Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a little witchcraft. Here are the most famous witches from film and books who have left their mark on pop culture.

The Sanderson Sisters (Hocus Pocus 1993)

Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson are one of cinema’s most iconic witch trios. Played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, the sisters return to Salem after being accidentally resurrected by a teenager on Halloween night.

Winifred is in charge, Sarah lures children with her enchanting voice, and Mary has a supernatural gift for tracking them down. The chaos, outrageous costumes, music and their murderous appetite for youth have made them Halloween favourites for decades.

The Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz 1939)

The Wicked Witch of the West helped establish the look of the classic movie witch, with her green appearance, terrifying cackle and pointy hat. She pursues Dorothy across Oz in a quest to obtain the ruby slippers, making life extremely difficult for anyone who crosses her path.

Terrifying generations of children in a film filled with colourful fantasy, she remains one of cinema’s most recognisable villains.

The Witches (The Craft 1996)

Sarah, Nancy, Bonnie and Rochelle are four teenage outsiders who discover the power of witchcraft. At first their newfound abilities seem to offer everything they want: confidence, popularity, revenge and control.

In the movies as their spells become more dangerous, their friendship begins to unravel. The Craft became a cult favourite for its darker take on teenage life, female friendship and the temptation of power.

Sally and Gillian Owens (Practical Magic 1998)

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman play sisters raised in a family of witches, where magic comes with a terrible romantic curse. Sally longs for an ordinary life, while Gillian embraces adventure, but their bond is tested when a dangerous situation forces them to rely on one another.

With midnight margaritas, a beautiful old house and a great soundtrack, Practical Magic has become a beloved comfort film for fans who prefer their witchcraft with a little romance and family drama.

The Grand High Witch (The Witches 1990)

Angelica Huston’s Grand High Witch is the stuff of childhood nightmares. Disguised as an elegant woman, she leads a secret organisation of evil witches who despise children and plot to transform them into mice.

Based on Roald Dahl’s book, the film takes the idea of witches hiding in plain sight and turns it into something quite unsettling. Her transformation scene remains particularly memorable or traumatising for children who watched the film at an impressionable age.

Alex, Jane and Sukie (The Witches of Eastwick 1987)

Three women discover they have magical powers after attracting a mysterious man to their small town. Their newfound abilities lead to a mix of dark magic, mischief and revenge. Starring Jack Nicolson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. This group of witches in the movie are at first unaware of their powers but they grow more confident and discover a darker, more vengeful side to themselves.

Marnie Piper (Halloween Town 1998)

Marnie discovers she’s a witch and visits Halloweentown, a magical world filled with supernatural creatures. She begins discovering her own magical potential with the help of her grandmother, Aggie. Marnie is a curious witch, independent and learns about her magical heritage.

The White Witch (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 2005)

Jadis, the White Witch, rules Narnia through fear and magic, condemning the land to a winter that seems never-ending. Played by Tilda Swinton, she combines icy elegance with ruthless ambition.

Her enchanted Turkish Delight tempts Edmund into betraying his siblings, while her battle against Aslan makes her one of fantasy cinema’s most formidable magical villains. The book is a children’s classic.

The Evil Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937)

Disney’s Evil Queen may be best known for her obsession with being the fairest of them all, but her transformation into a disguised old woman makes her a classic figure of dark magic.

Jealous of Snow White’s beauty she poisons her with an apple. Let’s not forget her sinister magical mirror and her plan for the huntsman to kill Snow White in the forest and bring her heart back in a box.

Which Witch would you want to be?

Would you choose the Sanderson sisters’ theatrical chaos or the Owens sisters’ romantic, slightly unpredictable magic? One thing is true, cinema has given us witches for every mood, from frightening villains to magical women that we’d happily invite over for Halloween.

Written by Siân Alison

Follow the Siân Alison | Books, Writing & Pop Culture channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDPyst8vd1XgWmV1z1E

Links to my published work:

Mental Floss- 18 Reasons Why ‘Hocus Pocus’ Was Much Darker Than We Remember

Cream Magazine, Australia- Why the 90s Movie ‘The Craft’ Still Resonates with Millennial Women |