Theres, of course, the Bible, and then Malleus Maleficarum, a medieval book seen as the de facto manual on witchcraft and its heretic nature. Thats what pulled Harry Potter out of flash-in-the-pan territory and elevated it into a phenomenon that defined childhood for an entire generation. Sheila Bennett (Jasmine Guy), The Vampire Diaries. Get ready to level up your habits game with "Atomic Habits" by James Clear! After all, shes probably brought more people back from the dead than anyone else on this list. In most depictions of modern witchcraft, good witches live in our midst with their true powers (mostly) hidden. A 2012 study found that 55 percent of YA novels are bought by adults. Because the witching season is just around the corner, weve rounded up the most iconic witches in pop culture history, from the Disney icons to Hogwarts heroines. Most famously L. Frank Baums novel The Wizard of Oz and its famous 1939 film adaptation. If youre the Sea Witch, you better believe people have a reason to be scared of you reasons that might include stealing mermaids voices, a cunning personality, and a penchant of turning prisoners into a helpless polyps. It lends an ounce of retroactive credibility to the witch hunters. Must you live a normal, albeit eccentric life? As untrained witches would certainly pose a threat. Such as. The evil warlock is an almighty being consumed with finding the One Ring so he can rule over everyone. Bring down evil entities in your spare time? In Harry Potter, for instance, the quest to remain hidden goes all the way to the top, with strict secrecy laws in place by the magical governing body. For Sally and Gillian Owens in. It is now, and thats because the boy wizard and his friends transformed an entire industry. Everygirl Sabrina Spellmans life was a generous helping of teenage wish fulfillment (who wouldnt want to change outfits and humiliate her high school rivals with a swish of a finger? Sometimes, they fully embrace said reputation. Likewise, while eventually introducing a magical school, mostly used the after school lessons method to teach magic. Now its your turn: Who is YOUR favorite witch or wizard? The one where EW follows up with the cast. One of the most celebrated fictional warlocks is the everyman John Constantine. The last four volumes of the series are all doorstoppers that clock in at well over 700 pages each. ), topped with just as many consequences. The budget came from Scholastic itself. In fact, these TV and movie witches may take you by surprise, because many of them totally defy old-school stereotypes and show that the preconceived notion of a witch is all wrong. 80. A sorceress who can trace her heritage back to alchemist Nicholas Flamel, soothsayer Nostradamus, and Leonardo da Vinci, Zatanna is one of the most powerful characters in the DC Universe, aiding the Justice League whenever her natural magical skills can be of service. The Harry Potter series is a phenomenon because it tells a story that millions of people loved, and it introduced the world to an enormous and magical world that millions of people have dreamed of escaping into. People are supposed to love to hate witches, not hate to hate them or mobbing to burn her at the stake. Strange, dont worry youll recognize this name soon, when hes portrayed by the one and only Benedict Cumberbatch. *Hocus Pocus * is a Halloween tradition for, well, everyone. Top 10 most powerful wizards in pop culture - YouTube Devon Buckley (Chandra West), The Gates, 94. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery), Bewitched. 59. But the tale of Merlin's role as royal adviser to King Arthur and his father Uther Pendragon remains the most memorable. Dont let Wanda Maximoff near your mind you might never get her out. If youre in a pinch, or looking to be trained in the ways of the Force, Obi-Wan is definitely the Jedi youre looking for. As with most evil types, Saurons quest for power doesnt end well, but while alive he remains a terrifying character throughout The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access. In general, the Harry Potter fandom was among the first to see a number of people actively leveraging their success through fandom toward their professional careers. In the early 2000s, Harry Potter fan forums, fanfiction and fan art archives, and email discussion groups exploded across the internet. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. Books, movies, TV shows, and other mediums have featured these spell-casting humans. Sir Ian McKellenplays the mythical wizard in a commanding performance that is the definitive version of the character. Some people might think their grandmas are witches, but Marnies actually is one and a cool, caring one at that. In. Witchcraft is such a diverse study and the practice is intertwined with so many cultures and lore. Here's What To Do Next, 130+ Famous Wizards, Occultists, and Mystics. Its sort of a two-fold conundrum, because it makes sense to use the era as a jumping off point but it also overlooks the victims, killed by fear mongering puritans presiding over sham trials. When that failed to kill him, he was shot in the chest twice, but still managed to survive. But still, in the Netflix seriesthough slightly less so in 90s sitcomthere are plenty of humans in on the secret. Hilda Spellman (Caroline Rhea) and Zelda Spellman (Beth Broderick), Sabrina: The Teenage Witch. At first, the GHW appears glamorous, but shes not so pretty underneath her disguise. 13. According to the same legend, Merlin's obsession with the so-called Lady of the Lake would lead to his demise. Identifiable thanks to his long great beard and even bigger pointy hat, Gandalf is possessed with great power, but that doesnt mean he cant be killed. The Outsiders reinvented young adult fiction. Phoebe Halliwell (Alyssa Milano), Charmed. All rights reserved. 2019 TIME USA, LLC. Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy), Hocus Pocus. , make a more concerted, if not wholly successful effort to keep their magical powers under wraps. Fun fact: Copperfield also owns 11 resort islands in the Bahamas where he likes to disappear to from time to time. Likewise, while eventually introducing a magical school, Wizards of Waverly Place mostly used the after school lessons method to teach magic. Magical oversight may exist in both but the former points to it more severely. Marvel Comics (1963present), Benedict Cumberbatch in the MCU (2016present). A magical slip-up here and there. That's why we keep our work free. She finds herself in the magical land of Oz, populated by Munchkins and ruled over by two witches and one all-powerful wizard. Cave of the Word Wizard D Cedric Diggory Discworld The Dresden Files H Harry Potter M Draco Malfoy My Immortal (fan fiction) P Power Piggs of the Dark Age S A Song of Ice and Fire The Sorcerer's Apprentice Yami Sukehiro T Tork: Prehistoric Punk Tymek i Mistrz W Willow Ufgood Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons) The Wizard and the Witch Adam Lambert Returns to 'American Idol' For Cover of 'I Can't Stand the But still, with the same white creators, using the same historical backdrop to tell their stories, were not examining the beauty of witchcraft in all its forms. And the general fear of things deemed unnatural or odd. Evil sorcerers, lovable goofs, and dead-raising magicians witches and wizards of pop culture come in all shapes and sizes (including the Jedi variety, which weve controversially decided to include). It pushes back on the idea that witchcraft is inherently evil or something to fear. Can you imagine learning youre a witch in high school? Merlins demise comes about after he falls in love with the Lady of the Lake. Opens in new tab Opens in new tab Opens in new tab. Jessica Langes Fiona Goode, the Supreme Witch of a New Orleans coven, is our favorite modern witch. He is the leader of the Death Eater group and wants to eliminate all the other wizards so he can have total control. Given the secrecy surrounding witches existence, its a given that education is a vital element. GojiraSoundsUnleashed/Youtube. Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), Harry Potter. The Orchid color is the first purple-hued tone for Stanley's Soft Matte collection, which also includes colors like Dune, Red Rust, Stormy Sea, Bay Leaf and . She was related to Tituba, the maid involved in the Salem witch trials. Nancy Downs (Fairuza Balk), The Craft, 15. Furthermore, it consistently puts a white face to the good witch. Anyone who can teach herself magic is a badass in our book. The Nicole Kidman motion picture version of Samantha Stephens was missing all the magic. Alyson Hannigan on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (19972003). 2) Harry Potter made childrens literature an unstoppable force. But the latter half of the century and certainly through the present, depictions of witches, especially specifically non-scary witches, are certainly broader. A part of us hoped that the crazy Death Eater would last until the end. those with magical powers). Harry Potter has a tremendously outsized cultural reach: One 2011 survey suggested that a third of all American adults ages 18 to 34 at the time had read at least one of the books. He is the one who helps Arthur find Excalibur and the Holy Grail. The creation of Alan Moore, Rick Veitch, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben, Constantine is an occult detective from London. He is a walking contradiction who has a cynical view of the world but does his best to help those in trouble. avid Blaine and David Copperfield. People generally didnt read the Harry Potter books in isolation; they wanted to talk about it with their friends, and then find more friends who loved the books as much as they did. Already more powerful than most as a baby, The Boy Who Lived continued to cheat death year after year. Famous occultists such as these could certainly be considered "real-life wizards". The books first topped the American Library Associations list of the most banned books of the year in 1999, and remained in the top spot for most of the next decade. Boy-crazy Sarah might not be the smartest witch of her age, but her seduction skills (and that voice!) Even Shakespeare, who lived during a time of deep fear of witchcraft, got in on the trend. So shes got some pretty awesome skills. Memorably portrayed by Dame Maggie Smith, Professor McGonagall is the head of Gryffindor and Headmistress of Hogwarts. Similar formal attempts at removal persisted into the latter half of the decade, and the books continue to rile up conservative religious leaders who warn of its demonic influence. But the latter half of the century and certainly through the present, depictions of witches, especially specifically non-scary witches, are certainly broader. Warner Bros./The CW/Netflix/ABC/Paramount Pictures. Ditto in Halloweentown, in which the family matriarch, Agatha Cromwell, resides in the titular town full of monsters and magic, and for whom not using magic is a perplexing arrangement. He might be called a king and not a wizard, but Jareth has incredible magical powers he uses to try and stop Sarah Williams from saving her baby brother in the cult classic Labyrinth. Famous occultists such as these could certainly be considered "real-life wizards". A self-proclaimed holy man with mystical abilities, Grigori Rasputin rose to prominence during the early 1900s. As if it werent bad enough to go through puberty, pass Defense Against the Dark Arts, and figure out how to ask a girl out, he had to avoid being killed by the greatest dark wizard in history. Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Lord of the Rings. That counts. Gandalf. But you cant put a price on a talking cat. The myth of Merlin can be traced all the way back to ancient Celtic lore, but it wasn't until an English bishop published Historia regum Britanniae in 1135 that the wizard became, by medieval standards, a pop-culture icon. When pop culture's most self-deprecating witch (''I don't, Tilda Swinton, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Tilda Swinton in The Chronicles of Narnia (2005, 2009) Pure evil. We just saw what she may have done, which was way, way freakier. This pattern coincided with the rise of Web 2.0 that is, an increasingly interactive and social internet. Harry Potter conventions drew thousands of fans, and Harry Potter cosplay became a well-known sight at larger geek and comic cons. Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), Harry Potter. With, naturally, a broader gradient between good and evil, leaving a lot of room in-between. When not on his computer he enjoys traveling, eating pizza, and watching 80s action films. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. Harry Potter has since became such an all-encompassing phenomenon that from this vantage point, its hard to see the full scope what it accomplished: It feels as though publishing and fandom and childrens literature and all of pop culture have always been the way we know them today. Ralph Fiennes, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Ralph Fiennes in the Harry Potter saga (2001-present) Granted, the former Tom Riddle has a devil of a time killing just one little boy — Marvel's DOCTOR STRANGE (2016)Benedict Cumberbatch CR: Marvel, DC Comics (1964-present) A sorceress who can trace her heritage back to alchemist Nicholas Flamel, soothsayer Nostradamus, and Leonardo Da Vinci, Zatanna is one of, Aladdin | Jonathan Freeman in Aladdin (1992) This not-so-humble court vizier gives in to his delusions of grandeur — especially when he gets his hands on the, The Tempest (1600s) William Shakespeare seemed to have a little thing for magicand revenge. The two teaching methods highlight the distinction between magics role in their respective worlds. Donald Ducks temper may often get in the way, but hes a good enough magician and even better friend to Sora and Goofy that Kingdom Hearts wouldnt be the same without him. As a member of the University of Michigan theater troupe Starkid, a young Darren Criss starred as Harry Potter in the viral YouTube video A Very Potter Musical, and his popularity catapulted him into the role of Blaine on Glee and a career on Broadway. Hungarian Horntail. 67. The secrecy is often more or less an informal arrangement between a coven or magical family. Sabrina Spellman (Melissa Joan Hart), Sabrina: The Teenage Witch. They are shrouded in secrecy, living among non-magical beings. The depiction of good witches in the media often pushes against the centuries-long view of witchcraft as a sinister, evil practice. SOME LINKS MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS. She literally steals Ariels voice, turns herself into a beautiful woman named Vanessa, tries to steal Prince Eric, and then epically battles Ariels dad King Triton in *The Little Mermaid. Scholastic President Barbara Marcus Barbara Marcus kept saying do you love it? and Arthur said yes, so we went for it, a Scholastic spokesperson recalled in 2002. The mythical Merlin is a wizard from Arthurian legend. Movie studios scour the childrens bestseller lists for properties they can turn into the next Harry Potter: hence Twilight and The Hunger Games and Divergent and all the rest. Theres a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Miracle Max is skilled just enough to know that difference. Thomas Edison. From Hermione Granger to Sabrina Spellman. Though you can count on one hand the number of times Gandalf actually uses any magic in Peter Jackson's films, the Grey Pilgrim still commands enormous respect and carries a very nice staff. This largely goes hand in hand with the aforementioned real-life history of witch trials. In some regions, pressure to censor the series was so high it led to lawsuits: In 2003, a judge ordered an Arkansas school district that had removed the books from schools due to promotion of the religion of witchcraft to return them. Shes basically the patron saint for bookish, motivated girls everywhere, witch or no witch. Publishers and childrens writers took notice. Probably the most famous wizard in all of popular cultureyes, even eclipsing Harry PotterMerlin's greatest feat was helping Arthur Pendragon find a very nice sword (Excalibur) and an even nicer cup (the Holy Grail). 8. As such, attempts to stay under the radar are largely imperfect. For comparison, the overall book market has gone up a mere 33 percent since 2004. Take one bettor fond of early 2000s romantic comedies. An all-powerful sorcerer, Constantine rarely uses his powers, preferring to let his wit and intelligence get him out of sticky situations. The news prompted Christian scholars to declare the move nonsense, while queer fans were in turn angry that Rowling had done so little to make the queer subtext of Dumbledores character overt during the time he was actually being written (and alive). With both the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings in the playoffs, they recalled how a Knicks-Kings NBA Finals game was a huge scene . Witches are not a homogenous groupthere are so many ways to practice witchcraft. Do you want to be the first who gets the news directly to your mailbox? Not only could she steal beautiful voices, but Ursula could change form at will andafter stealing Triton's helm and tridenthave mastery over the seas as well. For some critics, thats a worrisome development, suggesting that adults are too dull and stupid to appreciate books actually written for adults. He didn't even have hands, yet he gathered about him every fell beast imaginable, all to find the One Ring and kill whoever carries it. While the term magician might be more apt, these illusionists are still worth mentioning in the conversation of famous wizards. On-screen he is first played by Richard Harris, but after he passed, the great Michael Gambon took over. I would have been willing to go further than that if I had to," Levine said in 2007. Ditto in. She dances. After Harry Potter, childrens literature became a category full of mega-sellers. Grams didnt like to show off, but when her magic was needed, she did what she had to do. In honor of one of our all-time favorite on-camera witches . But he wears his fame lightly. You barely even saw him, and he instilled everyone with a knee-knocking sense of dread. NEXT: Wizards and witches 49 25[pagebreak], 49. In most depictions of modern witchcraft, good witches live in our midst with their true powers (mostly) hidden. And it introduced an entire generation to the idea that its possible to interact with the pop culture you love to write about it and with it, to make music and art about it, and to build a business around it. Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson were put to death in 1600s Salem, but a little spell brings them back to life on Halloween three centuries later. 46. Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris/Michael Gambon), Harry Potter. This NBA Finals bet based on How to Lose a Guy in 10 days is amazing Weaving the real-world events into a fictional narrative certainly adds context and depicting the superstitions and fears of witchcraft in history is necessary. Harry Potters mortal enemy, Lord Voldermort is the main antagonist throughout the Harry Potter books. How robust a warlock is this, the scourge of Middle-earth? A-list celebrities of the wizarding world And in both iterations of Charmed, a magical mentor called a Whitelighter guides the Halliwell sistersand more recently, the Verasthrough their magical studies. So Scholastic invested in a lovely hardcover design for Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, with a soon-to-be iconic cover, even though conventional wisdom of the time held that childrens books only made money in paperback. What does it mean to be a modern-day good witch in pop culture? Prior . Although in the Netflix series she does receive a more formalized education after she turns 16 and chooses that path. Aggie Cromwell (Debbie Reynolds), Halloweentown. In fact a lot of early writings on witches and witchcraft were downright menacing and certainly helped stoke fear of anything unexplained or deemed unnatural. While there is some debate surrounding Saurons position as a wizard, we think he deserves a spot on this list. Qui-gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), Star Wars. Iam Tongi Delivers Soulful Sam Cooke Cover on 'American Idol' - Billboard While Merlin is considered a fictional character, he is an amalgamation of historical and legendary figures. You barely even see him, and he instills. Jude Law has played the young version of Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts series of movies. Complete List - Top 10 Most Beloved Wizards - TIME They appear in fiction stories told in books and movies. That theyre a family of witches is not generally public knowledge in Greendale. 5. Though she was memorably portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the live-action version of Disneys *Sleeping Beauty, * well always be just a little bit terrified by the animated version. Born Tom Riddle, the Dark Lord is responsible for the death of Harrys parents. Descend from persecuted witchesor those who escaped persecution? As such, attempts to stay under the radar are largely imperfect. 5. (You totally tried it right now, didnt you? Something went wrong. The feeling that the books thus promoted the occult proved to be the basis for constant challenges to the series presence in school libraries and bookstores by concerned conservative parents. The former is a magical secondary school, whereas the latter is more of a grad school for magicians (a.k.a. After years of solo hits and an ongoing stint fronting classic rock powerhouse Queen, Lambert was back on familiar ground on Sunday night (April 30) when he returned to the Idol stage for a . The power of three was unstoppable, and Piper was in the middle of it all, constantly holding her sisters together (and stopping time when necessary). Excalibur | Nicol Williamson in Excalibur (1981) Probably the most famous wizard in all of popular culture — yes, even eclipsing Harry Potter — Merlin's greatest feat, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Richard Harris/Michael Gambon in the Harry Potter saga (2001-present) Even in his declining years, the headmaster of Hogwarts was a formidable mage but in, Lord of the Rings | Ian McKellen in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) Though you can count on one hand the number of times Gandalf actually uses any, The Wizard of Oz | Billie Burke in The Wizard of Oz (1939) More skilled than the Wicked Witch of the West, way more powerful than the ''wizard'' of Oz, Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) Oh, Scooby Gang, what would you do without true-blue Willlow (Allison Hannigan)? Daniel Radcliffe scored the coveted role of Harry, helping make the films a massive success and spawning several spinoff movies and books. In short, hes pretty good at magic. In America, they often descend from the witches of Salem, our most notedthough certainly not singularinstance of witchcraft persecution. ), 11. D&D Character Classes with Examples from Pop Culture - Add Your Own! (They rose only 37.37 percent between 1996 and 2006.). Here are just two of the ways Harry Potter changed publishing, and how those changes affected the rest of pop culture: 1) The books made it possible to publish long works aimed at children. Their ancestorsor in some cases, their younger selvesmade their homes in Salem, their families fleeing during the trials. The illusionist has been practicing magic for 50 years and is up there with Harry Houdini as the most successful and well-known magician in the world. Before his death, in 1931, the prolific inventor amassed a record 1,093 patents for creations including the phonograph, the motion-picture camera . Among the many pop culture witches whose roots lie around that infamous period in history are Samantha Stephens in the sitcom, , and Spellmans in multiple TV iterations of, (to varying specificities). Granted, maybe investing so much of his power into the One Ring wasn't the best tactical maneuver. Arthur Levine, the Scholastic editor who acquired the books, had an excellent eye for British books that would work in the US, having already acquired the US rights to Redwall and His Dark Materials. Hulk, Drax, The Bride (Kill Bill) Bard - A story teller or musician using wits, magic, and lore to get out of (or avoid) tight situations. Harry Houdini as the most successful and well-known, 14 Oldest Living Celebrities That Are Still Alive, 15 of the Most Disturbing Books Ever Written. , for instance, the quest to remain hidden goes all the way to the top, with strict secrecy laws in place by the magical governing body. 17. So at the center of this story about an Italian nobleman, The Little Mermaid | Pat Carroll in The Little Mermaid (1989) An all-singing, all-dancing, all-evil, underwater witch for the ages. Apart from the occasional word of wisdom, Dumbledore likes to leave the lessons . Jack-of-all-Trades and the class most likely to talk trash. Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson), AHS: Coven, 43. The fact that shes played by the irreplaceable Debbie Reynolds only adds to her charm, turning what could be a questionable character into a captivating one. Such as beloved Practical Magic aunts, Franny and Jet Owens. Julie Taymor adapted The Tempest into a feature film in 2010, starring Helen Mirren as the sorceress Prospera. 20 most famous wizards of all time from history and fiction Matt Ryan has played him in several TV appearances, most notably his own standalone show. This list contains popular wizards like Dumbledore, Gandalfand Merlin. Whether theyre tangentially connected to the witch trials or overtly, both have an overlapping trait: there were witches in Salem. And not the foundation for which there is a strict set of rules. She was repulsive even before you consider Nintendo 64s graphics standards of 1998. Merlins demise comes about after he falls in love with the Lady of the Lake. When Bewitched's housewife and witch (housewitch?) There are still leagues to go in depicting witchcraft in its full diverse practice. Although in the Netflix series she does receive a more formalized education after she turns 16 and chooses that path. But he has one weakness; women. Willows rise as a witch mirrored the growth of her character and helped to make Buffy the Vampire Slayers best friend one of the shows most endearing characters. Pure evil. The Untamedfollows the story of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, two young cultivators that fall in love in ancient China. He is said to have eaten poisoned cakes and drunk poisoned wine without consequence. NEXTLUXURYDOTCOM LLC IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. As legend has it, it was Merlin's idea to establish the fellowship of the Round Table as well as to employ the Sword in the Stone test to determine the rightful heir to Uther's throne. Magic is one thing. Oh and theyre proof that women are *literally * magic. 100% Privacy. While we can look back fondly on their scheming ways, for centuries they were best remembered (mostly by men) as unnatural cautionary figures.