Spellbound by Wicked? These witch movies will keep the magic going
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda when they reach the Emerald City in Wicked: Part I. Photo / Universal Pictures
With Wicked exerting a magical pull on movie audiences since its release this month, Imogen Gadd looks at the enduring power of cinematic sorcery.
Are witches about to have another moment in the, um, moonlight? Given the hype around the movie of the musical Wicked, it would appear so. Even if reviewers have decidedly mixed opinions of the movie, it’s a timely arrival for a film about two powerful young women defying convention – or, in the case of Wicked, gravity - and, in their own ways, taking on a supposedly powerful male authority figure who is nothing more than a snake-oil salesman.
You don’t have to be magical to see the metaphor there. Nor is it a secret that humanity has a complicated relationship with witches and witchy women. On the one hand, we’re in awe of their supposed power and disregard for common norms; on the other, there’s a long history of “burning” powerful and/or unconventional people who threaten the social order.
Like horror movies, stories about witches tend to arrive when we’re looking for a blend of fantasy alongside ways to face deep-seated fears, anxieties and, through vicarious experience, rehearse what we’d do in that situation.
If you’re not sure if Wicked is for you - or you watched it and loved/loathed it - here’s a guide to which witchy films to check out and which to avoid.
The classics:
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The beloved fantasy musical The Wizard of Oz, which seems to appear on screen every Christmas, is the movie that spawned Wicked. Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is the origin story we didn’t know we needed, explaining where the Wicked Witch of the West came from.
It follows Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas who is swept away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. Desperate to return home, Dorothy embarks on a journey to meet the Wizard, hoping he can help her. Along the way, she befriends three companions – the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion – each seeking something they believe they lack. Together, they must overcome various obstacles, including the infamous WWotW.
You can see why it’s a timeless classic with vibrant visuals, colourful characters, and heartfelt themes of courage and friendship. However, once you’ve watched Wicked, you’ll never view it the same way again.
Bewitched (2005)