From Prospero to Stephen Strange these characters are simply magic to watch onscreen.
(Face it: Is Glindareallya “good” witch when you think about it?)
Let’s take a look at our favorite wizards and overall magic makers of pop culture.
David Bowie in ‘Labyrinth’; Ian McKellen in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’.Credit:Everett Collection; New Line Cinema
If only his [SPOILER ALERT] death wasn’t so sudden and easily avoidable.
The White Witch (Tilda Swinton),The Chronicles of Narniafilms (200510)
Pure evil.
Also, really liked the cold.
Nicol Williamson in ‘Excalibur’.Everett Collection
So much so that she covered most of Narnia in ice.
You barely even saw him, and he instilled everyone with a knee-knocking sense of dread.
Granted, maybe investing so much of his power into the One Ring wasn’t the best tactical maneuver.
Michael Gambon in ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’.Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
All without a nose.
(Why she doesn’t magic herself some pants remains a mystery.)
For a little while, anyway.
Ian McKellen in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’.Pierre Vinet
Then he got greedy.
Theshimmying sea witchwas brought to life in the 2023 live-action remake ofThe Little MermaidbyMelissa McCarthy.
Jareth made for a most enchanting sorcerer, with a shock of blond hair and some out-of-this-world pipes.
Billie Burke in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Everett Collection
Billy Batson/Shazam (Zachary Levi),Shazam!
Alyson Hannigan on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’.Robert Voets/ UPN
Tilda Swinton in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.Phil Bray
Sauron in ‘The Lord of the Rings’.Pierre Vinet
Ralph Fiennes in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’.Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘Doctor Strange’.Marvel Studios
Zatanna.DC Comics
Jafar in ‘Aladdin’.Walt Disney Productions
Prospero from ‘The Tempest’.Mary Evans Picture Library/Everett Collection
Ursula in ‘The Little Mermaid’.Everett Collection
James Hong in ‘Big Trouble in Little China’.Everett Collection
Everett Collection
Mickey Mouse in ‘Fantasia’.Walt Disney/Courtesy Everett Collection
Howl and Sophie in ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’.Studio Ghibli/Ntv/Tokuma
Zachary Levi in ‘Shazam!'.Steve Wilkie/© DC Comics
Selena Gomez on ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’.Criag Sjdoin/DISNEY CHANNEL/courtesy everett collection
