If youre the Sea Witch, you better believe people have a reason to be scared of you reasons that might include stealing mermaids voices, a cunning personality, and a penchant of turning prisoners into a helpless polyps. Justin Russo (David Henrie), Wizards of Waverly Place, 93. And while she might look innocent on the surface, never mess with the woman who became so powerful she eventually altered reality enough to create entire armies out of thin air. 97. 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. While we can look back fondly on their scheming ways, for centuries they were best remembered (mostly by men) as unnatural cautionary figures. Almost exactly 20 years ago, on September 1, 1998, Scholastic published Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, the first US edition of the UKs Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. On Sunday night's top 12, Tongi ditched the guitar and performed a soulful cover of Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me". Famous Wizards | List of Famous Mystics and Occultists But, generally, witches attempting to blend into their non-magical communities arent the most seamless at it. As Harry Potter gets ready to take the big screen once again, TIME examines the most popular sorcerers of all time from Mickey Mouse to Gandalf. , in which the family matriarch, Agatha Cromwell, resides in the titular town full of monsters and magic, and for whom not using magic is a perplexing arrangement. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The 25+ Best Wizard Characters | List of Fictional Wizards Wizards are known to be mysterious, with powers to help or harm others. Unlike Stannis, we dont expect The Red Woman to go down too easily. Nancy, Bonnie, Rochelle, and Sarah make up one serious coven, each with her own special powers. 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. Sabrina learned everything from her aunts, who were always more powerful than they let on and inseparable. Louisa Miller (Robyn Lively), Teen Witch. While some may equate the occult with Satanism, this is a misnomer. As, of course, their house is full of strange happenings. Witches have captivated and fascinated us for centuries. It arranged for Harry Potter to be displayed on the front tables at bookstores, and for ads to appear in the right newspapers and magazines. Top 10 Most Beloved Wizards. 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. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Devon Buckley (Chandra West), The Gates, 94. According to his Chocolate Frog card, Albus Dumbledore - Hogwarts Headmaster and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, among other accolades - is 'the greatest wizard of modern times'. He takes on many different forms, but the most recognized is that of a disembodied eye. But you cant put a price on a talking cat. He serves as the righthand man to King Arthur and is involved in many of the famous stories about Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. However, more often, witchiness is an inherited trait and therefore full of traditions passed down through generations. but creating a coven without even knowing it is pretty cool, too. ), topped with just as many consequences. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain hes not even actually a wizard. Evil sorcerers, lovable goofs, and dead-raising magicians witches and wizards of pop culture come in all shapes and sizes (including the Jedi variety, which weve controversially decided to include). The Horntail was one of the scariest dragons in the franchise. *. Bring down evil entities in your spare time? Then, of course, there were the mythological sorceresses, including Circe, Hecate, and Morgan le Fay, who while not initially presented as evil in some cases, generally saw their stories descend into tales of duplicitousness and cruelty. Whatever you want to call them, all of these characters and famous people can be defined as wizards. Anjelica Huston also played the Grand High Witch in The Witches, based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name. She is one nasty piece of work. Ad Choices. 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. And thus, witches attempting to live incognito as regular humans are usually deemed eccentric by their communities. From Samantha Stephens to the Sanderson sisters, check out our favorite Ditto in Halloweentown, in which the family matriarch, Agatha Cromwell, resides in the titular town full of monsters and magic, and for whom not using magic is a perplexing arrangement. Boy-crazy Sarah might not be the smartest witch of her age, but her seduction skills (and that voice!) Get ready to level up your habits game with "Atomic Habits" by James Clear! Still a whole lot of NOPE. All without a nose. Usually alongside a classically evil witch. Sure these modern pop culture witches are fictional, but normalizing the idea of the good witch in a variety of mediumsin TV shows, movies, booksdirectly combats centuries of stigma against witchcraft and mysticism. Arthur Levine, the Scholastic editor who acquired the books, had an excellent eye for British books that would work in the US, having already acquired the US rights to Redwall and His Dark Materials. Despite boasting a charmed legacy, even this most complicated and powerful of sorcerers apparently could not resist a certain femme fatale. His popularity has soared with his appearances in The Avenger movies, with Strange even getting his own standalone movie. 7. A self-proclaimed holy man with mystical abilities, Grigori Rasputin rose to prominence during the early 1900s. James Hong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986). Given the secrecy surrounding witches existence, its a given that education is a vital element. And then, of course, there are the strictly magical communities. All of the young witches on *American Horror Story: Coven * were equally iconic, but Queenie has some serious witchcraft roots. Already more powerful than most as a baby, The Boy Who Lived continued to cheat death year after year. He is the one who helps Arthur find Excalibur and the Holy Grail. 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 Dark Willow was on the path to destroying the world before a blast from the past pulled her back from the brink. COPYRIGHT 2023 Next Luxury ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This is a broad list including mystical wizards and sorcerers alongside more mundane, real-life alchemists. You barely even saw him, and he instilled everyone with a knee-knocking sense of dread. The Harry Potter seriesdetails the adventures of young wizard Harry Potter while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A spin on the ideal 1960s housewife, Samantha tried to trade her powers for a quiet life at home but the twitchy nose wants what it wants. The $105,000 sale granted Harry Potter two things: a built-in publicity hook, and a big budget. Books, movies, TV shows, and other mediums have featured these spell-casting humans. (Spoiler alert: It never works!). But still, in the Netflix seriesthough slightly less so in 90s sitcomthere are plenty of humans in on the secret. Oh, Tia Dalma is actually the super-powerful Calypso, the sea goddess, which you find out in the end. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. Scholastic President Barbara Marcus Barbara Marcus kept saying do you love it? and Arthur said yes, so we went for it, a Scholastic spokesperson recalled in 2002. Other Harry Potter fans, like fan convention organizer Melissa Anelli and social activist Andrew Slack launched careers directly out of Harry Potter fandom. As a member of the University of Michigan theater troupe Starkid, a young Darren Criss starred as Harry Potter in the viral YouTube video A Very Potter Musical, and his popularity catapulted him into the role of Blaine on Glee and a career on Broadway. Starlord, Tom Bombadil, Rapunzel Cleric - A heavily-armored defensive supporter, devoted to a deity. Witches are rarely without some sort of inner evil, but Glinda? Albus Dumbledore is a very smart wizard with a heart of gold who does his best to help guide Harry on his journey as the chosen one. 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. 7. In Harry Potter, most witches and wizards live among non-magical folks. (She can also turn into a cat at a moments notice and isn't afraid to stand up to Voldemort and his Death Eaters, and, oh yeah, Umbridge.). The mysterious and ooky Morticia isnt *really * a witch, but it appears she had a few in her family. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. After Harry Potter, childrens literature became a category full of mega-sellers. The Untamedfollows the story of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, two young cultivators that fall in love in ancient China. Voldermort is one evil son of a bitch who does everything he can to takeout Harry. Even, Whether theyre tangentially connected to the witch trials or overtly, both have an overlapping trait: there were witches in Salem. He is played wonderfully by the late, great David Bowie in his greatest movie performance. Ralph Fiennes in the Harry Potter saga (200511). Oh, and the box for the game totally has a different title, which is "Beware the Ultimate . She really loves the cold and brings about the Hundred Year Winter in C. S. Lewiss classic The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Most famously L. Frank Baums novel The Wizard of Oz and its famous 1939 film adaptation. The Wizard - popculture.com It should be noted that Sarah is a natural witch, meaning she was born with her abilities. 98. Top 10 Most Beloved Wizards As Harry Potter gets ready to take the big screen once again, TIME examines the most popular sorcerers of all time from Mickey Mouse to Gandalf Tweet Full List. He just knew that he loved it and wanted to publish it. 21 Famous Dragons From Pop Culture - Next Luxury The former is a magical secondary school, whereas the latter is more of a grad school for magicians (a.k.a. If only his [SPOILER ALERT] death wasn't so sudden and easily avoidable. What made all of this possible the industries transformed, the careers built are the books themselves, and the expansive, wondrous world they created. Rebel witches always beat goody-two-shoes witches (sorry, Diana). Willow is not only a famous wizard (or witch as she is better known) but a lesbian icon, with Buffy detailing her romance with the same sex in an informative and relatable way. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. Next. It pushes back on the idea that witchcraft is inherently evil or something to fear. Level Up Your Habits Game: Top 5 Lessons from Atomic Habits with Pop By Chris Drew (PhD) / March 8, 2023 Pop culture is short for "popular culture". Merlin uses his powers for good and to help Arthurs kingdom. And in both iterations of. From habit stacking to making your habits part of your vibe, these tips will help you achieve your goals with ease. Before Harry Potter, childrens literature was often considered an afterthought. 92. But even a young lifetime in hiding isnt enough: Maleficent still conjures a spinning wheel to send Aurora into a deathlike slumber. Jane Spofford (Susan Sarandon), The Witches of Eastwick, 54. A father, a sith, and one of the most powerful forces on the dark side, Darth Vaders story has been central to the Star Wars films, and even in death, he looks to be leaving us no time soon. The Outsiders reinvented young adult fiction. Ditto in. Oops. Elizabeth Olsen plays the Scarlet Witch, a very powerful Marvel comics character, in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War. Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson), AHS: Coven, 43. We just saw what she may have done, which was way, way freakier. Golden skin, hourglass eyes and an all-powerful staff add to his colorful personality. Richard Harris/Michael Gambon/Jude Law in the Harry Potter saga (2001present). Harry Potter made YA book-to-movie franchises into one of the biggest forces in pop culture. A magical slip-up here and there. Then the claws really come out, with the sorceress calling in the powers of evil to help her take the shape of a ferocious dragon. Please enter a valid email and try again. See more about - The 22 Best 90s Cartoon Characters. 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. Brenda Loveknot ( Discworld) Lythande ( Thieves' World, Lythande) M. Aunt Mab ( Graveyard School) Ciaran MacEwan ( Sweep) Maghatch ( Thunder Oak) Maharet and Mekare ( The Vampire Chronicles) Makenna ( The Goblin Wood) Maleen, Goth and The Leewit ( The Witches of Karres) by James H Schmitz. You Know Whos name became frightening to the wizarding world and to readers for a reason: whether on the page or on screen, Voldemort is one of the most fearsome wizards of all time. Usually alongside a classically evil witch. Teen Vogue covers the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment. But Harry Potter changed the world. Glenn Fleshler Goran Pazar. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Buffys bestie learns shes a witch early on in the series and her powers grow strongly; at one point, she turns to the dark side. Granted, the former Tom Riddle had a devil of a time killing just one little boyapparently, love is Voldermort's kryptonitebut he also engineered the death of Dumbledore, the dismantling of Hogwarts, and the destruction of many a Death Eater's soul. Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), Star Wars. Tabitha Lenox (Juliet Mills), Passions, 82. It lends an ounce of retroactive credibility to the witch hunters. Granted, maybe investing so much of his power into the One Ring wasn't the best tactical maneuver. You barely even see him, and he instills. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Harry Potter. In fact a lot of early writings on witches and witchcraft were downright menacing and certainly helped stoke fear of anything unexplained or deemed unnatural. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The last four volumes of the series are all doorstoppers that clock in at well over 700 pages each. 58. Harry Potters mortal enemy, Lord Voldermort is the main antagonist throughout the Harry Potter books. That counts. Winifred Winnie Sanderson (Bette Midler), Hocus Pocus, She sings. But between Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings film adaptations, and the emerging visibility of online Harry Potter fandom, it was increasingly difficult to ignore fantasy and science fiction as a driving force of culture, and to write off fans of these genres as niche. That theyre a family of witches is not generally public knowledge in Greendale. Some people might think their grandmas are witches, but Marnies actually is one and a cool, caring one at that. Wizards have been part of history for centuries. Pure evil. Generates new conversations about gender that move beyond nation. 100% Privacy. Mickey Mouses first starring role in a feature-length film went on to also become one of his most notable. 20 most famous wizards of all time from history and fiction 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). The evil warlock is an almighty being consumed with finding the One Ring so he can rule over everyone. 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. The evil woman in the movie The Witch basically ruins Thomasin and her familys life by stealing their baby and enchanting their young son. Arguably the most famous wizard on this list comes from the mind of author JK Rowling. Raistlin Majere One of Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis' characters in the Heroes of the Dragonlance and Dragonlance Legends trilogies, he is a magic-user whose entire existence is about garnering more power. She almost brings about Buffys demise but is saved and embarks on a redemptive arc in the series. Sorry for the spoilers. Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe), AHS: Coven, 51. 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? Harry Potter has since became such an all-encompassing phenomenon that from this vantage point, its hard to see the full scope what it accomplished: It feels as though publishing and fandom and childrens literature and all of pop culture have always been the way we know them today. Stanley Soft Matte Quencher H2.0 Flowstate 30-ounce tumbler, $40. This not-so-humble court vizier gave in to his delusions of grandeurespecially when he got his hands on the genie's lamp he hired a street rat to swipe from the Cave of Wonders. 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. Witchcraft is such a diverse study and the practice is intertwined with so many cultures and lore. 12. From Hermione Granger to Sabrina Spellman. , the Spellmans run a funeral home, which is the perfect cover for their spooky, gothic vibe in town. One member of the family wholly ignoring the secrecy pact. Here are just two of the ways Harry Potter changed publishing, and how those changes affected the rest of pop culture: 1) The books made it possible to publish long works aimed at children. In fact, among the broad depictions of witches over the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st, there are a handful of characteristics and tropes that encapsulate them all. But there are plenty of reasons for a grown person to enjoy Harry Potter. The formalized education strictly points to the set of rules and regulations within the magical community. Most famously L. Frank Baum's novel The Wizard of Oz and its famous 1939 film adaptation. Qui-gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), Star Wars. Strange was once a gifted, narcissistic neurosurgeon who, after losing the use of his hands, looked for a cure in the mythic Himalayas. Oheka Castle has been part of numerous moments in pop culture history, so it was a no-brainer to include it on this list. No matter if hes Gandalf the Grey or Gandalf the White, hes the epitome of what a wizard should be. Even Agatha Harkness has roots in Salem. r/DnD on Reddit: Sorcerers in pop culture? Born Tom Riddle, the Dark Lord is responsible for the death of Harrys parents. The Wicked Witchs beautiful rival, Glinda, ruled with a soft voice and enchanted Munchkins all over Oz. The Washington Wizards basketball team. Real gentlemen know quality when they see it. We're calling the roster of the most powerful pop culture mages for the agesincluding Dumbledore, Gandalf, and Willow. GojiraSoundsUnleashed/Youtube. 27. 2) Harry Potter made childrens literature an unstoppable force. He has perfected many great magic tricks over time and is remembered for making the Statue of Liberty disappear as well as walking through the Great Wall of China. But seeing witches as forces for goodor, at the very least, incredibly nuanced peoplebetter represents witchcraft as a spiritual way of life. Prior . Of course, wizards from the Harry Potter universe are included, but this list features other fictional wizards as well. The Harry Potter series is a phenomenon not just because it had a good publicity and marketing budget (although that helped) and not just because the curiosity and controversy surrounding it made it appealing to the press (although that helped). Then, of course, there were the mythological sorceresses, including Circe, Hecate, and Morgan le Fay, who while not initially presented as evil in some cases, generally saw their stories descend into tales of duplicitousness and cruelty. As Harry Potter gets ready to take the big screen once again, TIME examines the most popular sorcerers of all time from Mickey Mouse to Gandalf. Jafar was the sorcerer, but Iago was the real brains of the operation. These women have modernized witchcraft into the 21st century, and their practice is often linked to self-care. But it only started to approach phenomenon levels when Scholastic bought the US publication rights for an astonishing $105,000, about 10 times more than the average foreign rights sale at the time. It was later joined by another totally unique-to-Harry-Potter fan pursuit: Quidditch. Weaving the real-world events into a fictional narrative certainly adds context and depicting the superstitions and fears of witchcraft in history is necessary. She loved Willow completely, was there for Buffy at times when her other friends werent, cared for Dawn like she was her own sister, and was always willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. Not only is the Wicked Witch of the West insanely, well, wicked, she also delivered one of historys most memorable movie lines when she cackled, Ill get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too! to a terrified Dorothy. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "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. Teen Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Sometimes, they fully embrace said reputation. After he managed to heal their son, Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia, Rasputin became one of the most powerful men in Russia. Warner Bros./The CW/Netflix/ABC/Paramount Pictures. Harry Houdini as the most successful and well-known, 14 Oldest Living Celebrities That Are Still Alive, 15 of the Most Disturbing Books Ever Written. It was a curiosity, and as such, it was a story. It changed the business model for publishing books for kids. Weaving the real-world events into a fictional narrative certainly adds context and depicting the superstitions and fears of witchcraft in history is necessary. NEXT: Witches and wizards 24 1[pagebreak], 24. The former is a magical secondary school, whereas the latter is more of a grad school for magicians (a.k.a. People still line up to visit her tomb. The coolest and most fashionable teen witch of the 80s uses her magic to get by during the toughest time of ones life: high school. We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Probably the most famous wizard in all of popular cultureyes, even eclipsing Harry PotterMerlin's greatest feat was helping Arthur Pendragon find a very nice sword (Excalibur) and an even nicer cup (the Holy Grail). Examines the ways in which gender can be depicted, perceived, and understood in Japanese popular culture. 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. Rachael Lynn Gabriela Kozak-Salmi (born May 26, 1976), better known by her stage name Hecate, is an American-Austrian experimental industrial and breakcore musician currently based in Kuopio, Apollonius of Tyana (Ancient Greek: ; c. 15 c. 100 AD), sometimes also called Apollonios of Tyana, was a Greek Neopythagorean philosopher from the town of Tyana in the Roman, Apuleius (; also called Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis; c. 124 c. 170 AD) was a Latin-language prose writer, Platonist philosopher and rhetorician. 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. Mary Sibley (Janet Montgomery), Salem, 91. Reviewers wanted to know what kind of book would justify that kind of money. Category:Wizards in fiction - Wikipedia Generic things also work for the other classes. Even Shakespeare, who lived during a time of deep fear of witchcraft, got in on the trend. Thomas Edison. Many modern pop culture witches can generally trace their roots back through real historical events. Witches and wizards in pop culture: A definitive ranking Likewise, while eventually introducing a magical school, mostly used the after school lessons method to teach magic. Whether theyre tangentially connected to the witch trials or overtly, both have an overlapping trait: there were witches in Salem. 16. But he wears his fame lightly. Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery), Bewitched. Special mention must be made of Ralph Fiennes portrayal of him in the films. Such as beloved Practical Magic aunts, Franny and Jet Owens. However, more often, witchiness is an inherited trait and therefore full of traditions passed down through generations. NEXT: Wizards and witches 49 25[pagebreak], 49. 3 of 10. Possessing another witchs body (and surviving being burned at the stake) is another. This largely goes hand in hand with the aforementioned real-life history of witch trials. The Blair Witch was creepy because we *didnt * ever really get to see her. People generally didnt read the Harry Potter books in isolation; they wanted to talk about it with their friends, and then find more friends who loved the books as much as they did. Shes basically the patron saint for bookish, motivated girls everywhere, witch or no witch. Only the most interesting animals and humanoid beings to come out of the human imagination. Never forget: Before she went to Tomorrowland, Britt Robertson was doing semi-dark magic with a group of attractive teens on The CW. Jessica Langes Fiona Goode, the Supreme Witch of a New Orleans coven, is our favorite modern witch. Merlin The myth of Merlin can be traced all the way back to ancient Celtic lore, but it wasn't until an English bishop published Historia regum Britanniae in 1135 that the wizard became, by. * And she has those cool eel sidekicks. Another British Artist Elton John kept on achieving new heights and made people in the UK and the US fall in love with rock and pop. Thats what pulled Harry Potter out of flash-in-the-pan territory and elevated it into a phenomenon that defined childhood for an entire generation. Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy), Hocus Pocus. We Asked, You Answered: Which 'Walking Dead' Characters Would You Bring Back From The Dead? It turns out Buffy the Vampire Slayers best friend is a witch. 77. The Harry Potter series, like many works of fantasy, involves wizardry and witchcraft. Links foe has appeared in many forms over the years, but nearly every iteration of the Hyrulian foe has been a memorable one. Author J.K. Rowling was an unknown single mom when she first got the idea for her story while stuck on a train; the small UK childrens press that ultimately took a chance on it undoubtedly couldnt have predicted that it would have a measurable effect on everything it touched. 32. He succumbs to her treachery and is buried alive in a cave. Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney), The Craft, 52. But several strictly magical communities appear throughout the series, giving just a glimpse of normal magical life.