Already more powerful than most as a baby, The Boy Who Lived continued to cheat death year after year. 6. Harry Potter conventions drew thousands of fans, and Harry Potter cosplay became a well-known sight at larger geek and comic cons. SOME LINKS MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS. When that failed to kill him, he was shot in the chest twice, but still managed to survive. She dances. Potions and Pop Culture 3. Whether you're looking to improve your . Is Cher as a witch that much different from Cher every day? Samantha wants to use her powers, all she has to do is wiggle her nose. Without further ado 99. How to Break the Curse That's Been Plaguing You, Have You Been Cursed? For some critics, thats a worrisome development, suggesting that adults are too dull and stupid to appreciate books actually written for adults. 16. But several strictly magical communities appear throughout the series, giving just a glimpse of normal magical life. 4. While the term magician might be more apt, these illusionists are still worth mentioning in the conversation of famous wizards. Although in the Netflix series she does receive a more formalized education after she turns 16 and chooses that path. Elizabeth Olsen plays the Scarlet Witch, a very powerful Marvel comics character, in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War. All of the young witches on *American Horror Story: Coven * were equally iconic, but Queenie has some serious witchcraft roots. A sorceress who can trace her heritage back to alchemist Nicholas Flamel, soothsayer Nostradamus, and Leonardo da Vinci, Zatanna is one of the most powerful characters in the DC Universe, aiding the Justice League whenever her natural magical skills can be of service. Its true that Rowlings prose is best described as workmanlike and competent; if the reason you read is solely to enjoy perfectly balanced and polished sentences, you may be best served elsewhere. The devilish Goblin King gave protagonist Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) 13 hours to break free of his supernatural maze in order to save her infant half-brother, Toby. Tweet; Prev. Sabrina Spellman (Melissa Joan Hart), Sabrina: The Teenage Witch. Richard Harris/Michael Gambon/Jude Law in the Harry Potter saga (2001present). 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. Then you have famous wizards such as David Blaine and David Copperfield. Though not as magically skilled as Harry or Hermoine, Rons bravery and loyalty proved to be indispensable. 18. There are still leagues to go in depicting witchcraft in its full diverse practice. The Wizard (Frank Morgan), The Wizard of Oz. Qui-gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), Star Wars. 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. Angelique Bouchard (Lara Parker), Dark Shadows. Shes the most gifted witch of her generation, but more importantly, she manages to keep Harry and Ron alive for seven years. Are Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in love, or are they good actors? Though she was memorably portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the live-action version of Disneys *Sleeping Beauty, * well always be just a little bit terrified by the animated version. 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. 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. Of course youd try to become popular, just as Louise does. 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 . Known well by book readers, Quentin will rank higher as a pop culture wizard soon, thanks to Syfys serialization of his journey to Brakebills. actually circumvented this trope by making the accused witch in question actually innocent, reminding viewers of the horrific reality of the trials. 2023 Cond Nast. Miracle Max (Billy Crystal), Princess Bride. Cedric the Sensational (Jess Harnell), Sofia the First, 83. 67. 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. The. In short, it gave the book many more resources than are typically afforded to the average debut novel from an unknown author, and that decision paid off. Scroll down and find out who the masses voted for. Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson), AHS: Coven, 43. 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? Rebel witches always beat goody-two-shoes witches (sorry, Diana). Jane Spofford (Susan Sarandon), The Witches of Eastwick, 54. So, at the center of this story about an Italian nobleman who was betrayed by his brother and exiledwith his daughter, Mirandaon a deserted island, one finds a wizard. Freya Beauchamp (Jenna Dewan Tatum), Witches of East End, 86. 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. He might be called a king and not a wizard, but Jareth has incredible magical powers he uses to try and stop Sarah Williams from saving her baby brother in the cult classic Labyrinth. Comic book character Dr Stephen Strange has become much more well-known since Benedict Cumberbatch played him in the recent Marvel movies. Samantha Stephens (Nicole Kidman), Bewitched. 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. The budget came from Scholastic itself. Theres, of course, the Bible, and then. Gandalf. Oh, and the trailer for 2016's The Blair Witch? James Hong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986). plays the mythical wizard in a commanding performance that is the definitive version of the character. ), 11. Granted, maybe investing so much of his power into the One Ring wasn't the best tactical maneuver. Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), Buffy. Sukie Ridgemont (Michelle Pfeiffer), The Witches of Eastwick. Descend from persecuted witchesor those who escaped persecution? Plus, youve gotta love those cheekbones. Unlike the Sanderson Sisters, the Halliwell girls of Charmed fame use their powers for good. Must you live a normal, albeit eccentric life? rthurian legend. Even, Whether theyre tangentially connected to the witch trials or overtly, both have an overlapping trait: there were witches in Salem. 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. "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. Glinda the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke), The Wizard of Oz. Harry Potters mortal enemy, Lord Voldermort is the main antagonist throughout the Harry Potter books. Pictures included where possible. From Chambers Film Factfinder After quarrelling with her aunt, farm girl Dorothy wishes herself elsewhere, only for a cyclone to grant her wish by sweeping her up and away. His appearance is inspired by musician Sting, which is the total opposite of the movie version. However, theres an unsettling side effect. But still, in the Netflix seriesthough slightly less so in 90s sitcomthere are plenty of humans in on the secret. I smell scrod. Maybe not the right witch power to be as mighty as your sisters, Mary. 78. Phoebe Halliwell (Alyssa Milano), Charmed. Weaving the real-world events into a fictional narrative certainly adds context and depicting the superstitions and fears of witchcraft in history is necessary. They are shrouded in secrecy, living among non-magical beings. In honor of one of our all-time favorite on-camera witches . In the 874 years since then, the story of Merlin's life has changed with each telling. 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. Nancy, Bonnie, Rochelle, and Sarah make up one serious coven, each with her own special powers. That counts. Oops. These are the most famous wizards who have indebted history. Wizards have been part of history for centuries. Sometimes witches are just people who want to drink a bunch of midnight margaritas and maybe break a family curse. Elphaba/The Wicked Witch of the West. Hes the most powerful witch of his age, but hes also spent most of his time stuck in a tree. Merlins version of Merlin starts as a bumbling and lovable young warlock who has to hide his powers (and doesnt always know how to use them) but over the course of five seasons we see him embrace his powers and work alongside Arthur Pendragon (Bradley James) to bring peace to Albion and become a legendary and powerful sorcerer. However, more often, witchiness is an inherited trait and therefore full of traditions passed down through generations. The hook came from the press: Newspapers featured articles about the little English book that had garnered such a huge sale. From habit stacking to making your habits part of your vibe, these tips will help you achieve your goals with ease. He is a walking contradiction who has a cynical view of the world but does his best to help those in trouble. Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson were put to death in 1600s Salem, but a little spell brings them back to life on Halloween three centuries later. 61. Stevie Wonderamazed the crowd with his second album Innervisionsthat was a major hit. But seeing witches as forces for goodor, at the very least, incredibly nuanced peoplebetter represents witchcraft as a spiritual way of life. Sound off in the comments, or vote for one of our top 10 picks in the poll below. Worst witch ever. Their ancestorsor in some cases, their younger selvesmade their homes in Salem, their families fleeing during the trials. 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. Paige Matthews (Rose McGowan), Charmed, 64. The Wizard. But there are plenty of reasons for a grown person to enjoy Harry Potter. 1 in the Wackiest Witches ranking. The Harry Potter seriesdetails the adventures of young wizard Harry Potter while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 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. That's why we keep our work free. 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. 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. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Sorry for the spoilers. 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. 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. She literally steals Ariels voice, turns herself into a beautiful woman named Vanessa, tries to steal Prince Eric, and then epically battles Ariels dad King Triton in *The Little Mermaid. Esther Mikaelson (Alice Evans), The Originals. NEXT: Witches and wizards 24 1[pagebreak], 24. Despite boasting a charmed legacy, even this most complicated and powerful of sorcerers apparently could not resist a certain femme fatale. Grams didnt like to show off, but when her magic was needed, she did what she had to do. 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. 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. 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. But, generally, witches attempting to blend into their non-magical communities arent the most seamless at it. 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. Given the secrecy surrounding witches existence, its a given that education is a vital element. 59. , make a more concerted, if not wholly successful effort to keep their magical powers under wraps. Her son might be the King of Hell, but Rowena has enough power to spell an angel, so we wouldnt mess with her. 100% Privacy. What made all of this possible the industries transformed, the careers built are the books themselves, and the expansive, wondrous world they created. As if being a wizard wasn't already cool enough, Gandalf is actually two wizards in one. Instead, he found his destiny: to become a master of the mystic arts and protect the planet from magical threats as Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. Merlins demise comes about after he falls in love with the Lady of the Lake. Who is the number one wizard that people just can't get enough of? 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. Tabitha Lenox (Juliet Mills), Passions, 82. Surely that counts? And in both iterations of. Starlord, Tom Bombadil, Rapunzel Cleric - A heavily-armored defensive supporter, devoted to a deity. Tilda Swinton in The Chronicles of Narnia (200510). Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts), AHS: Coven, 66. The books proved such a success that they were adapted into a film series. Heres a look back at the way Harry Potter changed and influenced online fandom, millennial culture, and the publishing industry. 2) Harry Potter made childrens literature an unstoppable force. It turns out Buffy the Vampire Slayers best friend is a witch. You barely even see him, and he instills. Among the many pop culture witches whose roots lie around that infamous period in history are Samantha Stephens in the sitcom Bewitched, Bonnie Bennett in The Vampire Diaries, Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, and Spellmans in multiple TV iterations of Sabrina (to varying specificities). Dont let Wanda Maximoff near your mind you might never get her out. Since then, the childrens market as a whole has seen its sales increase by a total of 52 percent (4 percent a year). Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy), Hocus Pocus. 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. Pop culture is often spread through mass media such as television, cinema, radio, and social media. We're calling the roster of the most powerful pop culture mages for the agesincluding Dumbledore, Gandalf, and Willow. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. But the tale of Merlin's role as royal adviser to King Arthur and his father Uther Pendragon remains the most memorable. The Goblin King uses crystal orbs to create illusions and has the ability to shapeshift, defy gravity, and change time. Harry Potter did fine when it first emerged in the UK 20 years ago, winning a Smarties Award and garnering respectable sales for its publisher, Bloomsbury. Merlins demise comes about after he falls in love with the Lady of the Lake. But several strictly magical communities appear throughout the series, giving just a glimpse of normal magical life. Shop the Absolute Best Prom Shoes of the Season, Unique College Graduation Gifts Worthy of the Milestone. She led the ladies of American Horror Story: Coven with style and serious attitude. 84. You can even have up to 255 spells at your disposal, making him the most versatile wizard on this list. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 3 of 10. At first, the GHW appears glamorous, but shes not so pretty underneath her disguise. The Nicole Kidman motion picture version of Samantha Stephens was missing all the magic. In 2007, after the series end, J.K. Rowling retroactively outed the powerful wizard Dumbledore as gay. Few are wiser or more brilliant than Dumbledore, who as Headmaster of Hogwarts, could always be counted on to save the day (and the entire wizarding world). 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. Support our mission and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to Vox today. According to the same legend, Merlin's obsession with the so-called Lady of the Lake would lead to his demise. 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. Share. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. 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. They appear in fiction stories told in books and movies. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. 12. 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. Boy-crazy Sarah might not be the smartest witch of her age, but her seduction skills (and that voice!) 2. In this video, we share the top 5 game-changing lessons to build good habits and break bad ones, with some fun pop culture references to keep you entertained. White Witch (Tilda Swinton), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, RELATED: 9 Haunted House Books to Keep You Up At Night. Identifiable thanks to his long great beard and even bigger pointy hat, Gandalf is possessed with great power, but that doesnt mean he cant be killed. those with magical powers). The one where EW follows up with the cast. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Alex Russo (Selena Gomez), Wizards of Waverly Place. 56. Born Tom Riddle, the Dark Lord is responsible for the death of Harrys parents. Witches are not a homogenous groupthere are so many ways to practice witchcraft. , the Spellmans run a funeral home, which is the perfect cover for their spooky, gothic vibe in town. An integral part of the marvel cinematic universe, Dr Strange is one wizard we will be seeing much more of in the future. Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), Harry Potter. Strange, dont worry youll recognize this name soon, when hes portrayed by the one and only Benedict Cumberbatch. ), 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. Starting the series as a timid young teenager who discovers she has magical abilities, Willow Rosenberg soon transforms into a powerful witch. Now its your turn: Who is YOUR favorite witch or wizard? 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. 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. After all, shes probably brought more people back from the dead than anyone else on this list. While some may equate the occult with Satanism, this is a misnomer. Diana Meade (Shelley Hennig), The Secret Circle, 76. Tabitha Stephens (Lisa Hartman), Tabitha. Likewise, while eventually introducing a magical school, Wizards of Waverly Place mostly used the after school lessons method to teach magic. With Genie's power at his disposal, Jafar took his place among the most powerful wizards in pop culture. His popularity has soared with his appearances in The Avenger movies, with Strange even getting his own standalone movie. Roxie Torcoletti (Rebecca Romijn), Eastwick. Anthony Carrigan Noho Hank. 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. Tobias is a content specialist with over a decade of experience writing about men's lifestyles for a variety of publications around the world. Offers may be subject to change without notice. It is the cultural activities, practices, and beliefs of the masses (and often targeted at youths) within a society. 7. Oh, and shes the ultimate boss witch. Was any teenage witch more relatable than Sabrina? In America, they often descend from the witches of Salem, our most notedthough certainly not singularinstance of witchcraft persecution. Still a whole lot of NOPE. 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. 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. 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. But the latter half of the century and certainly through the . A magical slip-up here and there. Dahlia (Claudia Black), The Originals, Using powers to stay youthful is just smart, 72. Sympathetic and misunderstood, Elphie proved to be a sorceress of unlimited renown (and vibrato). Then he got greedy. A part of us hoped that the crazy Death Eater would last until the end. The mythical Merlin is a wizard from Arthurian legend. The Wizard of Oz. Nicole Kidman doesnt have the best luck with portraying witches. He is the one who helps Arthur find Excalibur and the Holy Grail. Many modern pop culture witches can generally trace their roots back through real historical events. What does it mean to be a modern-day good witch in pop culture? Although in the Netflix series she does receive a more formalized education after she turns 16 and chooses that path. 97. A list of famous wizards, both legendary and real wizards, mystics, and occultists. 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. This is a broad list including mystical wizards and sorcerers alongside more mundane, real-life alchemists. We just saw what she may have done, which was way, way freakier. 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. The Outsiders reinvented young adult fiction. Remember when Sandra Bullock was in rom-coms? It pushes back on the idea that witchcraft is inherently evil or something to fear. In America, they often descend from the witches of Salem, our most notedthough certainly not singularinstance of witchcraft persecution. 38. By Chris Drew (PhD) / March 8, 2023 Pop culture is short for "popular culture". 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. 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. In, , those with magical powers attend an actual school. (Not quite, but close. Merlin (Karl Swenson), The Sword in the Stone. 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. 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. 62. In 2004, in the midst of the Harry Potter phenomenon, sales of non-Potter kid lit were increasing by 2 percent a year. Taras greatest power was her heart. Reviewers wanted to know what kind of book would justify that kind of money. Sectumsucks to be you! And thus, witches attempting to live incognito as regular humans are usually deemed eccentric by their communities. 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. Twenty-nine here, but no. Before Harry Potter, the YA book-to-movie franchise was not a clich. As, of course, their house is full of strange happenings. , it appears most of their magical training is from their aunts over the course of their childhood. Unlike Stannis, we dont expect The Red Woman to go down too easily. Do you want to be the first who gets the news directly to your mailbox? So shes got some pretty awesome skills. Even Shakespeare, who lived during a time of deep fear of witchcraft, got in on the trend. Most early depictions of witches framed them as possessing malevolent energy. Harry Potter YouTube/Cartoon Network Asia Arguably the most famous wizard on this list comes from the mind of author JK Rowling. Whatever you want to call them, all of these characters and famous people can be defined as wizards. 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. 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. The. 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. Vampires might be the supernatural creatures du jour, but witches are more than just a pop culture fad they're part of our history! Publishers and childrens writers took notice. 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).

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famous wizards in pop culture