List

Reel Witches

By Skokie Staff Advisory Services

From movies to TV series, we've got something to cast the right viewing spell.

  • I Am Not a Witch

    2018

    Filmed in Zambia, the story spotlights eight-year-old Shula, accused of being a witch. She has the choice to confess or become a goat. Exploring and fictionalizing local customs, rules, and stories about women accused of witchcraft as well as the witch camps where they live and work, filmmaker Rungano Nyoni is respectful of her source material, composing a rich, engrossing narrative with gorgeous visuals. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • Hocus Pocus

    2002

    The infamous Sanderson sisters want to put a spell on you. Enjoy the inspired performances from Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in this cult classic. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • Kiki's Delivery Service

    2010

    Following tradition, Kiki, a 13-year-old witch in training, goes out in the world for one year to discover her vocation. Then she will be a full-fledged, independent witch. It is a sweet story with gorgeous animation from acclaimed animator/film director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away). I especially have a soft spot for Kiki's talking cat, Jiji, and I think you will also. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • I Married a Witch

    2013

    A classic black and white comedy starring the iconic Veronica Lake in the lead role, along with Fredric March. Lake plays a witch burned at the stake centuries ago who returns to haunt the descendants of those responsible, but instead she falls in love. It inspired the excellent 1958 comedy Bell, Book and Candle and the TV series Bewitched. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • The Love Witch

    2017

    A weird, funky, and color saturated (if you're into 1970's Italian horror, you'll wonder if this isn't a giddy homage) film about a modern-day witch casting love spells with deadly, albeit luxurious, consequences. Suggested by Chris.

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  • Häxan

    2001

    This ingenious and super creepy silent film from 1922 distills director Benjamin Christensen's research into the persecution of accused witches in Western culture. Rather than write about it, Christensen decided to make a film about his findings, creating what some film scholars believe to be the first "essay" film. Suggested by Chris.

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  • The Craft

    2000

    Released in 1996, this was a surprise hit at the time and is now a teen cult classic. The four lead actors turn in great performances, and it's a lot of fun for your popcorn movie night. There’s black magic, dark humor, and wonderful feminist messages. The sequel, The Craft Legacy, was released in 2020. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • The Witch

    2016

    In 17th-century New England, a family exiled from the community builds their new home in a secluded location at the edge of a forest. Then the baby disappears. This is a slow burn of a movie. The filmmaker uses historical details to draw the viewer into the deep, metaphorical story. By the end, I was nearly convinced that the events depicted happened. There goes my imagination. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • Charmed: Season One

    2019

    A reboot of the popular series that aired from 1998-2008. I particularly like that three women of color are cast as the leads, with persons of color in supporting roles, that there is LGBTQ representation, and feminist themes are addressed head on. Like its predecessor, it’s very bingeable. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • Mary and the Witch's Flower

    2018

    This is a delightful family-friendly anime. The lead character finds a rare flower that gives her magical powers to become a witch for one night. Via an enchanted broomstick, she finds herself at a college for witches, where she may or may not be truly welcome. Thus begins Mary’s adventure. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • A Discovery of Witches

    2019

    There are witches, vampires, and demons living among us. Yes! I love the relationships and the plot lines, the world building, and the impossible that is possible. It's based on the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Watch the series, read the books. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • Spirited Away

    2017

    While traveling to a new home, Chihiro and her parents stumble upon an abandoned amusement park. After her parents turn into giant pigs, Chihiro learns that they are really in a resort for the supernatural. Yubaba, a powerful witch, is definitely a presence to contend with. The animation is gorgeous, the plot creative and layered. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • Good Witch: Season One

    2015

    Centering on mother/daughter/family relationships, neighbors, and community, this fantasy-based drama series has a light tone and plenty of feel-good magic. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • The Wizard of Oz

    2013

    No movie list about witches would be complete without a nod to The Wizard of Oz. So here’s to the good witch, the bad witch, and of course Dorothy, who’s not a witch at all! Suggested Sharon.

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  • Howl's Moving Castle

    2017

    If you haven't discovered this yet, this is an all-time favorite. I fell in love with the offbeat characters and their magical skills--plus the humor, romance, and adventure. Hayao Miyazaki adapted the book by Diana Wynne Jones for the screen, putting his own stamp on the story, and of course the animation is gorgeous. Whether you watch the film, read the book, or both, the Witch of the Waste is unforgettable. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • Hereditary

    2018

    Upon the death of her mother, Annie Graham and her family face a ghastly inheritance and evil beyond their control. One of the most terrifying movies I have seen--maybe because I thought everything seemed so realistic. Plus, actor Toni Collette is amazing. Talk about a slow burn of a movie, this is it. Suggested by Sharon.

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