Written By: Jenna Delaney
Witches, powerful protagonists or monstrous crones?
In pop culture, dueling portrayals of the witch have brewed for centuries. There are the villains with warty noses and pointy hats, and then, bewitching blondes doubling up as glamorous housewives. But there are feminist heroines too – the badass, not-so-wicked witches reclaiming their power to fight the patriarchy, heal their teenage angst, or cure a broken heart. In this cinematic coven, a witch can be relatable, believable even, practicing her craft for love, revenge, and sisterhood – with plenty of cackles along the way. If you put aside the unbelievability of magic potions, broomsticks, and hexes, perhaps, there is a little witch in all of us…
1987 — THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK
Put Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Susan Sarandon, on screen together, throw in some killer outfits, big hair, and many Martinis, and you’ve conjured up pure magic. Bravo, George Miller! Three single women meet up every week for crafts, cocktails, and tittle-tattle. One night, while bonding over their fantasies, the women unknowingly summon their ideal man. As if by magic, the handsome Daryl Van Horne (Jack Nicholson) appears. Daryl seduces all three women and they live hedonistically ever after, until the women wise up to Daryl’s behavior. Careful what you wish for.
1989 — KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE
One of the first movies from Studio Ghibli, this Hayao Miyazaki animation tells the heartwarming story of teen witch Kiki. One night, Kiki decides to leave home and live independently for years, as all young witches must do. With her black cat Jiji and her mother’s reliable broomstick, Kiki settles in a coastal city, where she starts a courier service via broomstick (Deliveroo was yet to exist). Faced with the same challenges as us mere mortals, like the 9-5 grind, Kiki declares: “Flying used to be fun, until I started doing it for a living.” She’s just a girl, too.
1996 — THE CRAFT
“We are the weirdos, mister!” Like Mean Girls with witches, this supernatural horror follows a coven of teen outcasts. When Sarah (Robin Tunney) moves to LA, she struggles to fit in at her new high school until she connects with a sisterhood of sorceresses – Bonnie (Neve Campbell), Rochelle (Rachel True), and Nancy (Fairuza Balk). As the girls delve deeper into the craft, they discover the power it holds, freeing them from the difficult issues they encounter. But as Nancy’s quest for power becomes uncontrollable, the coven’s bond is dangerously severed.
1996-2003 — SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH
Originally a comic book, Sabrina Spellman’s coming-of-age story has grown into franchise of animated series, films, and a darker Netflix adaptation. I grew up with the show starring Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina, a half-witch who lives with her quirky aunts Hilda and Zelda, and their cat Salem. In the sitcom, magic is used as a metaphor for teen girl awkwardness. Sabrina brews up a talent potion soda for battle of the bands, her first kiss turns into a frog, shes has a magic typewriter to help with homework, and she can change her outfit with the twirl of a finger. Iconic.
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1997 — EVE’S BAYOU
Set in 1960s Louisiana, Kasi Lemmons’ Southern Gothic drama is told from the perspective of 10-year old Eve Batiste (Jurnee Smollett) as she recounts the story of her father’s death, which she feels responsible for. After witnessing her father’s infidelities, Eve turns to her aunt, a Hoodoo practitioner, for guidance. When further accusations are made against Eve’s father (Samuel L. Jackson), she seeks out justice from powerful ‘witch’ Elzora. The story is intertwined with supernatural practices, with roots in Creole history, folklore, and mysticism.
1998 — PRACTICAL MAGIC
It stumbled at the box office upon release, but nearly three decades later, Practical Magic has earned true cult status, bolstered by a brand-new sequel that landed just this past September. The supernatural romcom stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as Sally and Gillian Owens, sisters trapped under a generations-old hex that dooms any man who loves them. After a lethal encounter with Gillian’s abusive ex, the pair have to navigate resurrection spells and local gossip alongside their delightfully eccentric aunts. Famous for its dreamy coastal house and midnight margarita rituals, the original film stands as the ultimate ode to female solidarity.
2015 — THE WITCH
Set in 1630s New England, Robert Eggers’ unsettling slow-burner is closely based on historical accounts of witchcraft. The story is centered on a Puritan family who encounter forces of evil lurking in the woods. The eldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), is suspected of being a witch because of a bad crop, a few misbehaving goats, and an unfortunate game of peekaboo. Consumed by paranoia, religious hysteria, and fear, the family unravels but for Thomasin, damnation becomes liberation. “Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?”
2016 — THE LOVE WITCH
“I’m the love witch! I’m your ultimate fantasy!” Set in a stylized, retro-inspired world, Anna Biller’s The Love Witch blends elements of horror, comedy, and satire to showcase a unique and subversive take on the traditional witch trope. The story revolves around an alluring witch named Elaine (Samantha Robinson), who lives in a mansion decorated to resemble her tarot deck and uses her magical powers to manipulate men into falling in love with her. When her pursuit of spellbinding love begins to spiral out of control, the occasional fatality occurs.
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