Though I watch horror movies year-round, there’s something special about enjoying a horror movie in the fall. It just gives it that extra bit of spookiness!
One of my favorite subgenres of film is witchy flicks, and whether you’re into extra-scary spells or simply fun frights, here are a few of my must-have pagan parables for year-round hexing!
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Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
A mortuary owner and his son work through the night to complete the examination of the body of an unidentified young woman, with horrifying, deadly results. This slow-burn, chilling story terrified me the first time I watched it. The vibes are immaculate. Turn off all the lights and burn a candle for optimal scares.
Where to stream The Autopsy of Jane Doe:
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) | Rated R | Runtime 1h 26m
The Craft (1996)
There isn’t a lot to be said about The Craft that hasn’t already been said, which goes to show it has not only stood the test of time but continues to have an impact. The story focuses on a trio of witches, led by the powerful and scary Nancy (Fairuza Balk) that finds its fourth member and magnifies their high school coven’s power. So much to love about this very 1990s witch movie – the fashion, the quotes, the Skeet Ulrich! *swoon*
Where to stream The Craft:
The Craft (1996) | Rated R | Runtime 1h 41m
The Love Witch (2016)
The Love Witch is one of my favorite films of all time and absolutely one of the most visually striking movies I’ve ever seen. Elaine, a young, pretty, and romantic witch, keeps creating spells to find the love of her life, but they keep going awry. Her search for love leaves multiple bodies behind and affects her emotionally and mentally, bringing about dark disaster.
Where to stream The Love Witch:
The Love Witch (2016) | Unrated | Runtime 2h
Hellbender (2021)
The Adams family of filmmakers (mom Toby Poser, dad John Adams, and daughters Zelda and Lulu Adams) create insanely low-budget but terrifying, creative, and clever horror films, and I look forward to every movie they put out. Hellbender stars Toby and Zelda (who plays Izzy) as a musicmaking mom and daughter. Izzy finds out some startling truths about her mom in this creepy coming-of-age tale I highly recommend (then watch the Adams family’s other films!)
Where to stream Hellbender:
Hellbender (2021) | Not Rated | Runtime 1h 23m
Practical Magic (1998)
Recently granted a sequel, this classic cozy movie about two witchy sisters coming to terms with their cursed family history still feels magical. The spells, the aunts, the romance; Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock are simply enchanting in this fall favorite. And don’t neglect the soundtrack! Stevie Nicks weaves a spell with her gorgeous songs, and I’ll never hear Faith Hill’s “This Kiss” without thinking of this movie and its most memorable scene. I know Practical Magic is very “lite horror,” but it IS horror. There are witches, a generational curse with deadly consequences, and the horrors of coping with unbearable grief. The sequel leans even more into folk horror, with an even darker tone and more obvious scare moments, but I still consider Practical Magic a must-see for horror and genre film fans. Give it a chance! (Fun Fact: It’s directed by Griffin Dunne from An American Werewolf In London).
Where to stream Practical Magic:
Practical Magic (1998) | Rated PG-13 | Runtime 1h 44m
Hocus Pocus (1993)
I have a stable of spooky flicks I watch each year around Halloween time, and Hocus Pocus is number one on my list! It’s so nostalgic, as it came out when most of us were young. I love that it was filmed in Salem (and I got to visit some of the filming locations last year!) and it’s just so cute, funny, and iconic. Who can resist Dani and Binx? Make it a part of your yearly viewing!
Where to stream Hocus Pocus:
Hocus Pocus (1993) | Rated PG | Runtime 1h 36m
Pyewacket (2017)
Pyewacket is a Canadian horror film that isn’t talked about enough. A teenage girl who develops an interest in all things dark after her father’s death is increasingly unhappy at home with her mother. She finds a terrifying spirit to kill her mom but it doesn’t quite go as planned. The fear and dread ratcheted up to the end, and I was honestly surprised how absolutely terrifying this movie is.
Where to stream Pyewacket:
Pyewacket (2017) | Not Rated | Runtime 1h 28m
The Witch (2015)
Robert Eggers’ masterpiece gave us one of the most memorable goats in cinematic history. When teenage Thomasin’s family is cast out from their Puritan community and make a home in the secluded woods, Thomasin falls prey to the lure of the promises of a witch, culminating in death and liberation. I’ll never forget the goosebumps that covered my entire body at the end of this movie when I saw it in the theatre!
Where to stream The Witch:
The VVitch (2015) | Rated R | Runtime 1h 32m
Hereditary (2018)
Hereditary is a movie that emotionally affected me to the point of tears, and any movie that impacts you that much is well worth the watch. Toni Collette’s performance as a mom finding out disturbing secrets after her own mother’s death is horrifying and gripping. More psychological and suspenseful than straight-up slasher, this is one of the scariest movies in recent horror history. How do witches and the occult figure into the plot? Watch it and find out!
Hereditary (2018) | Rated R | Runtime 2h 7m
Halloweentown (1998)
I am a massive Halloweentown fan. In fact, I went to a convention a few years ago solely to meet the movie’s stars, Kimberly J. Brown and Judith Hoag. Debbie Reynolds stars as a witch whose own daughter Gwen (Hoag) decided to raise her family in the human world, leaving behind the family’s witchy ways. When her teenager Marnie (Brown) discovers her heritage, she helps her grandmother fight an unseen evil hanging over her home in Halloweentown. Cute, nostalgic, and quote-worthy, this movie continues to win hearts years after its Disney channel release. It’s a perfect Halloween film for the entire family!
Halloweentown (1998) | Rated TV-G | Runtime 1h 24m
The Lords of Salem (2012)
As a Rob Zombie fan, there are many movies to pick from depending on the vibe you’re after. The Devil’s Rejects, my favorite Zombie film, is a gory slasher that’s part comedy. The Lords of Salem has a TOTALLY different vibe. Heidi Hawthorne (Sheri Moon Zombie) , a radio DJ in Salem, is given a mysterious record that puts her on a path of discovering her true and terrifying witchy history. Its vintage vibe brings to mind old movies, which I love, and it’s fun seeing iconic actors like Dee Wallace, Judi Geeson, and Meg Foster play a creepy coven.
Where to stream Forbidden Fruits:
The Lords of Salem (2012) | Rated R | Runtime 1h 41m
Forbidden Fruits (2026)
A modern-day mall coven performs rituals in the back room of a popular retail store in this tongue-in-cheek tale of friendship and witchcraft. Lili Reinhart is hilarious as leader Apple, and staying loyal to the group is almost as important as meeting quarterly sales goals inside the overpriced Free Eden. Come for the four talented women, stay for the satire, soundtrack, and wacky plot twist. I wrote an extensive review on Forbidden Fruits when it came out, if you’d like to know even more!
Where to stream Forbidden Fruits:
Forbidden Fruits (2026) | Rated R | Runtime 1h 43m
Season of the Witch (1972)
I’m unsure why I don’t see this movie mentioned more. Season of the Witch AKA Hungry Wives is absolutely worth entering the witchy movie convo. And, it was written and directed by zombie king George Romero! It’s the time-old tale of a woman searching for her power in a world where she feels oppressed. In this case, she’s a housewife living in the suburbs who meets a mysterious woman and joins a powerful coven. It’s very of-its-time, but it’s an interesting glimpse into what life was like for some women in the early 1970s.
Where to stream Season of the Witch:
Season of the Witch AKA Hungry Wives (1972) | Rated R | Runtime 2h 10m
Honorable Mention: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018)
As a self-described comic nerd, my first foray into comics was Archie, but it was the character of Sabrina that really stole my heart. The Netflix series starring Kiernan Shipka as the teenage witch is so enchanting, dark, and fun; I absolutely adore it and highly recommend it.
Where to stream Chilling Adventures of Sabrina:
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020) | Rated TV-14 | Runtime 1h per episode
What are some of YOUR favorite witch horror movies…?
I absolutely love witches! Good, bad, or in-between, I adore seeing witches represented in films. I shared 13 of my favorite witch horror movies (and one TV show) that I thought were a good mix of classics and Must See lesser-known should be classics. (And I’m sure Lauren has already thought of at least a dozen more and is working on a follow-up list!).
But what are some of YOUR favorite witchy horror films? Who’s your all-time favorite witch? I’m always looking to add more witches to my Watch List, so let me know. I’d love to let some of your spooky faves cast a spell on me!
*This article was written by Christi Bandy*
Images for this post were purchased at MovieStillsDB and CineMaterial. The featured image is a collage Lauren Spear made with screenshots from The Witch, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, The Craft, Hellbender, The Lords of Salem, Season of the Witch/Hungry Wives, and The Love Witch.
