual basis, is Hocus Pocus – a delightful tale about three kids who accidentally revive a trio of deceased witches. The film is wickedly fun and stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the dastardly Sanderson Sisters.
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Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
And you can’t have one dash of Hocus Pocus without another, which is why this second spot is reserved for Hocus Pocus 2. This belated follow-up, which took almost 30 years to arrive, sees another group of kids resurrect the Sanderson Sisters for further Halloween hijinks!
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The Witch (2015)
Robert Eggers directs this creepy folk horror, about a New England family who encounter dark forces when they are forced to set up a new home in the woods. Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, and Kate Dickie star in this atmospheric horror, sure to send a shiver down your spine.
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The Blair Witch Project (1999)
One of the most talked about horror movies of the 1990s, and certainly one of the most profitable, is The Blair Witch Project – a found footage film about three student filmmakers who embark on an expedition into the woods in search of a witch. The movie – directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez – is a masterclass in producing scares out of thin air, is genuinely unnerving, and created a milestone moment for the genre.
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The Witches (1990)
Roald Dahl’s popular children’s book, The Witches, is given the big screen treatment via this imaginative family film about a young boy who finds himself caught in the middle of a witches’ convention. A second movie adaptation (also called The Witches) followed in 2020, but it is this film from 1990 which is the one to check out.
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The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Up next, father and son coroners (played by Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch) begin to experience bizarre occurrences while examining the body of an unnamed woman, in this eerie horror from André Øvredal. With its supernatural stance and spooky atmosphere, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is one of those movies which really gets under your skin and becomes instantly unforgettable.
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The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Directed by Michael Chaves, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It stars Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ruairi O’Connor and Julian Hilliard. The movie is based on the real-life trial of Arne Chevenne Johnson – a young man who used demonic possession as his defence in court, when he was accused of murdering his landlord back in 1981… but according to this movie, there may have been some witchcraft at play.
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The Craft (1996)
In this next film, Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True star in a supernatural teen horror flick, about a group of high school students who dabble in witchcraft. Along the way, tensions mount and things get out of hand, with the teens turning on each other with worrying consequences.
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The Craft: Legacy (2020)
In this reboot/sequel to The Craft (see above), another group of teens find themselves pursuing witchcraft. And once again, things don’t quite go to plan in this belated, yet enjoyable follow-up.
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Marvel’s master of the mystic arts is pulled into a multiversal adventure, after crossing paths with Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch. With increasing mental instability, and phenomenal hex powers, Maximoff is one truly powerful witch.
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Practical Magic (1998)
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman take the lead in this romantic-drama about two sisters who descend from a long line of witches. Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest, Aidan Quinn, and Goran Višnjić provide support in this delightful movie, which has become something of a ‘90s favourite.
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Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
A slight cheat here, because this entry covers not one movie, but three! The Fear Street Trilogy is a trio of films, based on R. L. Stine’s classic horror book series.
The films include Fear Street Part One: 1994, Fear Street Part Two: 1978, and Fear Street Part Three: 1666, and collectively tell the story of a group of teens who get mixed up in a generation-spanning story about a town plagued by a witch. Don’t just watch one of these movies, watch all three.
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Nightbooks (2021)
In this delightfully dark children’s horror from Netflix, young horror fan, Alex, finds himself trapped in an apartment with a witch. His only hope for survival is to tell her a new spooky story every night, but will it be enough to satisfy her?
Krysten Ritter takes on the role of the witch for Nightbooks – an imaginative tale filled with goop, poop, and creepy creatures. The film is part fairy-tale, part horror, with nods to the likes of Roald Dahl and The Lost Boys.
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Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Largely discarded upon release, but reappraised in recent years, Halloween III: Season of the Witch is the third entry in the Halloween movie series, and the only one not to include Michael Myers as the antagonist. Instead, Season of the Witch focuses on a novelty mask maker (and warlock) and his nefarious plans to cause mayhem during the spooky season.
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Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
Classic fairy tale characters, Hansel & Gretel, get an update in this action-horror movie, about a duo of witch hunters. Tommy Wirkola writes and directs, while Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton star.
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Witchfinder General (1968)
OK, so this next film is not technically about witches, as much as it is about a nefarious witchfinder… but hey, it’s good nonetheless.
Vincent Price steals the show in this historical British horror movie about a murderous witch hunter, who appoints himself as judge, jury, and executioner. Ian Ogilvy and Wilfrid Brambell provide support, while Michael Reeves directs.
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The Crucible (1996)
The Salem witch trials become the focus of this next movie – a historical drama about a group of girls who are accused of casting spells and being in league with the devil. Based on the play of the same name by Arthur Miller, The Crucible stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder.
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The Good Witch (2008)
Not all witches are bad. In fact, some are very good.
One of these good witches is Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Nightingale, the main character in this delightful movie from Hallmark. The Good Witch stars Catherine Bell and Chris Potter, and proved so popular when it made its debut in 2008, that it was soon accompanied by a series of sequels, as well as a successful follow-up TV show.
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Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
And now time for a Disney supernatural classic about a mysterious carnival that comes to a small town in Illinois. Something Wicked This Way Comes is based on the Ray Bradbury book of the same name, stars Jonathan Pryce, Diane Ladd, and Pam Grier, and is a real gem, not to be overlooked.
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Warlock (1989)
Julian Sands stars as the title character in this supernatural horror film about the son of Satan. Richard E. Grant appears in the film as a 17th Century witch-hunter.
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Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Based on the book of the same name by Ira Levin, Rosemary’s Baby follows the story of a young pregnant woman who begins to suspect that her neighbours might be witches. Mia Farrow plays the role of Rosemary, while the cast includes John Cassavetes, Sidney Blackmer, and a scene-stealing performance from Ruth Gordon as busy-body neighbour, Minnie Castevet.
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Stardust (2007)
Based on Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel of the same name, Stardust is a romantic fantasy adventure, about a young man who enters a magical world in order to collect a fallen star. However, he’s not the only one after the star – so too is Lamia the witch, as played to perfection by Michelle Pfeiffer.
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Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)
The Snow White fairy tale has been told many times, in many different ways, but here it gets the gothic horror treatment, via a movie which is dark and delicious. Monica Keena, Gil Bellows, and Sam Neill star, while Sigourney Weaver takes on the role of the terrifying witch.
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Suspiria (1977)
In Dario Argento’s Suspiria, American student Suzy Bannion travels to Germany to attend a prestigious ballet school; but when she arrives, Suzy discovers all is not what it should be, leaving her with an increasing feeling of unease. Deep splashes of colour, an electrifying soundtrack, and a coven of witches are all thrown at the screen in this devilish horror.
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Teen Witch (1989)
And finally, something much lighter in tone now, courtesy of ‘80s cult favourite, Teen Witch. As the title suggests, the movie centres around a young girl – played by Robyn Lively – who discovers she has supernatural abilities.
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Recap
OK, those are the best witch movies, but which films have you watched? To save you having to scroll back up, here’s a handy list of them all:
- Hocus Pocus (1993)
- Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
- The Witch (2015)
- The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- The Witches (1990)
- The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
- The Craft (1996)
- The Craft: Legacy (2020)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- Practical Magic (1998)
- Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
- Nightbooks (2021)
- Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
- Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
- Witchfinder General (1968)
- The Crucible (1996)
- The Good Witch (2008)
- Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
- Warlock (1989)
- Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
- Stardust (2007)
- Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)
- Suspiria (1977)
- Teen Witch (1989)
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about the best witch movies – I hope it has sent you off on a supernatural journey. For more posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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