14 OF THE BEST FILM AND TV WITCHES WE LOVE MOST
As spooky season is in full swing and here, we’re going to lean into that and take a look at some of the best witch characters, all from film and TV shows. Some of these are of course universally loved while others may be underrated. Whatever the case, we always try for variety here.
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From popular 90s icons to characters who lived in another time altogether, and fan favorite Hallmark characters, let’s see who we discover. Whether this will be your first time meeting them or the one-hundredth, let’s see which witchy characters we best love from film and TV!
BEST WITCHES from FILM and TV
DIANA BISHOP
Where: A Discovery of Witches (TV show) 2018 – 2022
Who: Diana Bishop, a devoted historian, is played by Teresa Palmer
Based on the popular novels, fans meet Diana Bishop on the small screen as played by Teresa Palmer. I watched some of the show, and while I had issues with it, I also understand how it’s something easy to pull viewers in.
Stream, at publication, on places like Acorn TV or Netflix
Lena Duchannes
Where: Beautiful Creatures
Who: Originating in the novel Beautiful Creatures, Lena is played by Alice Englert
I saw this film years ago and while I don’t think it was a favorite, it was entertaining.
Purchase digitally on places like Amazon
GLINDA, the GOOD WITCH
Where: The Wizard of Oz
Who: Glinda, known as the Good Witch, is introduced in The Wizard of Oz
The origins of Glinda isn’t something I know, but my introduction to her was likely in the 1930s adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Recently I did rewatch this film and am startled to realize that the film doesn’t feature Glinda a great deal. However, she is the quintessential good witch in her beautiful gown and her helpful nature sharing with heroine Dorothy the way to survive in Oz. Michelle Williams also played Glinda in Disney’s OZ: The Great and Powerful.
Stream, at publication, with MGM+
THE HALLIWELL SISTERS
Where: Charmed (TV show) 1998 – 2006
Who: Holly Marie Combs, Shannon Doherty and Alyssa Milano play Piper, Prue and Phoebe
Plagued with controversy, even these many years later it’s stirred now and then, Charmed is still a fan favorite. It was even remade by CW. While I saw a few episodes of that, I never have seen the OG version of this TV show all about witches.
Stream, at publication, on places like Max, Netflix and Roku
14 OF THE BEST FILM AND TV WITCHES WE LOVE MOST. How many of these witch-y characters have you met? #SabrinaSpellman #PracticalMagic #Witches #GoodMovies #GoodWitch Share on XAGATHA HARKNESS
Where: Agatha All Along; WandaVision
Who: Agatha is a witch from the Marvel TV universe played by Kathryn Hahn
I haven’t met Agatha as far as I remember, but she is from the Marvel universe and based on headlines, she is a favorite of many just now.
Stream, at publication, on Disney+
GILLIAN HOLROYD
Where: Bell Book and Candle
Who: Kim Novak plays Gillian
This character is from a classic 1958 film about a woman who enchants her neighbor when she falls for a man with fiancé.
Stream, at publication, on Prime Video
CASSANDRA NIGHTINGALE
Where: The Good Witch (movies) and Good Witch (TV show) 2015 – 2021
Who: Cassandra Nightingale or Cassie as she’s called is played by Catherine Bell.
Depending on who you ask in the small town of Middleton, newcomer Cassie either enchants or causes skepticism. A woman who moves from place to place finally calls Middleton home as we meet her in The Good Witch, and through the years, she also finds lasting love and family along with a broken heart or two. The movies, which is what I primarily watched, doesn’t really establish Cassie as a witch but rather shows her as a woman with a perceptive perspective who gets people and loves to help others.
Stream, at publication, on Hallmark+ or Tubi
GILLIAN and SALLY OWENS
Where: Practical Magic
Who: Gillian and Sally Owens, sisters from a long line of witches, are played by Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock
A cult classic from the 90s, Practical Magic gets lots of love by many and features sister characters who are easy to like even with the mess they find themselves in. I had some conflicting thoughts about these women as best witches from film or TV, but in the end, I do think they’re memorable and I do mostly like the film.
Stream, at publication, on places like Max or Roku
ALEX RUSSO
Where: The Wizards of Waverly Place (TV show) 2007 – 2012
Who: Selena Gomez played Alex, a character in a family of siblings training to become wizards.
Unless I’ve forgotten I don’t think I ever watched a single episode of Wizards of Waverly Place but I know it’s a favorite show of many and is even something that’s now has a continuation with Selena Gomez starring in the first episode, and one main actor reprising his role in a starring role.
Purchase digitally on places like Amazon
THE SANDERSON SISTERS
Where: Hocus Pocus
Who: A sister trio named Mary, Sarah and Winnifred played by Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler.
Though it’s loved, I’ve never seen Hocus Pocus so whether I’d like these characters or not is a mystery. I have a feeling that this wouldn’t be a group I’d love, but then I also didn’t anticipate loving the the Owen sisters either. Regardless these characters feel like a must on a list like this.
Purchase digitally on places like Amazon
SABRINA SPELLMAN
Where: Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TV show) 1996 – 2003
Who: Sabrina Spellman is played by Melissa Joan Hart
A popular teenage character from the 90s, Sabrina is a witch who lives with her beloved aunts, and must keep her talents hidden. With guidance from her sassy and snarky talking cat, Salem, Sabrina tries to live a normal life, including crushing on boys like her cute class mate Harvey!
Stream, at publication, on Paramount+
SAMANTHA STEPHENS
Where: Bewitched (TV show) 1964 – 1972
Who: Samantha Stephens was played by Elizabeth Montgomery
Nicole Kidman also took on the role of Samantha in the 2005 feature film, but it was Elizabeth Montgomery who made the role famous as a witch who marries someone quite ordinary, and through the years, she is unable to resist using her powers to help her household thrive. Samantha is perhaps one of the more iconic or best witches from film or TV, although I’m sure there’s a whole generation who loves Sabrina, too!
Stream, at publication, on places like Freevee
THE SCARLET WITCH
Where: The Avengers (Films); WandaVision (TV Show); Marvel Comics
Who: The Scarlet Witch aka Wanda Maximoff was played most recently by Elizabeth Olsen
I met Wanda in The Avengers movies, and as I remember, there’s emotional damage which means she doesn’t always have control over her emotions which triggers how she fights, and means she doesn’t make the smartest choices.
Purchase, at publication, on places like Amazon
THE WHITE WITCH
Where: The Chronicles of Narnia
Who: the White Witch is played by Tilda Swinton in the 2005 feature film
Do we love The Witch Witch? Probably not. But in the story, she does play an interesting and important role. Not only for the entirety of the story threads, but for character Edmund as well. She’s also a formidable foe the the characters learn the hard way not to underestimate.
Purchase digitally on places like Amazon
MORE WITCHES you may know
Camryn Barnes from The Witches of Conventry
The Beauchamp Women from Witches of East End
The Blake Women from The Secret Circle
Evanora from OZ: The Great and Powerful
Alex Fielding from The Witches of Conventry
Rowen Fielding from Mayfair Witches
Kendra from Beastly
Lady Morgana Pendragon from Merlin
Hilda and Zelda Spellman from Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina Spellman from The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Theodora from OZ: The Great and Powerful
How many of these characters have you met? Who would be on your best witches from film and tv list? Do you like or dislike these characters? Which ones do you enjoy meeting time and again? Comment all of your thoughts down below! Let’s talk.
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I love this! The Good Witch is a charming and whimsical underrated show, Sabrina is my childhood, one of my favorite witches, Charmed is also my childhood, love the 2000s/2010s vibes
I agree. The Good Witch is so fun and charming! I enjoyed the movies. I haven’t seen as many of the films. And I binged Sabrina a couple years ago (for the first time) and thought it was cute. :) Thanks for reading!