Thats why were still talking about these books 20 years later, and thats why all of this matters. However, more often, witchiness is an inherited trait and therefore full of traditions passed down through generations. From ballet flats to personalized charm bracelets. Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham), The Vampire Diaries. Their parents were paying for everything, and they would never be willing to pay an extra dollar or two for a longer book, with its extra printing and binding. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Harry Potter. Vampires might be the supernatural creatures du jour, but witches are more than just a pop culture fad they're part of our history! 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. Arguably the most famous wizard on this list comes from the mind of author JK Rowling. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry competes in the world-famous Triwizard Tournament. Even Agatha Harkness has roots in Salem. 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). But you cant put a price on a talking cat. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Famous occultists such as these could certainly be considered "real-life wizards". In most depictions of modern witchcraft, good witches live in our midst with their true powers (mostly) hidden. 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 . I smell scrod. Maybe not the right witch power to be as mighty as your sisters, Mary. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Take one bettor fond of early 2000s romantic comedies. 59. 3. By Chris Drew (PhD) / March 8, 2023 Pop culture is short for "popular culture". Already more powerful than most as a baby, The Boy Who Lived continued to cheat death year after year. Oops. Stanley Soft Matte Quencher H2.0 Flowstate 30-ounce tumbler, $40. 48. (Not quite, but close. But he wears his fame lightly. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Weaving the real-world events into a fictional narrative certainly adds context and depicting the superstitions and fears of witchcraft in history is necessary. 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. The Harry Potter seriesdetails the adventures of young wizard Harry Potter while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Even Shakespeare, who lived during a time of deep fear of witchcraft, got in on the trend. Oh, and shes the ultimate boss witch. Because the witching season is just around the corner, we've rounded up the most iconic witches in pop culture history, from the Disney icons to Hogwarts heroines. Diana Meade (Shelley Hennig), The Secret Circle, 76. 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. D&D sorcerers don't do that. Things like "a kung fu movie character", "like a forest witch", "like a crusader" or "like a catholic saint", but I can't think of an example for warlock. Max Russo (Jake T. Austin), Wizards of Waverly Place, RELATED: 10 Wickedly Great Books About Witches, 79. But after Harry Potter became an unstoppable cultural force, and it was clear that fans would keep buying the books no matter what, it started to expand. The. His appearance is inspired by musician Sting, which is the total opposite of the movie version. Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), Star Wars. Tilda Swinton in The Chronicles of Narnia (200510). Hulton Archive / Getty. Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman), Practical Magic. 44. This wonderful wizard from the Harry Potter series is the headmaster of Hogwarts. But if you are an adult who can imagine reading for more than one reason (the pleasures of story, the joy of immersing yourself in another world), the Harry Potter books become enormously appealing. Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), Harry Potter. So much so that she covered most of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) How robust a warlock is this, the scourge of Middle-earth? But the latter half of the century and certainly through the present, depictions of witches, especially specifically non-scary witches, are certainly broader. While some may equate the occult with Satanism, this is a misnomer. SOME LINKS MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS. You can also contribute via. Alyson Hannigan on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (19972003). A former surgeon who is now one of the most powerful wizards in the world, Dr Strange protects the world from mythical threats. In fact, these TV and movie. Unlike Stannis, we dont expect The Red Woman to go down too easily. Wizards and witches have been featured in many cultures around the world for centuries. * And she has those cool eel sidekicks. It wasnt until a bullet to the head silenced him forever. Before Harry Potter, the YA book-to-movie franchise was not a clich. those with magical powers). People are supposed to love to hate witches, not hate to hate them or mobbing to burn her at the stake. All of this controversy speaks not only to concerns that Rowlings work would negatively influence children, but to the reality that many of those children grew up to be arguably even more progressive than the books they grew up reading which is, in a way, a confirmation of conservatives worst fears about the series. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), Star Wars. In 2004, in the midst of the Harry Potter phenomenon, sales of non-Potter kid lit were increasing by 2 percent a year. Katrina Crane (Katia Winter), Sleepy Hollow. "Sorcerers have no use for the spellbooks and ancient tomes of magic lore that wizards rely on, nor do they rely on a patron to grant their spells as warlocks do. 7. Apart from the occasional word of wisdom, Dumbledore likes to leave the lessons . What made all of this possible the industries transformed, the careers built are the books themselves, and the expansive, wondrous world they created. 16. By the time Twilight took over from Harry Potter as the reigning young adult phenomenon in 2005, the idea of a modern, mainstream fandom coalescing around a major sci-fi/fantasy series was well-established and generally accepted. Starlord, Tom Bombadil, Rapunzel Cleric - A heavily-armored defensive supporter, devoted to a deity. 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. Louisa Miller (Robyn Lively), Teen Witch. Dont remember much about Dracos wizarding skills, but we do remember him getting punched in the face by Hermoine. Then he got greedy. Merlins demise comes about after he falls in love with the Lady of the Lake. Asa Vadja (Barbara Steele), Black Sunday, NEXT: Witches and wizards 74 50[pagebreak], 74. 98. She led the ladies of American Horror Story: Coven with style and serious attitude. 55. 62. 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. Anjelica Huston also played the Grand High Witch in The Witches, based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name. The man behind the myth has been variously described as the son of the devil, the product of God, a wilderness-loving madman, a worldly tutor and the prophet of the Holy Grail. More skilled than the Wicked Witch of the West, way more powerful than the ''wizard'' of Oz and presumably able to take a shower, Glinda is the very model of a modern female sorcerer. It was written by a pair of German Domenicans so it certainly had ties to the church but its popularity extended far beyond the churchand even surpassed the Bible in popularity for a time. Now its your turn: Who is YOUR favorite witch or wizard? The Harry Potter books combine the intricate plotting of a mystery with the sweep and scope of epic fantasy and the intimacy and character development of a classic boarding school narrative. Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy), Hocus Pocus. The blue galaxy-themed sorcerers hat he dons in the film is all over the Disney theme parks and was even the centerpiece of Disneys Hollywood Studios until early 2015. These are the most famous wizards who have indebted history. Season 4: Episode 6 Prev. 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). Remember when Sandra Bullock was in rom-coms? 27. After he managed to heal their son, Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia, Rasputin became one of the most powerful men in Russia. Is Cher as a witch that much different from Cher every day? Anyone who can teach herself magic is a badass in our book. Lo Pan's plan went awry when he kidnapped a pair of women, both of whom meant something to rogue trucker Jack Burton (Kurt Russell). But several strictly magical communities appear throughout the series, giving just a glimpse of normal magical life. Ok, hes not exactly a wizard, but David Copperfield is one hell of a magician who fits nicely in the world of wizards. Dark Willow was on the path to destroying the world before a blast from the past pulled her back from the brink. The books proved such a success that they were adapted into a film series. We've compiled a list of the most powerful and well-known wizards throughout history and pop culture that is sure to leave you spellbound. 69. 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. Grams didnt like to show off, but when her magic was needed, she did what she had to do. It also makes their eventual death (for some) and trauma (for all) deeply affecting. 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. Prior to Harry Potter, the accepted wisdom was that kids didnt have the attention span to read long books. Sarah Goldberg Sally Reed. No matter if hes Gandalf the Grey or Gandalf the White, hes the epitome of what a wizard should be. 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 Offers may be subject to change without notice. The Goblin King uses crystal orbs to create illusions and has the ability to shapeshift, defy gravity, and change time. A part of us hoped that the crazy Death Eater would last until the end. Oh and theyre proof that women are *literally * magic. All rights reserved. He is the one who helps Arthur find Excalibur and the Holy Grail. A number of Harry Potter fans also went on to make significant marks on mainstream culture. 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. Richard Harris/Michael Gambon/Jude Law in the Harry Potter saga (2001present). Still, it was up through the turn of the 20th century where the first major rumblings of non-threateningor outright good witchesappeared in media and literature. But even a young lifetime in hiding isnt enough: Maleficent still conjures a spinning wheel to send Aurora into a deathlike slumber. Jafar was the sorcerer, but Iago was the real brains of the operation. The Harry Potter generation likes to read, for sure millennials read more than any other generation and it also created a cultural landscape in which books for children are major cultural forces, and a go-to well of ideas for Hollywood. Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney), The Craft, 52. Booklist found that middle-grade novels expanded 115.5 percent between 2006 and 2016, the decade in which the Potter novels were at their longest. An all-singing, all-dancing, all-evil underwater witch for the ages. Devon Buckley (Chandra West), The Gates, 94. Paige Matthews (Rose McGowan), Charmed, 64. Ralph Fiennes in the Harry Potter saga (200511). Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. His popularity has soared with his appearances in The Avenger movies, with Strange even getting his own standalone movie. 7. 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. Barbarian: The Hulk is hardy and hits even harder, and is angry the entire time. Speaking of teenage witches the iconic Sabrina Spellman needs no introduction. Before Liam Neeson developed a particular set of skills, he helped develop one of Star Wars wisest Jedi, and one of its most feared foes. And the list goes on: The author of the bestselling Mortal Instruments series, Cassandra Clare first gained fame online as Cassandra Claire, author of the incredibly popular Harry Potter fanfic The Draco Trilogy. 35. Merlin uses his powers for good and to help Arthurs kingdom. This largely goes hand in hand with the aforementioned real-life history of witch trials. For this poll we've created a list of the greatest wizards of all time, featuring the most famouswizards you know from movies, television, video games and more. 84. For Sally and Gillian Owens in Practical Magic, it appears most of their magical training is from their aunts over the course of their childhood. Part of what made Harry Potter such a literary phenomenon is that so many kids were reading the books despite an unprecedented number of attempts to get them to stop reading the books. Melisandre (Carice van Houten), Game of Thrones. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. RELATED: 15 Scary Movies We Saw as Kids That Still Haunt Our Nightmares. Weaving the real-world events into a fictional narrative certainly adds context and depicting the superstitions and fears of witchcraft in history is necessary. With their golden locks entangling the audience in their magic, Led Zeppelin was the face of rock music in the 70s. That counts. Sectumsucks to be you! Theres a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Miracle Max is skilled just enough to know that difference. Links foe has appeared in many forms over the years, but nearly every iteration of the Hyrulian foe has been a memorable one. He is the leader of the Death Eater group and wants to eliminate all the other wizards so he can have total control. Her transformation from schoolhouse mouse to Research Girl to mystic dabbler to Witchy Wiccan Willow was something to beholdas was her unbridled power when her true love was taken from her. While we can look back fondly on their scheming ways, for centuries they were best remembered (mostly by men) as unnatural cautionary figures. This pattern coincided with the rise of Web 2.0 that is, an increasingly interactive and social internet. 8. In most depictions of modern witchcraft, good witches live in our midst with their true powers (mostly) hidden. Glenn Fleshler Goran Pazar. Morgana Pendragon (Katie McGrath), Merlin. 77. plays the mythical wizard in a commanding performance that is the definitive version of the character. The evil woman in the movie The Witch basically ruins Thomasin and her familys life by stealing their baby and enchanting their young son. While tales of his wizardry are often exaggerated, his death remains just as controversial. Maleficent (Eleanor Audley), Sleeping Beauty. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. You barely even saw him, and he instilled everyone with a knee-knocking sense of dread. Witchcraft is such a diverse study and the practice is intertwined with so many cultures and lore. Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery), Bewitched. Their ancestorsor in some cases, their younger selvesmade their homes in Salem, their families fleeing during the trials. This largely goes hand in hand with the aforementioned real-life history of witch trials. Justin Russo (David Henrie), Wizards of Waverly Place, 93. As such, attempts to stay under the radar are largely imperfect. Alexandra Medford (Cher), The Witches of Eastwick. As untrained witches would certainly pose a threat. And not the foundation for which there is a strict set of rules. Hes the most powerful witch of his age, but hes also spent most of his time stuck in a tree. For comparison, the overall book market has gone up a mere 33 percent since 2004. Dont let Wanda Maximoff near your mind you might never get her out. Piper Halliwell (Holly Marie Combs), Charmed. Of course, as this is a childrens fantasy novel, the White Witchs rule eventually comes to an end thanks to a talking lion and four young kids. The Wizard. Most early depictions of witches framed them as possessing malevolent energy. Occultists and mystics are not the same as cultists. In short, hes pretty good at magic. The recent horror trilogy Fear Street actually circumvented this trope by making the accused witch in question actually innocent, reminding viewers of the horrific reality of the trials. Magical oversight may exist in both but the former points to it more severely. But witchcraft wasnt the only evil the books were accused of peddling. Mary Sibley (Janet Montgomery), Salem, 91. New D&D Players: Use These Pop Culture Wizards for Character Inspiration - Nerdist Dune GOTG 3 Indiana Jones The Flash The Witcher Picard The Mandalorian Games New D&D Players: Use These. Hermione is arguably the most brilliant witch on this list. Mesmerizing yet terrifying. They come in all shapes, sizes, and styles, from the casters of spells in your childhood fairytales to the modern witches next door of American Horror Story: Coven. A force to be defeated. 75. And the general fear of things deemed unnatural or odd. RELATED: 17 Surprisingly Scary Kids Movie Moments, 50. Theres, of course, the Bible, and then Malleus Maleficarum, a medieval book seen as the de facto manual on witchcraft and its heretic nature. Top 10 most powerful wizards in pop culture - YouTube 0:00 / 2:56 Top 10 most powerful wizards in pop culture Alex Russo 27.5K subscribers Subscribe 319 Share Save 15K views 6 years ago Top. We have selected the top wizards and witches across film, television, video games, comics, and books and ranked them according to powers + power in pop culture. In Harry Potter and in The Magicians, those with magical powers attend an actual school. 9. Sir Ian McKellenplays the mythical wizard in a commanding performance that is the definitive version of the character. Strange was once a gifted, narcissistic neurosurgeon who, after losing the use of his hands, looked for a cure in the mythic Himalayas. Without further ado 99. An integral part of the marvel cinematic universe, Dr Strange is one wizard we will be seeing much more of in the future. The mysterious and ooky Morticia isnt *really * a witch, but it appears she had a few in her family. Since then, the childrens market as a whole has seen its sales increase by a total of 52 percent (4 percent a year). Credit: Lucasfilms Ltd.; Frank Ockenfels/FX; Getty Images, Witches and wizards in pop culture: A definitive ranking. These are the most famous wizards of all time in fiction and history. He has made millions from his magic and also holds 11 Guinness World Records, has a knighthood from France, and has been named a Living Legend by the US Liberty of Congress. 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. Probably because she turns herself into a dragon. Take a mental break with the newest Vox crossword, Sign up for the As if being a wizard wasn't already cool enough, Gandalf is actually two wizards in one. 53. And thus, witches attempting to live incognito as regular humans are usually deemed eccentric by their communities. Special mention must be made of Ralph Fiennes portrayal of him in the films. Challenges conventional assumptions associated not only with gender but also normativity. 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. Marie Laveau was a real-life New Orleans woman whos known as the queen of voodoo. Ad Choices. Depictions of witches in modern media is more varied than ever, but generally still falls within the confines of familiar tropes. But hes still the only one who can save Emma from becoming The Dark Swan, so hes definitely a force to be reckoned with. And in both iterations of. 2019 TIME USA, LLC. The Blair Witch was creepy because we *didnt * ever really get to see her. He is a walking contradiction who has a cynical view of the world but does his best to help those in trouble. Jude Law has played the young version of Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts series of movies. But seeing witches as forces for goodor, at the very least, incredibly nuanced peoplebetter represents witchcraft as a spiritual way of life. 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. Nancy Downs (Fairuza Balk), The Craft, 15. Of course, wizards from the Harry Potter universe are included, but this list features other fictional wizards as well. Shes the most gifted witch of her generation, but more importantly, she manages to keep Harry and Ron alive for seven years.
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