The 20 Best Movies About Magic, Wizards and Witches
Written by: Bobby McNeill
Table of Contents
What could be better than diving into imaginative, colorful worlds in the evening and leaving everyday life behind for a moment? For this, Hollywood and other film strongholds have created fantasy films with their magical plots because who has not been fascinated by wizards and witches as a child?! But in this area, there is much more than Bibi Blocksberg or Houdini.
From animated family films to romantic comedies to horror movies are all there. Numerous films take us into the world of magic, whether with fairies and witches, hidden through magical worlds, or natural magic tricks. Here are the 20 best to be presented.
1. Prestige (2006)
A film with a concentrated star cast, from Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman to Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie. It takes place at the end of the 19. The story takes place in London at the beginning of the twentieth century and shows how two competing magicians try to outdo each other with their tricks on stage. When the other’s reckless trick kills one man’s wife, an enmity develops between the two, and their magic skills are pulled from the stage to be used against each other.
Although real magic is never used, this movie is still a highlight of magic art. The unexpected twists and clever plot lines keep you enthralled from the first to the last minute.
2. Harry Potter (2001 – 2011)
This film series consists of a total of eight films and is based on the novels by Joanne K. Rowling. Intended initially as books for children, the story of the young wizard Harry Potter continued to evolve and eventually attracted viewers of all ages. Tells of the boy’s life and education at Hogwarts, a magic school. Of course, the fight against the dark side of magic may not be missing.
An imaginative story that you just want to know what happens next will delight the whole family.
3. The Lord of the Rings (2001 – 2003)
The film trilogy is based on Tolkien’s novels and offers an unparalleled fantasy world. The little hobbit Bilbo Baggins gets to the ring of evil by chance, which must not under any circumstances fall into the hands of the evil wizard Sauron. Bilbo and later his successor Frodo travel with their companions through the magical land and meet elves, dwarves, orcs, and many other creatures. They go on adventures, fight great battles, and are always supported by the good wizards.
An absolutely worth seeing the masterpiece of fantasy art.
At the beginning of 17. In the first half of the nineteenth century, when English settlers wanted to establish their existence in today’s USA, we see how a family is rejected by the community immediately after their arrival. William and his wife settle down with their five children in a secluded place near a forest and experience inexplicable misfortunes and events there. Little by little, animals die, and some of the children disappear. Some of the siblings accuse each other of witchcraft – but who is behind it all?
A horror film that gives you goosebumps due to its mysterious parts.
5. Spirited Away (2001)
The girl Chihiro visits a kind of abandoned amusement park with her parents. However, they fall into the clutches of a witch, and Chihiro’s parents are turned into pigs. To save them and escape to the real world, Chihiro has to go on several adventures where she gets help from the Witch’s prisoners.
A beautifully animated film that has received numerous awards and shows a kind of Alice in Wonderland story.
6. The Illusionist (2006)
A successful wizard (Edward Norton) and a crown prince duel for fame and the love of a woman (Jessica Biel). While the crown prince Leopold tries to convict the sorcerer Eisenheim of fraud, Eisenheim leaves no stone unturned to win back his childhood sweetheart, who is now promised to the crown prince.
A dark romantic film with an unexpected twist at the end.
7. Now You See Me (2013)
A wealthy benefactor brings four magicians together and performs as “The Four Horsemen” in Las Vegas. In contrast, a highlight of their show is they rob a bank live on stage and distribute the money among the spectators. The FBI gets involved and tries to put a stop to the troupe before it can lead to even bigger actions. They are assisted by a former magician (Morgan Freeman) who is supposed to uncover the magic tricks. But the four of them don’t let themselves be taken in so easily.
As a viewer, you’re on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the end of the film and never really know whose side you’re on. In the meantime, a second part has been released.
8. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Four children enter a mysterious, magical land called Narnia through a closet. But not everything in Narnia is as beautiful as it could be. A witch rules the land and has sent it into eternal winter. Anyone who opposes her will be turned to stone. Can the four children save Narnia from the White Witch?
Family entertainment at its best. The film is the first of a series that is a pleasure to watch in its entirety because it transports you to such a beautiful fantasy world that you would prefer not to leave it again.
9. Into the Woods (2014)
This film combines the plots of Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and Rapunzel in a fantasy musical in which a baker and his wife struggle to have a child finally. This is prevented by a curse of a witch, played by Meryl Streep. Together they have to go into the dark forest to find ingredients for an antidote. In the process, they encounter various fairy tale characters that are familiar to all of us from our childhood days, but here they have been significantly modernized—an entertaining alternative to other Disney films.
Another creation from the DC Comics world is about the life of Captain Marvel. Behind it is the teenager Billy Batson, who can transform himself into a superhero by means of the magic word Shazam and possesses magical powers. On the one hand, he fights against shrill villains, and on the other hand, he has to deal with the problems of a teenager growing up as an orphan.
The movie is a good mix of realistic problems and superhero stories without missing the humor.
11. Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
The prequel to the “Wizard of Oz”, which pulls you in from the very first minute. Oscar Diggs is a mediocre magician who earns money in a small traveling circus. One day he gets caught in a whirlwind in the magical land of Oz, where everyone thinks he is a great wizard who will save their world. Here he encounters witches, monkey creatures, and talking porcelain dolls. A visually stunning production that leaves you amazed and wondering.
12. Maleficent (2014)
Another fairy tale adaptation from Disney. Here the story of Sleeping Beauty is taken up and told from the point of view of the wicked Witch Maleficent, played by Angelina Jolie. The latter once lived as a good-natured fairy in her kingdom and met young Stefan, who had lost his way there.
The two quickly become friends, and a love affair develops. Stefan, however, aspires to greater things and wants to usurp the royal throne. For this, he robs Maleficent of her wings and is crowned king. The once good fairy is beside herself with rage and plans her revenge years later on Stefan’s daughter.
This film is a clever interpretation of the classic fairy tale that scores with great images and effects.
13. Stardust (2007)
Young Tristan wants to give his beloved a fallen star as a token of his love and sets off for the magical land. There, however, he is not alone in his attempt and must prevail against a witch and several others.
This film is a real highlight not only because of its large star cast (Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Henry Cavill, and many more). The story is also more than worth watching and an entertaining magical experience for the whole family.
14. The Great Buck Howard (2008)
Aspiring writer Troy is looking for a source of money to add a little excitement to his dull life. He then takes the job as assistant to a magician, Buck Howard. Despite their differences, a friendship develops between the two, and Troy tries to give Buck one last big performance.
The film is partly based on the life of George Joseph Kresge, who earned his money as a successful mentalist. The film has no great unexpected twists but shows an amusing, beautifully presented story.
15. Practical Magic (1998)
Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock are not normal young women, and when they say that they are not lucky in love, it has a very different meaning than usual. The two are sisters and descendants of an ancient witch family. They can do magic and Witch their way through life with various tricks. However, a curse weighs on the whole thing because every man who falls in love with her dies.
The film is based on a novel and is a classic romantic comedy. Perfect for a cozy evening to unwind.
16. The Love Witch (2016)
Elaine is a young, beautiful witch who wants nothing more than to find her life’s love finally. To do this, she lures a series of men to her apartment to transform them into her prince charming with various means and spells. Unfortunately, this works only conditionally, and all too often, the men develop rather into sentimental heaps and finally usually even die. Completely desperate, Elaine gradually falls into madness, but when she meets her true love one day, she has to come up with an idea.
An entertaining story from the genre of horror comedy in the style of older Hollywood films.
17. The Craft (1996)
Four teenage girls discover their magical powers and use them to cast curses and other spells. However, they are too inexperienced to know that all magic comes back to you in amplified form. An older witch wants to help them, but when the first murder happens, it seems to be already too late.
A typical 90s classic from the dark part of magic movies that you should have seen.
18. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
Nicolas Cage plays a somewhat down-and-out wizard named Balthazar Blake, who wants to save the world from evil. He is looking for the greatest magician of all times because only he can win the battle for the good side. In the process, he finds Dave, who is a descendant of the great Merlin but does not yet know of his magical powers, and accidentally unleashes Blake’s nemesis. Together Blake and Dave set out to defeat evil. A fantasy action comedy that lives up to its promise.
19. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Doctor Parnassus earns a living by running a roving traveling theater. The highlight is a magic mirror that shows everyone who looks into it a fantasy world in which one is confronted with one’s desires and fears. The one who renounces his vice escapes this world again and returns to reality. Whoever does not do this loses his soul to the devil because Doctor Parnassus has made a pact with him.
Despite some weaknesses, the film is absolutely worth seeing, not only because one of the main actors, Heath Ledger, died during the shooting and the plot had to be rewritten and adapted. This was masterfully solved here.
20. Ella Enchanted (2004)
The children’s classic was adapted in 2005, starring Anne Hathaway, and it recounts the tale of Ella, who is born with the ability to obey orders from others. She sets out to locate the fairy godmother in hopes that she may break the enchantment.
This film turns the fairy godmother cliché into something both silly and evil. Witches, elves, and talking books are just some magical creatures inhabiting the globe.
It’s mostly a coming-of-age tale about a young lady discovering how to live for herself.
This list is certainly not complete, and there are still many really good movies about magic, wizards, and witches, but especially among the current films, we hope to have given you some ideas for the next TV evenings. Have fun watching!
