Summary
Practical Magicis one of the best movies about witches of the past several decades, but many witch films like it aren’t recognized as often. Other famous movies that tackle the subject of witchcraft, likeThe CraftorThe Blair Witch Project, focus on the more sinister aspects of the occult. WhilePractical Magichas some scary scenes, the most memorable parts of the story revolve around the character’s interpersonal relationships. However,the visual aesthetic and atmosphere of the film have cemented it as a familiar favorite for the autumnal season.
Whether audiences are looking for horror films, comedies, romances, or something fantastical, there’s a witch movie that will satisfy these requirements.
Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock will return inPractical Magic 2, playing Gillian and Sally in the long-awaited sequel to the 1998 movie. While the story remains unknown, fans are already excited. In the meantime, revisiting underrated witch movies or discovering them for the first time is a great way to recapture the feeling ofPractical Magic. Whether audiences are looking for horror films, comedies, romances, or something fantastical, there’s a witch movie that will satisfy these requirements.Practical Magicis considered a classic because it blends genres so welland is accessible to a variety of audiences.
6 Most Memorable Scenes In Practical Magic
Practical Magic is a well-loved movie that blends the fantasy and romance genres seamlessly, & centers family dynamics in its most memorable moments.
10The Love Witch (2016)
Directed by Anna Biller
The highly stylized and darkly comic movieThe Love Witchshould be recognized for its revitalization of the witch genre in the past several years. Samantha Robinson plays Elaine, the titular witch who uses her powers to find the perfect man but is consistently disappointed with the results.Shot on 35mm film and designed to look like classic pulp films of the 1960s,The Love Witchis a film buff’s dream. Though it’s quite violent, these gory scenes are juxtaposed nicely with the aesthetically pleasing look of the movie.
Elaine is more similar to Gillian than Sally inThe Love Witch, as both women end up murdering their romantic partners, but Elaine has a much darker side than either of the other women.Practical Magic’s approach to love has a dark side, but it follows the traditional rom-com format more closely. Conversely,The Love Witchsubverts and pokes fun at the concept that a woman needs the love of a man for her life to be fulfilling.
9The Lords Of Salem (2012)
Directed by Rob Zombie
WhilePractical Magicis deeply informed and influenced by the history of the Salem Witch Trials,The Lords of Salemtakes a much darker tonewhen looking at its legacy. The terror and violence of that period of history are all too immediate in the story as the protagonist’s, Heidi (Sheri Moon Zombie), life is transformed when she’s sucked into a cult that leads her to give birth to what is assumed to be the antichrist. This terrifying turn of events is not the only horrific event that happens to Heidi in the movie.
ThoughPractical Magicis much easier to watch, the films make interesting foils and companion pieces.
In the same vein as influential films likeRosemary’s BabyandDon’t Look Now,The Lords of Salemis most effective when capitalizing on its inherent tension.The director, Rob Zombie, is well known within the horror genre, but most critics agree thatThe Lords of Salemis not his best work.The Lords of Salemcreates an alternative history of the Salem Witch Trials and what type of witchcraft took place. ThoughPractical Magicis much easier to watch, the films make interesting foils and companion pieces.
The Lords of Salem
Cast
The Lords of Salem was written and directed by Rob Zombie and stars Rob’s wife, Sheri Moon Zombie. The 2012 release is a supernatural Horror film that revolves around the Salem Witch Trials, following a modern day DJ named Heidi that ends up mixed up in a centuries-old ritual.
8Suspiria (2018)
Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Dakota Johnson is at her best in Luca Guadagnino’s remake of the 1977Suspiria, and the director does a good job justifying the existence of the remake. It’s a beautifully terrifying film, as Susie (Johnson) enrolls in an elite dance academy that’s ruled by a coven of witches who dispatch any student who goes against them. Tilda Swinton is also a highlight of the film, playing multiple roles with ease and evoking a sense of unease in the viewer in every scene she’s in.Though the witches in the film are frightening, they’re representational of deeper themesin the story.
Their abuse of the power they hold and the depictions of motherhood in the narrative paint the larger point of the story, and the comments on the political context of the film are more involved than in the original. Outside of revolving around witchcraft and female relationships,SuspiriaandPractical Magiccouldn’t be more different. Despite this,Suspiriais a highlight of the horror genre from the past ten yearsand shouldn’t be overlooked when discussing Guadagnino’s filmography.
Suspiria
Suspiria is a remake of the 1977 supernatural horror classic by Dario Argento. The film centers on Susie Bannion, a young woman who begins attending a dance academy. However, darkness begins to build at the center of this world-renowned dance company, and its artistic director, Susie, and a grieving psychotherapist become entangled in a nightmare in the middle of a coven of witches.
7The Witches (2020)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
It followed the original story closely but is considered less spiritually successful than the original 1990 film.
In this recent take on the seminal work by Roald Dahl, a star-studded cast brings the story to life with updated visuals and strong performances from Octavia Spencer and Anne Hathaway.The effects used to create the look of the witches in the story make them more terrifying than ever,but their depiction also faced some backlash due to its misrepresentation of individuals with limb differences. As with most stories from Dahl, the film toes the line of being appropriate for young children, as the central conflict is the witches trying to capture the young boy Charlie (Jahzir Bruno).
Due to its release during the pandemic,The Witchessuffered more than it might’ve with revenue and critical reception. It followed the original story closely but is considered less spiritually successful than the original 1990 film.Practical Magicalso has some unexpectedly terrifying moments but differs in its portrayal of witches significantly. However,the inclusion of children’s perceptions and experiences of magical events is a large part of both films.Sally’s daughters are featured as heavily as Charlie, but their actions are central to the plot.
The Witches
The Witches is a reimagined adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic novel, helmed by Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future), and tells the darkly comedic but heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy who goes to live with his loving Grandmother. The two soon begin to run into devious and calculating witches, prompting her to take him away to a resort. However, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world’s Grand High Witch has gathered her fellow witches from around the globe—undercover—to carry out her nefarious plans.
6Stardust (2007)
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Many ofNeil Gaiman’s best booksinclude discussions and descriptions of witchcraft or some type of magic. This inclusion of the supernatural is true forStardust, the 1997 novel on which the movie of the same name is based. Michelle Pfeiffer brings her antagonistic witch character to life with charisma and humor as she chases after Yvaine (Claire Danes), the fallen star. Operating at the intersection between fantasy and reality,Stardusthas plenty of relevant and realistic themes alongside its most otherworldly aspects.
Practical Magicis also set in a land where magic exists alongside the natural world. Like Sally and Gillian, Tristan (Charlie Cox) feels out of place and isolated in the real world as if his true calling and purpose exist somewhere far away. His feelings are confirmed when he discovers that his mother is the princess of the fantastical land he travels to in the story. However,as Sally and Gillian learn inPractical Magic, all Tristan needs to be happy is to believe in himselfand be true to his values.
Stardust
Stardust is a fantasy-based romantic adventure-comedy by director Matthew Vaughn and based on the original novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess. In the film, Tristan, a young man who lives in an English town near a magical border wall, decides to catch a fallen star to win the affection of a woman named Yvaine. However, Tristan soon learns what - or who - the star is, and a grand adventure back to England begins.
5The School For Good And Evil (2022)
Directed by Paul Feig
The dichotomy between Sophie and Agatha is similar to the differences between Sally and Gillian, and both sets of women are more powerful when they join together.
The School for Good and Evildoes a great job of challenging expectations surrounding witch narratives and makes the audience reflect on their own biases of black-and-white morality. Though Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso) and Agatha (Sofia Wylie) aren’t sisters in the film, they’re as close as two young women can be. However,their connection is put to the test when Sophie’s dreams of being a princess fall apart as she’s deemed evil, and Agatha is heralded as a princesswhen they arrive at the School for Good and Evil.
The dichotomy between Sophie and Agatha is similar to the differences between Sally and Gillian, and both sets of women are more powerful when they join together.The School for Good and Evilmight not have been praised for originality, but that doesn’t take away from the overall value of the movie.It tells important lessons about friendship and being true to oneselfthroughout its fast-paced narrative. LikePractical Magic, the story includes several intersecting plots across its runtime.
The School for Good and Evil
Based on the novel by Soman Chainani, The School For Good and Evil follows best friends Agatha and Sophie. Cynical misfit Agatha is assigned to the School for Good, creating fairytale heroes; meanwhile, fairy-tale-obsessed Sophie is placed in the School for Evil, dedicated to training villains.
4Mary And The Witch’s Flower (2017)
Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Loosely based on the 1971 novelThe Little Broomstickby Mary Stewart,Mary and the Witch’s Floweris a gorgeously animated modern take on the witch story. The protagonist,Mary, is not a witch but gains the amazing powers of one through the use of a magic flower.However, this soon becomes more trouble than it’s worth when she’s embroiled in an evil witch’s plot to find all the flowers and experiment on humans. Fortunately, not all witches in the story are evil, and it doesn’t take long for Mary to realize that she doesn’t need magic to be happy.
ThoughMary and the Witch’s Floweris frequently compared to the works of Studio Ghibli, it stands on its own and distinguishes itself with a unique visual style and story.The cozy and inviting look of the film is similar toPractical Magic,and the strong aesthetic choices make it surprising that so few audience members have sought it out. However, as time passes, it’s likely that it will grow in popularity asPractical Magicdid.
WatchMary and the Witch’s Floweron Netflix.
3Mirror Mirror (2012)
Directed by Tarsem Singh
Like most fairytales,Mirror Mirrorpaints its witch as the main villain of the piece, using her powers for evil.
One of the most unrealistic parts ofMirror Mirroris that the audience is supposed to believe that Julia Roberts could ever be an ugly, evil stepmother. However, Roberts is having a lot of fun leaning into the type of antagonist character that she’s rarely cast as. She stars alongside Lily Collins, now best known for the upcomingEmily in Parisseason 4, who plays Snow White in this offbeat retelling of the classic fairytale. One of the most enduring parts of the film isthe gorgeous set design and intricate costumes that makeMirror Mirrorbeautiful to look at.
Like most fairytales,Mirror Mirrorpaints its witch as the main villain of the piece, using her powers for evil. Fairytales are often children’s introduction to witches and the reason they have a fearsome reputation in so much of popular culture. ThoughMirror Mirrorupdates some of the tired tropes associated with witches and fairytales,it doesn’t do much to differentiate itself from other versions of the story.However, it’s a stunning work of art, and its sympathetic main character and love story are comparable toPractical Magic.
Mirror Mirror
Mirror Mirror is a new adaptation of the original Brothers Grimm tale Snow White that stars Lilly Collins and Julia Roberts as Snow White and the enchantress Clementianna. When Snow White’s father goes missing, her stepmother assumes control of the kingdom, hiding Snow White away from the world, and jealously banishes her into the nearby woods. As time passes, Snow White, with the help of the dwarves that helped raise her, decides to fight back and reclaim her kingdom from her cruel stepmother.
2Bewitched (2005)
Directed by Nora Ephron
Will Ferrell and Kidman make a funny but odd couple inBewitched, in which Kidman reprises her role as a witch.Acclaimed rom-com writer and director Nora Ephron helmed the projectthat is deeply entwined and referential to the beloved sitcom that aired in the 1960s and ’70s. The plot revolves around Ferrell’s character, Jack, trying to revive his failing acting career by joining a revival of the sitcom. Kidman’s Isabel joins the cast as the secondary lead, but little does Jack know that Kidman is a real-life witch herself.
It’s a fantastical twist on the rom-com genre and effectively incorporates plenty of searing comments on the entertainment industry. While it wasn’t a total box office bomb,Bewitchedfaced negative critical reception, though Kidman’s performance was frequently highlighted as a bright spotin the project. Today, remakes and homages to old TV shows and movies are rampant in Hollywood, makingBewitchedwell ahead of the trend. It isn’t the most original or inventive witch movie, but it’s a lot of fun.
Bewitchedis available to rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, and YouTube.
10 Best Magic Systems In Fantasy Movies, Ranked
These 10 fantasy movie titles reimagine magic by creating systems that are imaginative, and immersive, and serve the narrative’s central themes.
1Eve’s Bayou (1997)
Directed by Kasi Lemmons
Lemmons effectively shows the direct line between girlhood and coming of age as a woman through witchcraft as a metaphor for society’s fear of women’s strength.
LikePractical Magic,Eve’s Bayoubuilds its story within the atmosphere and aesthetic of its setting. ForPractical Magic, this revolves around New England and the legacy of the Salem Witch Trials, whileEve’s Bayoudelves into Southern Gothic and the long history of the Creole-American community of the American South. The performances of the young actors in the film are incredible as they handle emotionally intense subjects with care.Kasi Lemmons, the director, was put on the map due to the enormous audience response and praise for the film,as it was her directorial debut.
The overarching theme ofEve’s Bayouis the complex nature of familial loveand the deep bond between the sisters, Eve (Jurnee Smollett) and Cisley (Meagan Good). Eve’s gift of sight and her connection to magic scare and empower her in equal measure. Lemmons effectively shows the direct line between girlhood and coming of age as a woman through witchcraft as a metaphor for society’s fear of women’s strength. WherePractical Magicultimately sees its characters expected and embraced by their community,Eve’s Bayouis more concerned with the
Eve’s Bayou
Eve’s Bayou is a drama film directed by Kasi Lemmons, exploring the complex dynamics within an affluent African-American family in Louisiana. Jurnee Smollett stars as Eve, a young girl who witnesses tumultuous events surrounding her father’s infidelities, played by Samuel L. Jackson. The film delves into themes of memory and perception, magnifying the impact of personal and familial secrets.
