12 Best Movies About Magic That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Movies About Magic

Check out these fantastic movies about magic, illusion, and necromancy before the release of Doctor Strange in November.

Dr. Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch’s character in the upcoming MCU film, will take the Marvel Cinematic Universe into a realm of magic and mystery this autumn. Despite the fact that Scarlet Witch Elizabeth Olsen appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel’s latest film, Strange, isn’t the first time a Marvel film has featured a magician.

In preparation for Marvel’s Doctor Strange, which will be released on November 4th, the following films are recommended. As a reminder, these are not only films that feature magical elements, but ones whose entire plot revolves around magic. Every animated Disney film has my sincere apologies.

Here are the 12 greatest films ever made on magic.

1. Now You See Me

Now You See Me

In one of the most bizarre movies of recent memory, Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson reunited after Zombieland. The plot of Now You See Me centers on four magicians known as the Four Horsemen who plan and carry out grandiose heists in order to gain entry into a secret society of “real magicians” known as The Eye. Sleight of hand and blink-and-miss it moments are prevalent in the picture.

Among the supporting cast members are Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman, all of whom are likely to have earned a big payday for their performances. The actors do their jobs well, and the mystical components add a special touch, but the screenplay is at best trite and pointless. If you’re looking for popcorn entertainment, Now You See Me is a fantastic choice. However, there are no indications of anything beneath the surface. In the near future, we should be able to say the same about the second installment.

2. Willow

While Ron Howard’s Willow isn’t based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Wiccan, it still has its advantages. Starring Warwick Davis as a farmer named Willow, the film depicts a young girl’s journey to save her kingdom from the evil Queen Bavmorda. As he travels, Willow learns to control his magical abilities with the help of other magical allies, including the swordsman Madmartigan (Val Kilmer). Because this is a fantasy film, Willow beats Bavmorda and learns that good always triumphs over evil.

The film was critically panned when it was released, but it has since gained a devoted fanbase. James Horner composed the score, and ILM provided the special effects.

3. Practical Magic

Practical Magic

Let’s overlook for a moment that Nicole Kidman starred in Nora Ephron’s Bewitched remake. When she was just out of Speed 2: Cruise Control, she portrayed a witch. “Practical Magic” star Sandra Bullock as a naive young woman.

Two sisters with magical powers are cursed to die if any man falls in love with them, based on a novel of the same name. Even the most jaded cynic will find something to interest him or her with these charms and enchantments. Magical aspects are used effectively to depict a compelling and delightful love narrative in the film, which is hardly a masterpiece.

4. Lord of Illusions

Clive Barker’s work ranges from hideous and harrowing to somewhat frightening and still disgusting. In terms of horror, Hellraiser and Nightbreed are two of the strongest examples to date. The 1995 film Lord of Illusions is one of his lesser-known adaptations. Barker’s renowned Harry D’Amour was played for the first time on screen by Scott Bakula in this film.

The Puritan,” a film about a man who can perform pure magic, was written and directed by Barker. While investigating the murder of a psychic, Detective D’Amour discovers that there is more to the case than first appears. In addition to stunning practical make-up and effects, the film features magic that can only be found in Barker’s mind.

Lord of Illusions is a great, darker, magical picture with an intriguing storyline and spectacular illusions, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

5. Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus

This trio is one of the most popular in cult film. One thing the witches, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Milder, and Kathy Najimy, all want: to turn back the hands of time and reclaim their youth and beauty.

As a Halloween treat, Hocus Pocus is a fun film for youngsters of all ages. It’s impossible not to smile when watching the video, which is full of gaudy clothes, goofy spells, and buck teeth. However, those who have a fondness for the era will find the performances to be perfectly cheesy. If you enjoy the shows Sabrina the Teenage Witch or Halloweentown, you won’t be disappointed. In addition, Bette Milder performs “I Put a Spell on You” for the benefit of the audience.

6. Stardust

In Stardust, the witches aren’t just a group of gorgeous women who wish to stay that way. A pirate (Robert de Niro), unicorns, and a star personified as a lady are also included in Matthew Vaughn’s film adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel (Claire Danes). Charlie Cox, best known for his role in Daredevil, plays Tristan Thorn, a man who falls in love with and eventually takes control of his own future after meeting and falling for the movie actress.

Michelle Pfieffer, Mark Strong, Peter O’Toole, Ricky Gervais, Ian McKellen, and Henry Cavill make up the stellar supporting ensemble of Stardust. With vivid colors and endearing characters, Neil Gaiman’s enchantment is a sight to behold. Stardust is a great choice for a lovely family day, despite its general lack of concentration.

7. The Craft

The Craft

The Craft, one of the most popular witch movies since the 1980s, is famous for its realistic depiction of the consequences of casting spells. The Craft isn’t afraid to turn dark and stay there, which is something you can expect from a Disney Channel movie about witches.

Curses, spells, and more than one murder are all part of this novel about four high school girls with extraordinary abilities. This group of teenagers is a force to be reckoned with.

The Craft is a joy to watch, with a fantastic cast and crew, and a fantastic soundtrack to go along with it. It’s safe to say that the film was a great hit, making $55 million on a $15 million budget.

8. The Illusionist

A stronger 2006 picture about magicians, starring Edward Norton and Jessica Biel, couldn’t save this one. Although The Illusionist isn’t perfect, it’s still quite good.

Eisenheim (Norton) is an illusionist in Vienna in the late 1800s, and the story follows him as he plots his escape to be with his true love, Sophie (Biel). They are prohibited to love one other since Sophie is a duchess and Eisenheim is an illiterate farmer. Using the powers of illusion, the lovers devise a scheme to liberate Sophie from her arranged engagement and the city of Vienna from Leopold’s rule.

The Illusionist has some fantastic magic scenes, ranging from standard stage tricks to conjuring the spirits of the dead. A TV program based on the film was originally planned by the CW but has remained dormant since 2014 due to lack of funding.

9. Labyrinth

Labyrinth

Labyrinth, a fantasy masterpiece from the 1980s, mixes the best of the decade’s offerings. There are magnificent puppets from the Jim Henson Creature Shop and stunning settings in this film, all played by David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King.

Jim Henson was the only person who could have created the enchantment in Labyrinth. Hoggle and Sir Didymus (the charming fox-knight) are two of the most memorable and practical puppets in the industry. Bowie and Sarah, played by Jennifer Connelly, are the only human players in this fantastical planet.

Magical monsters abound in the story of Sarah’s mission to save her baby brother Toby from the cruel Goblin King, and the book’s heart is clearly visible. David Bowie is, of course, outstanding; the picture would not exist without him. It’s time to see it if you haven’t already.

10. Spirited Away

A young girl named Chihiro is transported to the spirit world in Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. Chihiro must work in her bathhouse to free her family and return to the human world when her parents are converted into pigs by the witch Yubaba.

It was John Lasseter of Pixar renown who helmed the English-language version of the picture. It became the highest-grossing film in Japan, defeating Titanic, and eventually won the Best Animated Feature Oscar.

Among the shikigami (ghosts) that Chihiro encounters on his voyage through the spirit realm are dragons, witches, and a monster named No-Face, which feeds on human flesh and blood. Alice in Wonderland’s simple plot is elevated above past re-treads by the gorgeous animation. This is one of Studio Ghibli’s greatest works of art.

11. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Voldemort never appears in any of the Harry Potter films or books, making this one of the best. It was the first of the eight films to see pupils of Hogwarts in clothing other than their robes in Prisoner of Azkaban by Alfonso Cuaron. Also, the stakes for the characters were elevated significantly, creating a much harsher universe.

Adding to Rowling’s already expansive magical mythology are the dementors and their lethal kiss, the gentle gigantic Hippogriff, and a professor with a full-moon problem. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint’s performances have all been better after Gary Oldman was cast as Sirius Black.

Choosing only one Harry Potter picture was a challenge, but Alfonso Cuaron’s film came out on top thanks to some of the series’ most breathtaking magical sequences.

12. The Prestige

There is no actual magic in The Prestige yet it is by far the most awe-inspiring movie ever made about it. Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale worked with once more in this 2006 film as a follow-up to their Batman origin story, Batman Begins.

For the most part, The Prestige is better than The Illusionist. It chronicles the story of two magicians competing to pull off the greatest illusion. The picture, starring Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, and David Bowie, has a number of extremely emotional and insightful moments.

The narrative’s twists and turns are among Nolan’s best, and the film’s numerous magic scenes, which feature sleight-of-hand and escape artistry, are significantly superior than those in most other films featuring magicians. The best illustration of magic is Caine’s speech on how to fool the audience. You should watch this film again before viewing Doctor Strange, or if you haven’t already, don’t read the ending online.