Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble!
Pop the popcorn and pour yourself a cup of witches' brew! Here's ten great witch movies to enjoy on All Hallow's Eve! Witches good and evil abound on this top ten Witchy Witch Films! From friendly witches to the down right wicked ones, there's sure to be a witchy good time had by al!
I Married a Witch (1942)
She's got him so he doesn't know which is witch!
Synopsis: Before being burned at the stake in 1672, father and daughter witches curse the male descendants of Jonathan Wooley so they always fall in love with the wrong woman. Centuries later, after their spirits are freed, Jennifer and Daniel come back to check on the consequences of their curse. Unfortunately, Jennifer runs into Wallace Wooley and when she tries to make him fall in love with her, she ends up falling in love with him!Cast: Fredric March, Veronica Lake, Cecil Kellaway, Susan Hayward, Robert Benchley, Elizabeth Patterson and Robert Warwick
Background: The film is based on the novel The Passionate Witch by Thorne Smith. Smith died before the novel was finished; Norman Matson completed it and it was subsequently published in 1941. The leads, Veronica Lake and Fredric March disliked one another and it caused tension on the set. The film is only available on home VHS, as it has never received a DVD release in the US.
Trivia: The movie is commonly mistaken as the basis for the television sitcom Bewitched.
Bell Book and Candle (1958)
A bewitching comedy about an enchanting subject!
Synopsis: Witch Gillian Holroyd is unlucky in love. She admires her neighbor, Shep Henderson, who is set to marry an old college enemy of hers, Merle Kittridge. Taking matters into her own hands Gillian casts a spell on Shep to force him to fall in love with her, but the spell backfires on her. The only problem? A witch who falls in love loses her supernatural powers.Cast: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Janice Rule, Elsa Lanchester, Ernie Kovacs, and Hermione Gingold
Background: The film was based on a hit Broadway play that starred Sir Rex Harrison, Lilli Palmer, Jean Adair, and Larry Gates. It was Jimmy Stewart's last film as a romantic lead
Trivia: Gillian's feline familiar, Pyewacket, was named for one of the familiar spirits of a witch detected by the "witchfinder general" Matthew Hopkins in March of 1644 in England. The incident is described in Hopkins's pamphlet "The Discovery of Witches" written in 1647.
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The Worst Witch (1986)
Things never go right for Mildred Hubble...
Synopsis: Mildred Hubble is the "worst" witch at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. Nothing ever seems to go right for her; her potions don't do what they're supposed to, she has trouble flying on her broom, and she's always being sent to Miss Cackle's office! But when evil witches threaten to take over the academy, who can stop them? Mildred!Cast: Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae, Tim Curry, and Fairuza Balk
Background: Based on a series of children's books Jill Murphy, this made for television movie aired premiered on HBO and Central Independent Television. Through out the early 1990s, it aired during the months of September and October on the Disney Channel and became quite popular.
Trivia: Fairuza Balk would play another witch ten years later in The Craft.
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Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
A 13 year old witch on a magical adventure!
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Tress MacNeille, Janeane Garofalo, Matthew Lawrence, and Brad Garrett
Background: Loosely based on Eiko Kadono's novel, this was the fourth theatrically released Studio Ghibli fim and the first released under the Disney/Studio Ghibli partnership. Although the movie was released in Japan in 1989 it was not until 1997 that the film was dubbed into English before being released in the US in 1998.
Trivia: The name of Osono's bakery, "Guchokipanya" is a Japanese pun made from the words "guchokipa" (Rock Paper Scissors) and "pan'ya" (bakery).
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Teen Witch (1989)
To her, trouble comes super-naturally.
Synopsis: Unpopular in high school, Louise Miller wishes she was cool. After meeting the seer Madame Serena, who recognizes Louise as her reincarnated friend, Louise inherits her magical powers on her 16th birthday. At first, using magic to get back at her tormentors and gain popularity is fun! But soon, things get out of control and Louise learns a very important lesson.Cast: Robyn Lively, Dan Gauthier, Joshua Miller, Dick Sargent, and Zelda Rubinstein
Background: Originally the film was pitched as a Teen Wolf with a female lead but the script was changed and the lead character changed to a witch. The film was a bomb at the box office but picked up fans as a cult classic on home video. A remake, starring Ashley Tisdale, is said to be in development.
Trivia: Dick Sargent, who plays Louise's father, played another television father of a witch daughter: Darrin, Tabitha dad on Bewitched!
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The Witches (1990)
Saving the world from witches is a tall order for a boy they've turned into a mouse!
Synopsis: Luke, who lives with his grandmother Helga, knows all about witches. While on a trip to the seaside, Luke stumbles onto the Grand High Witch, who turns him into a mouse. Now Luke, with help from Helga and his new friend Bruno, must stop the witches from using Formula 86!Cast: Jasen Fisher, Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, and Rowan Atkinson
Background: The film is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's book. The film was produced by Jim Henson, whose Creature Shop helped create the mice-children. The film was shot on location in Norway and at the Headland Hotel in Cornwall, England.
Trivia: Cher was actually considered for the part of the Grand High Witch before Anjelica Huston was cast in the role.
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Hocus Pocus (1993)
It's just a bunch of Hocus Pocus!
Synopsis: Only a virgin can light the black flame candle that will resurrect the Sanderson sisters, witches who one terrorized Salem, Massachusetts. Enter Max Dennison, a California transplant who doesn't believe in the magical history of Salem. Now it's up to Max, sister Dani, and new friend Allison to stop the Sanderson sisters before the steal all of Salem's children!Cast: Omri Katz, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and Thora Birch
Background: Originally written as a television movie for the Disney Channel, the script caught the attention of Walt Disney Studios who cast Bette Midler as the lead Sanderson sister. The film was released in theaters in July of 1993 and did modestly well, gaining a cult following after its release on home video.
Trivia: Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays one of the Sanderson sisters, learned that her 10th great-grandmother Esther Elwell was arrested in Salem in the late 1600s for committing "sundry acts of witchcraft" and choking a neighbor to death. The case never went to trial and Elwell's accusation ended the Salem Witch Trials.
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The Craft (1996)
Relax....It's only magic....
Synopsis: Sarah Bailey has a troubled past. Now, moving to Los Angeles with her father and step-mother, she falls in with the group of girls at her new school who are know as being a little... odd. Making friends with Nancy, Bonnie and Rochelle, Sarah soon falls into the world of the Craft, the girls form a coven of witches. At first the spells seem harmless and just fun, but things start to get down right dangerous and soon Sarah is forced to stop the others from using magic for the wrong reasons.Cast: Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True
Background: Originally the film was going for a PG-13 rating but changed to R due to the violent events in the storyline. The film became the 7th highest grossing movie since 1980 dealing with the genre of witches. A direct-to-DVD sequel was proposed but eventually terminated.
Trivia: None of the four actresses in the lead roles were teenagers during filming. Most were in their twenties, with Rachel True being the eldest at nearly 30.
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Practical Magic (1998)
Falling in love is the trickiest spell of all.
Synopsis: If an Owens woman finds true love with a man, he will die tragically. Such is the case for Gillian and Sally's mother and father. After being raised by their spinster aunts Jet and Frances, Gillian can't wait to fall in love while Sally is afraid of the curse. Sally eventually marries and has two daughters of her own, while Gillian is living the wild life. When Gillian meets a possessive man, Sally does everything in her power to help her sister. But the consequences are dangerous and only the bond of sisterhood can help save the day.Cast: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest
Background: Based on the novel by Alice Hoffman, the film sets were created on location on Whidbey Island, Washington to mimic a true North Eastern locale. The film inspired a television pilot called Sudbury but the series was never picked up.
Trivia: Evan Rachel Wood plays one of Sandra Bullock's daughters in the film. She would later go on to play the vampire queen, Sophie-Ann, in HBO's True Blood.
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Halloweentown (1998)
Where everyday is Halloween!
Synopsis: Siblings Marnie, Dylan and Sophie always want to go trick or treating on Halloween but their mom won't allow them. And it doesn't help that their grandmother happens to be a witch who visits every Halloween. Grandma Aggie encourages the children to learn about their magical roots and now that Marnie's 13 she needs to start her training. But things in Halloweentown aren't what they seem. Creatures are disappearing and something evil is trying to take over. Can Marnie, Dylan and Sophie save Halloweentown in time?Cast: Debbie Reynolds, Judith Hoag, Kimberly J. Brown, Phillip Van Dyke, Joey Zimmerman, and Emily Roeske
Background: The made-for-television film proved to be a popular hit for the Disney Channel. It received three sequels: Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge, Halloweentown High and Return to Halloweentown..
Trivia: Kimberly J. Brown was replaced by Sara Paxton in Return to Halloweentown due to scheduling conflicts.
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Abracadabra!
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Graple
Oct 28, 2010 @ 12:52 pm | delete
- Practical Magic and Halloweentown are two of my favorites.
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toriphile81 Oct 11, 2010 @ 1:01 am | delete
- I love witch movies!
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WhiteOak50
Sep 19, 2010 @ 12:27 pm | delete
- Oh, love these movies and have seen most of them! Good job!
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bdkz
Sep 18, 2010 @ 8:44 pm | delete
- Congratulations! You've been SquidBoo Blasted. Happy Halloween!
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MissMerFaery
Sep 15, 2010 @ 1:33 pm | delete
- Fabulous lens! I love Practical magic especially. There are a few here I've not seen so will keep an eye out for them!
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BevsPaper
Sep 15, 2010 @ 6:39 am | delete
- In the mood for Halloween now with these suggestions of Witchy movies! Blessed!
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riff999
Sep 15, 2010 @ 12:32 am | delete
- My family really enjoyed, The Witches, The Craft and Practical Magic. The rest we have yet to see, but I will look for them for an upcoming movie night. Thanks for the suggestions.
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About the Lensmaster
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This Halloween Magazine page written by
missbat
I'm a Giant 100 Squid, as well as a retired SquidAngel. I'm most known for my Halloween costume lenses. I also like to poke people with sporks.
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