Before Harry Potter, the YA book-to-movie franchise was not a clich. 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 medieval standards, a pop-culture icon. She really loves the cold and brings about the Hundred Year Winter in C. S. Lewiss classic The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. There are variations of witchcraft and mysticism all over the world. Glinda the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke), The Wizard of Oz. As, of course, their house is full of strange happenings. 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. Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts), AHS: Coven, 66. Stanley Soft Matte Quencher H2.0 Flowstate 30-ounce tumbler, $40. Must you live a normal, albeit eccentric life? At first, the GHW appears glamorous, but shes not so pretty underneath her disguise. Real Animals Mistaken for Mythical Creatures, Cryptozoological Creatures That Might Be Real, The Greatest Wizard Characters Of All Time, Gandalf Doesnt Really Do Much Magic At All, And We Can Prove It, The Most Powerful Characters In 'Lord of the Rings' And The Hobbit, The Most Attractive Anime Girls of All Time, Albus Dumbledore Decisions From 'Harry Potter' That Prove He Wasn't Great At Being A Good Guy, The Most Powerful Wizards In The Harry Potter Franchise, Ranked, Things You Didn't Know About Severus Snape If You've Only Seen The Movies, 12 Tragically Unlucky 'Harry Potter' Characters Who Cant Catch A Break. 1. It is now, and thats because the boy wizard and his friends transformed an entire industry. 25. 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 when it looks like the valiant prince might come to her rescue? The one where EW follows up with the cast. RELATED: 15 Scary Movies We Saw as Kids That Still Haunt Our Nightmares. 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. Ralph Fiennes in the Harry Potter saga (200511). 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. But you already knew that. 61. 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. Airs: Sunday, May 14 2023 at 10:00pm on HBO TV-MA . And in both iterations of Charmed, a magical mentor called a Whitelighter guides the Halliwell sistersand more recently, the Verasthrough their magical studies. Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris/Michael Gambon), Harry Potter. 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. 75. 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. We're calling the roster of the most powerful pop culture mages for the agesincluding Dumbledore, Gandalf, and Willow. Alyson Hannigan on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (19972003). Wicked indeed. One of the most celebrated fictional warlocks is the everyman John Constantine. Here's What To Do Next, 130+ Famous Wizards, Occultists, and Mystics. Though not as magically skilled as Harry or Hermoine, Rons bravery and loyalty proved to be indispensable. The Most Powerful Wizards In The 'Harry Potter' Franchise, Ranked 4 Saruman Lord of the Rings Franchise 447 votes Played By: Christopher Lee What makes this character great: Very knowledgeable Masterly of dark magic Powerful 5 Professor Severus Snape Harry Potter Universe 647 votes Played By: Alan Rickman What makes this character great: Sarah Goldberg Sally Reed. All rights reserved. Sam Cooke. Which 'Toy Story' Toys Now Need Their Toys' Stories Told? Speaking of teenage witches the iconic Sabrina Spellman needs no introduction. Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson), AHS: Coven, 43. She led the ladies of American Horror Story: Coven with style and serious attitude. Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. , 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. 2) Harry Potter made childrens literature an unstoppable force. Miracle Max (Billy Crystal), Princess Bride. He is also the founder and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, the group of wizards and witches determined to stop Lord Voldermort from rising to power. rthurian legend. He is the one who helps Arthur find Excalibur and the Holy Grail. Sir Ian McKellenplays the mythical wizard in a commanding performance that is the definitive version of the character. Dark Willow was on the path to destroying the world before a blast from the past pulled her back from the brink. However, theres an unsettling side effect. 13. In. Pure evil. While we can look back fondly on their scheming ways, for centuries they were best remembered (mostly by men) as unnatural cautionary figures. The White Witch rules with an iron fist, turning those who oppose her into stone. Apart from the occasional word of wisdom, Dumbledore likes to leave the lessons . Cursed by a Chinese emperor centuries ago, Chinatown gang lord Lo Pan led a ghostly existenceunless he could break the curse by sacrificing a girl with green eyes. It was a curiosity, and as such, it was a story. 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. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Harry Potter. But seeing witches as forces for goodor, at the very least, incredibly nuanced peoplebetter represents witchcraft as a spiritual way of life. Hes the most powerful witch of his age, but hes also spent most of his time stuck in a tree. According to the same legend, Merlin's obsession with the so-called Lady of the Lake would lead to his demise. 16. While there is some debate surrounding Saurons position as a wizard, we think he deserves a spot on this list. And not the foundation for which there is a strict set of rules. For comparison, the overall book market has gone up a mere 33 percent since 2004. Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), Buffy. In Harry Potter, for instance, the quest to remain hidden goes all the way to the top, with strict secrecy laws in place by the magical governing body. "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. Oh, Tia Dalma is actually the super-powerful Calypso, the sea goddess, which you find out in the end. The mythical Merlin is a wizard from Arthurian legend. 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'. A magical slip-up here and there. People still line up to visit her tomb. Which witch gave Dorothy the key to her destiny? Others, like the Cromwells in Halloweentown or Samantha Stephens in Bewitched, make a more concerted, if not wholly successful effort to keep their magical powers under wraps. 98. 12. Samantha wants to use her powers, all she has to do is wiggle her nose. That counts. Sorry for the spoilers. Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), Harry Potter. * She also taught us all the importance of water. Aggie Cromwell (Debbie Reynolds), Halloweentown. Sukie Ridgemont (Michelle Pfeiffer), The Witches of Eastwick. 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". Tales of these sorcerers have found their way into modern pop culture, often via fantasy stories. The 25+ Best Wizard Characters | List of Fictional Wizards Publishers and childrens writers took notice. However, more often, witchiness is an inherited trait and therefore full of traditions passed down through generations. Memorably portrayed by Tilda Swinton, the White Witch is the titular witch in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. 32. While some may equate the occult with Satanism, this is a misnomer. Some people might think their grandmas are witches, but Marnies actually is one and a cool, caring one at that. These are the most famous wizards who have indebted history. It also makes their eventual death (for some) and trauma (for all) deeply affecting. The secrecy is often more or less an informal arrangement between a coven or magical family. ), Samanthas mother, Endora, is a little more out-there than her buttoned-up suburban daughter, and shes constantly trying to cause chaos in her daughters marriage to the mortal Darrin. We Asked, You Answered: Which 'Walking Dead' Characters Would You Bring Back From The Dead? The first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, introduces young readers to Potter and his friendsHermione GrangerandRon Weasley. Best witch ever? It is the cultural activities, practices, and beliefs of the masses (and often targeted at youths) within a society. 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. Merlin (Elliot Knight), Once Upon a Time. those with magical powers). 78. Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery), Bewitched. After Harry Potter, childrens literature became a category full of mega-sellers. Cedric the Sensational (Jess Harnell), Sofia the First, 83. It wasnt until a bullet to the head silenced him forever. Comic book character Dr Stephen Strange has become much more well-known since Benedict Cumberbatch played him in the recent Marvel movies. Dahlia (Claudia Black), The Originals, Using powers to stay youthful is just smart, 72. Sara Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker), Hocus Pocus. While there is no singular path to being a witch, many practice paganism, celebrate Mother Nature, and emphasize the power of female sisterhood. 5. Pictures included where possible. Is Cher as a witch that much different from Cher every day? In 2005, students at Vermonts Middlebury college created the first real-life Quidditch game, which went on to spawn an international real-world college sport. William Shakespeare seemed to have a little thing for magicand revenge. Weve compiled a list of the most powerful and well-known wizards throughout history and pop culture that is sure to leave you spellbound. What made all of this possible the industries transformed, the careers built are the books themselves, and the expansive, wondrous world they created. It turns out Buffy the Vampire Slayers best friend is a witch. Donald Ducks temper may often get in the way, but hes a good enough magician and even better friend to Sora and Goofy that Kingdom Hearts wouldnt be the same without him. , for instance, the quest to remain hidden goes all the way to the top, with strict secrecy laws in place by the magical governing body. No one is more lethally glamorous than Charlize Therons wicked Queen Ravenna, an enchantress who will stop at nothing like, changing herself into a flock of birds to kill Snow White. This largely goes hand in hand with the aforementioned real-life history of witch trials. 46. 9. Pictures included where possible. Roxie Torcoletti (Rebecca Romijn), Eastwick. 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. 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. Enroll in some sort of magical education schooling? Many modern pop culture witches can generally trace their roots back through real historical events. Hilda Spellman (Caroline Rhea) and Zelda Spellman (Beth Broderick), Sabrina: The Teenage Witch. With both the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings in the playoffs, they recalled how a Knicks-Kings NBA Finals game was a huge scene . As if being a wizard wasn't already cool enough, Gandalf is actually two wizards in one. Gandalf. Magical education is largely divided into two camps: learning at home or at formal magical educational institutions. Hulton Archive / Getty. The Harry Potter series, like many works of fantasy, involves wizardry and witchcraft. Harry Potter made YA book-to-movie franchises into one of the biggest forces in pop culture. Credit: Mary Evans Picture Library/Everett Collection. She was related to Tituba, the maid involved in the Salem witch trials. 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. List of fictional witches - Wikipedia His popularity has soared with his appearances in The Avenger movies, with Strange even getting his own standalone movie. In Harry Potter, most witches and wizards live among non-magical folks. After all, shes probably brought more people back from the dead than anyone else on this list. The books proved such a success that they were adapted into a film series. Sectumsucks to be you! Furthermore, it consistently puts a white face to the good witch. 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. Not only could she steal beautiful voices, but Ursula could change form at will andafter stealing Triton's helm and tridenthave mastery over the seas as well. Warner Bros./The CW/Netflix/ABC/Paramount Pictures. But the latter half of the century and certainly through the present, depictions of witches, especially specifically non-scary witches, are certainly broader. 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. 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. Samantha Stephens (Nicole Kidman), Bewitched. 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. But several strictly magical communities appear throughout the series, giving just a glimpse of normal magical life. The Outsiders reinvented young adult fiction. Teenager Louise (played by Blake Livelys sister Robin) inherits her abilities when she turns 16. Shop the Absolute Best Prom Shoes of the Season, Unique College Graduation Gifts Worthy of the Milestone. However, more often, witchiness is an inherited trait and therefore full of traditions passed down through generations. Ralph Fiennes, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Ralph Fiennes in the Harry Potter saga (2001-present) Granted, the former Tom Riddle has a devil of a time killing just one little boy — Marvel's DOCTOR STRANGE (2016)Benedict Cumberbatch CR: Marvel, DC Comics (1964-present) A sorceress who can trace her heritage back to alchemist Nicholas Flamel, soothsayer Nostradamus, and Leonardo Da Vinci, Zatanna is one of, Aladdin | Jonathan Freeman in Aladdin (1992) This not-so-humble court vizier gives in to his delusions of grandeur — especially when he gets his hands on the, The Tempest (1600s) William Shakespeare seemed to have a little thing for magicand revenge. 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. *. Scroll down and find out who the masses voted for. Arguably the most famous wizard on this list comes from the mind of author JK Rowling. Top Billed Cast and Crew. The depiction of good witches in the media often pushes against the centuries-long view of witchcraft as a sinister, evil practice. 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.