Depictions of witches in film and television have ranged from pure, innocent ones who are basically fairy godmothers to evil, crackling ones stirring their bubbling green potions with a twisted broomstick. And any interpretation of them can be great. As most portrayals of witches show them in humanlike form, it opens up viewers’ imaginations, having them question whether or not they too can have powers. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who stuck out your hands with force to see if something happened.
Following witches is exciting all year round, not just during Halloween or the fall. Their connection to nature and earth juxtaposed with a totally unnatural ability is fertile ground for excellent characterization. Many of the most memorable, fun, and three-dimensional characters have powers, whether they decide to use them for good or bad. Here are 25 of the best witches in movie and TV history, ranked.
25 Elzora — Eve’s Bayou
Taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, Eve’s Bayou is a gothic drama featuring an ensemble cast. A young girl named Eve is the daughter of a wealthy family who looks like they have everything together from the outside. But the discovery of her father’s cheating shatters that image for Eve. Eve begins spending more time with her aunt and is eventually led to Elzora, a tarot reader, fortune-teller, and witch. Elzora provides guidance and unique “solutions” to Eve’s ever-growing problems surrounding her family. Though Elzora is a supporting character in Eve’s story, she is also one of the most influential.
24 Elaine Parks — The Love Witch
Filmmakers took a comedic approach with witch Elaine Parks in The Love Witch. After the death of her husband, Elaine looks for a fresh start in a new town and takes residence in a Victorian manor. Part of her witchcraft practice includes getting men to fall in love with her. She has an idyllic image of love, one that her suitors never seem to fulfill. Perhaps it's the strength of her spells and potions causing the men to become obsessed with her. Elaine has to investigate what she’s lacking inside her that she’s trying to fill with romance. Despite being released in 2016, Elaine has a distinctly vintage disposition and is quite enchanting.
23 Alex Russo — Wizards of Waverly Place
Alex Russo and her magic-bearing siblings are technically referred to as wizards in Wizards of Waverly Place, but for all intents and purposes, are witches and warlocks. Alex is the middle child and gives her parents and siblings a lot to handle. She is rambunctious, easily distracted, and a bit of a troublemaker. But Alex is surely someone you’d want to hang out with, not only for the hijinks you’re certain to have or that her family owns a sandwich shop but because she is a good friend. Her one-liners are hilarious and she shows her depth as she struggles with normal teenage issues.
22 Rowan Fielding — Mayfair Witches
Author Anne Rice’s popular trilogy was turned into a series called Mayfair Witches. In the show, we follow neurosurgeon Rowan, whose mother died and left behind a slew of questions regarding their family history. Soon, Rowan discovers that she is the heiress in a family of witches. In a classic fish out of water scenario, as Rowan discovers more about her powers and family, viewers also get to know Rowan herself. If the fact that she’s a neurosurgeon doesn’t tell you how smart she is, Rowan also demonstrates her intelligence by navigating the chaotic world she now inhabits.
21 Conal Cochran — Halloween III: Season of the Witch
The Halloween films are part of one of the most successful and beloved horror movie franchises ever. Halloween III: Season of the Witch gave viewers a new villain to fear in the name of Conal Cochran. Though the absence of Michael Myers was one of the reasons for the film’s poor performance and reviews, Conal is a bright spot despite not holding a candle to the original killer.
In the film, we follow a doctor who goes to investigate the company that manufactures a mask connected with a series of deaths. The owner of the factory is Conal, an unorthodox businessman to say the least. He isn’t a witch in the traditional sense, he’s not brewing potions or casting spells, but his practices align with dark witchcraft practices and he’s a sinister opponent.
20 Sabrina Spellman — Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch is a teen sitcom based on a series of comics. In the show, Sabrina (played by Melissa Joan Hart) finds out she’s a witch when she turns 16. Raised by her aunts, now she seeks their advice on how to best control her powers, although because this is a sitcom they often take control of her. Sabrina incorporates magic into her life little by little and has to learn who she can trust with her secret. Another person helping Sabrina through this time in her life is her iconic sassy black cat, Salem.
19 Tally Craven — Motherland: Fort Salem
Motherland: Fort Salem mixes the supernatural with militaristic elements. It takes place in an alternate future in an imagining of what the country would look like if witches weren’t hunted and killed during the Salem Witch Trials. The Freeform series follows three witches who join the U.S. Army, one of whom is Tally Craven.
Tally is one of the kindest witches on the show, and also one of the most skilled. As they prepare to fight off a group looking to prevent the involvement of witches in the army, Tally has to continuously push herself to be better. Her strained relationship with her mother and family invites viewers to gain sympathy for her as we witness her learning to find validation in herself.
18 Jane Spofford — The Witches of Eastwick
The Witches of Eastwick is a comedy starring three powerhouses: Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Susan Sarandon. This book-to-movie adaptation features three women who learn the meaning behind the phrase “be careful what you wish for.” Each has been unlucky in love; Jane just got divorced and realized she can’t have kids. They get together to talk about their ideal partners and before long they meet exactly that… but it’s not as picture-perfect as they thought. Jane is the most introverted of the group, making her character arc by the end of the movie all the more satisfying.
17 Katrina Van Tassel — Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow is a film that follows a cop investigating unsolved murders in the real-life town of Sleepy Hollow, New York. Among the many townsfolk is Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter of a wealthy farmer and landowner. In many ways, Katrina exemplifies what women were expected to be during the late-1700s/early-1800s. She’s a hopeless romantic and maintains appearances by being agreeable. While she may not be a full-on wand-wielding sorceress, her knowledge and interest in spells and herbal remedies solidifies her as a witch.
16 Samantha Stephens — Bewitched
Samantha Stephens from Bewitched is a woman who marries a man who, as many men did in the 1960s, encourages her to take on the role of a traditional housewife. She also has to deal with her family who aren’t thrilled about this union and make their displeasure known. Sounds like a normal situation, right?
But Samantha is a witch and her family’s disapproval is because her husband is a bland human. Her poor husband is subjected to meddling in-laws, only these cast spells that disrupt his life. Samantha has a sweet disposition and her love for her husband shines through all her family’s antics, while also not giving up her witchy ways.
15 Sabrina Spellman — Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Sabrina Spellman is such an iconic character that she gets two spots on this list, though the tones of the show are quite different. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina takes on a darker, more sinister approach than its predecessor. Sabrina, here portrayed by Kiernan Shipka, is half-witch and half-human, and feels pressured to choose which side she’ll fully step into. If she undergoes her dark baptism, that will mean abandoning her friends and the entire life she’s built so far. S
abrina is a strong-willed girl who is intensely loyal to her friends, wants to stand up for what’s right, and pushes back against the adults who ignore her concerns. Without powers, she’d be the perfect heroine for a teen drama, but with powers she’s even cooler.
14 Madame Blanc — Suspiria (2018)
Suspiria is an Italian horror film directed by Luca Guadagnino. It follows the story of an American who goes to Berlin to join a dance academy, only the women who run it are into more activities than pirouettes and arabesques. One of the witches is Madame Blanc, who is the talented lead choreographer. Her relationship with two other witches is so fascinating to watch, but as this movie is focused on ballet, it gives Madame Blanc an opportunity to truly shine. She is both a firm teacher and has moments of true tenderness, though there’s always a hint of an ulterior motive and mysteriousness behind her words.
13 Sarah Bailey — The Craft
Sarah Bailey in The Craft already has eyes on her as the new girl. Sarah finds a place with a group of fellow outcasts who seem to have special abilities and a fascination with the occult as she does. The girls also bond because they have dark, troubled pasts. They band together and get revenge on individuals who've hurt them in the past.
But Sarah quickly becomes disillusioned with this newfound sisterhood and believes her friends are too far gone. Sarah is an extremely likable character, the most "normal" of the bunch while still embracing what makes her different.
12 Mary Sibley — Salem
As evidenced by this list, Salem, Massachusetts is, of course, a hotspot for movies and series about witches. Salem (2014) is also set during the Salem Witch Trials and centers on Mary Sibley. She is a witch, and unlike many witches depicted in this period, she isn’t concerned with hiding who she is. Instead, she wants to feed into the panic drowning the town and has an evil plan in mind.
However, when her former flame comes back to town it serves as a road bump to her scheme. Her icy demeanor and powers make it crystal clear why the men in town fear her and seek to destroy her. You’ll feel how fed up Mary is with being attacked and will root for her the entire time.
11 Mary Sanderson — Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus is a fun Halloween film about a group of kids wanting to destroy the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches seeking to steal the souls of children. Winnie, the leader, is known for her crabby personality and cruelty. Sarah is known as the naive and childish one with a voice that lures in victims. Mary Sanderson is not appreciated enough. She helps the cause by being able to detect when children are near through scent. Mary is fiercely loyal to her siblings and is willing to roll with the punches, such as using a vacuum for her flight in the sky rather than a broom. Mary's hilariously weird facial expressions only add to her charm.
10 Ms. Traverse — The Woods (2006)
If you want a dash of dark academia vibes with your witches, look no further than The Woods. Set at a New England boarding school, Ms. Traverse is the headmistress. Her newest pupil is a rebellious teenage girl who starts to wonder what secrets lurk in the halls after multiple strange encounters with students and staff members.
Ms. Traverse presents herself as an ally to the new girl, even trying to test whether said student is “gifted.” Perhaps in the same way Ms. Traverse and some of the other students are “gifted?” Ms. Traverse is at times nurturing and other times cruel, making her a dynamic antagonist in the film.
9 Glinda — The Wizard of Oz
It’d be difficult to talk about iconic witches without mentioning those present inThe Wizard of Oz. Most people are familiar with the tale of Dorothy, a young girl traveling down the yellow brick road and befriending an eclectic group. And while the Wicked Witch of the West gets much love from fans of this tale, Glinda is also a great character.
The Good Witch of the North welcomes Dorothy into the world of Oz and provides a safe space for the young girl amidst all the changes she’s facing. Glinda not only gives Dorothy her iconic ruby slippers, but is the catalyst for her upcoming journey. Glinda is a breath of fresh air in this scary new world.
8 Davina Claire — The Originals
The Originals is chock-full of powerful witches. This New Orleans-based drama showcases a legion of witches trying (and often succeeding) to put an end to the Mikaelson family's vampiric reign. While there are other witches in the show who are more mature and skilled with their powers than Davina, the sheer magnitude of her abilities earns her a spot on this list.
She could've stayed in the role of a damsel being locked away by a protective man, but instead, Davina proved she was more than a pawn in the vampires' battle for power. She is young and naive, still figuring out who she is and who to trust in the world, but still manages to hold out hope for a better future and chooses to see light in the world.
7 Lamia — Stardust
Stardust is a great choice for a witchy film that doesn’t get too graphically violent or scary. In fact, a sweet romance is at the core of this film as we follow a man from a “normal” town and Yvaine, a woman he encounters while in an enchanted forest. Yvaine is a fallen star and three witches believe that eating her heart will grant them eternal beauty and heightened abilities.
Among the three witches is their leader, Lamia. Her use of magic is haunting and mesmerizing, emitting a greenish glow when she wields it. Lamia is on a mission and doesn’t allow any setback to thwart her for too long.
6 Aggie Cromwell — Halloweentown
Halloweentown is one of Disney's first original movies and has stood the test of time, drawing viewers in with this magical world. The film's central protagonist is Marnie, a young girl who has always felt different and discovers she's a witch. Helping her come into her powers is her kooky Grandma Aggie, the head of the Cromwell witches. She is not your average granny, taking on formidable foes both alone and with the help of her family. She often struggles with existing in both Halloweentown and the real world, as well as her contentious relationship with her daughter who chooses not to use magic. Aggie is certain to be one of your favorite characters in this franchise.
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