Television and film adaptations have showcased witches in various ways throughout history, from the malevolent Wicked Witch who haunted Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” to the heroic teenage witches and wizards portrayed in the “Harry Potter” films. On TV, witches have taken on diverse roles, such as the charming young housewife in “Bewitched” during the ’60s or more contemporary characters like the Bene Geserit in “Dune: Prophecy.” Witches can be found in every nook and cranny of popular culture, and these small-screen representations are some of the most impressive. Despite their different approaches, they share a common thread: each series features at least one witch that belongs to them.
Among the many series that delve into the realm of fantasy, the portrayal of witches has left an indelible impression on us. This compilation is based on the author’s personal journey with witch-themed shows, augmented by Rotten Tomatoes’ insights, particularly in the ratings department. Here are the 15 top-rated witch series of all time, listed in order of preference.
15. Dune: Prophecy
Dune: Prophecy” is set in the universe of Dune, encompassing both Frank Herbert’s novels and Denis Villeneuve’s films. Unlike the narrative centered around Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), this series unfolds 10,000 years prior, during a period when humanity is recovering from a devastating war against intelligent machines that came perilously close to annihilating humankind. The story primarily focuses on the Sisterhood, an influential group later known as the Bene Geserit, who possess extraordinary abilities. In this era, Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula (Olivia Williams) Harkonnen rise through the ranks of the Sisterhood, despite their weakened house’s status.
The TV series titled “Dune: Prophecy,” based on the works “Great Schools of Dune” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, has been renewed for another season, offering an intriguing glimpse into the complex political and personal struggles of a band of women who possess extraordinary abilities but are not officially witches.
Showrunner: Alison Schapker
Cast: Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel
Years: 2024-present
Number of episodes: 6 and counting
Where to watch: Max
14. The Witcher
According to the works of Andrzej Sapkowski, “The Witcher” primarily revolves around Geralt of Rivia, portrayed by Henry Cavill in seasons 1-3 and Liam Hemsworth in seasons 4-5. This character is a witcher, hailing from the imaginary region referred to as the Continent. Witchers are individuals who have been trained and given magical enhancements since their childhood, specializing in hunting monsters.
As a devoted fan, I’d like to share my thoughts on the fascinating world of The Witcher. Though Geralt, the protagonist, boasts some magical abilities, they’re relatively modest compared to those wielded by his significant other, Yennifer of Vengerberg (played brilliantly by Anya Chalotra). She is a formidable sorceress, and their adopted daughter Ciri (portrayed by Freya Allan), who carries the Elder Blood gene, undergoes training from Yennifer. This gene bestows magical powers that Ciri is learning to master. In this whirlwind of magic and intrigue, Yennifer and Ciri aren’t called witches, but they might as well be, given their extraordinary abilities!
Showrunner: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
Cast: Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra
Years: 2019-present
Number of episodes: 24 and counting
Where to watch: Netflix
13. Once Upon a Time
In another time, Jennifer Morrison plays Emma Swan, a bondswoman in the bail industry. Emma grew up unaware of her parentage and surrendered her son for adoption. However, one fateful day, she encounters him again – this time a ten-year-old boy at her doorstep. The woman who raised him is the mayor of Storybrooke, Maine, but Henry suspects that she’s none other than the Wicked Queen from Snow White’s tale. This mysterious figure cast a spell on the enchanted forest, transporting its inhabitants to our world.
The Evil Queen’s curse serves as the foundation for the events unfolding in “Once Upon a Time”. Across its seven seasons, the series introduces characters from various fairy tales, such as Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) and Cinderella (Dania Ramirez). Notably, there are several witches among these characters, including Maleficent (Kristin Bauer) from “Sleeping Beauty”, Ursula (Merrin Dungey) from “The Little Mermaid”, and Mother Gothel (Emma Booth) from “Tangled”. Consequently, the narrative is richly infused with magic and individuals who can manipulate it.
Showrunner: Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis
Cast: Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Lana Parrilla
Years: 2011-2018
Number of episodes: 156
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+
12. The Vampire Diaries
While ‘The Vampire Diaries’ is renowned for its abundance of vampires, it also spotlights a formidable witch character – Bonnie Bennett, portrayed by Kat Graham. This character stands out as one of the show’s strongest personalities and appears in almost every episode. Bonnie is a member of a long-standing line of witches, transforming into a figure to be feared. Throughout the series, she has made significant sacrifices, including death, to restore her former love, Jeremy Gilbert (Steven R. McQueen), only to be brought back to life later on.
On “The Vampire Diaries,” Bonnie isn’t the only one with magical abilities. The series also features other magic users, such as the Heretics – a unique group who are half-vampires and half-witches, with Lillian, mother of Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley), leading them. The show has many interesting elements, but Bonnie and the Heretics stand out among them as notable highlights.
Showrunner: Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson
Cast: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Kat Graham
Years: 2009-2017
Number of episodes: 171
Where to watch: Max, Peacock
11. Motherland: Fort Salem
Motherland: Fort Salem,” spanning over three seasons, is set in an alternate America where instead of being put to death, the witches of Salem strike a bargain with the U.S government to serve as soldiers. This arrangement results in a female-centric society, wherein witchcraft is compulsory for military service. Entering this world are three young women – Raelle Collar (Taylor Hickson), Abigail Bellweather (Ashley Nicole Williams), and Tally Craven (Jessica Sutton) – who undergo training at Fort Salem, confronting terrorist activities led by the Spree, a faction dedicated to challenging the enforced military service of witches.
Despite certain inaccuracies in the portrayal of witches within “Motherland: Fort Salem,” the series remains compelling and thought-provoking due to its proximity to our own reality. Although the nature of the threats may vary, the emotional intensity remains powerful.
Showrunner: Eliot Laurence
Cast: Taylor Hickson, Jessica Sutton, Ashley Nicole Williams
Years: 2020-2022
Number of episodes: 30
Where to watch: Prime Video or Apple TV+
10. The Order
The Order” revolves around Jack (Jake Manley), a university student at Belgrave University, who seeks membership in The Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose, driven by his thirst for vengeance against its leader for his mother’s death. However, there’s a catch: this secret society delves into black magic, and as Jack gets initiated, he also undergoes magical training. To complicate matters further, Jack unknowingly transforms into a werewolf, and whenever magic is employed around him, his inner wolf tries to surface.
The Series” immerses spectators into a clandestine conflict between werewolves and sorcerers, with Jack right smack in the thick of it. It’s an exhilarating, captivating program that offers much more depth than one might initially perceive. Regrettably, its most significant flaw is that Netflix terminated it following just two seasons.
Showrunners: Dennis Heaton, Shelley Eriksen
Cast: Jake Manley, Sarah Grey, Matt Frewer
Years: 2019-2020
Number of episodes: 20
Where to watch: Netflix
9. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Both “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” share the same character, Sabrina Spellman (portrayed by Kiernan Shipka and Melissa Joan Hart respectively), from the Archie comics, as well as her aunts Zelda and Hilda. However, despite these similarities, they are distinct shows. “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” had a comedic tone, while “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” is more intricate and complex. Although it follows Sabrina’s journey into adulthood like its counterpart, it takes a darker turn, often delving into very grim themes as Sabrina battles various malevolent creatures that pose a threat to her and her companions.
The show ended following its second season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Kiernan Shipka continued portraying Sabrina in the TV show “Riverdale”, a series inspired by the “Archie” comics. This provided a resolution for disappointed Sabrina fans looking for some form of closure.
Showrunner: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Miranda Otto
Years: 2018-2020
Number of episodes: 36
Where to watch: Netflix
8. Bewitched
The show “Bewitched,” produced in the 1960s, features a man named Darrin (portrayed by Dick York from 1964-1969 and later by Dick Sargent) who marries a woman named Samantha (played by Elizabeth Montgomery), unaware that she is a witch. Initially, Darrin only expects Samantha to behave like a typical suburban housewife. However, Samantha is far from ordinary, and despite her promise to comply with Darrin’s wishes, she frequently employs magic in secret. To make matters worse, her family, particularly her mother Endora (portrayed by Agnes Moorehead), disapproves of the marriage and often meddles in Darrin and Samantha’s personal affairs.
Enchanted” refers to an old yet cherished television series centering around witches and warlocks, boasting a clandestine group and an abundance of magic. For instance, the character Samantha would cast spells by merely twitching her nose.
Showrunner: Sol Saks
Cast: Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead
Years: 1964-1972
Number of episodes: 254
Where to watch: Reelz Now (Season 1), Roku Channel (Seasons 5-8)
7. American Horror Story: Coven
In our discussion, let’s focus on the third season of the American Horror Story anthology series, produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. This particular season, titled “Coven,” is what catches our attention. The reason being, it revolves around a group of witches residing at Miss Robichaux’s Academy, an institution in New Orleans. This academy becomes the new home for Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga), a character who discovers she possesses witch-like abilities after a fateful incident involving her boyfriend.
This series encompasses the coven, but also includes elements such as zombies, a conflict between witches and voodoo practitioners, a monster resembling Frankenstein’s creation with an abusive parent, among other things. Essentially, each season of “American Horror Story” is richly layered, offering a complex blend of its unique characteristics while tackling issues of racial and gender suppression.
Showrunner: Ryan Murphy
Cast: Sarah Paulson, Taissa Farmiga, Frances Conroy, Evan Peters
Year: 2012
Number of episodes: 13
Where to watch: Hulu, Prime Video
6. The Magicians
In the series “The Magicians,” Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph), a student nearing graduation who’s feeling down, and his close friend Julia Wicker (Stella Maeve) attempt entry into Brakebills University, an institution akin to graduate school for magic. While Quentin succeeds and dives headfirst into the magical wonders at Brakebills, Julia fails to gain entry and instead joins a collective of hedge witches who teach themselves magic using scraps of knowledge they gather.
Over the course of its five distinct phases, the show “The Magicians” was brimming with magic and enigmas at every turn. Among these captivating puzzles was the magic that emerged from Quentin’s cherished book series titled “Fillory and Further,” a discovery that poses a significant danger to our actual world.
Showrunners: Sera Gamble, John McNamara
Cast: Jason Ralph, Stella Maeve, Hale Appleman
Years: 2015-2020
Number of episodes: 65
Where to watch: The CW, Tubi
5. A Discovery of Witches
The television series “A Discovery of Witches” spans over three seasons, adapting the initial three novels from Deborah Harkness’s All Souls Trilogy. The narrative centers around Diana Bishop (played by Teresa Palmer) and Matthew Clairmont (Mathew Goode), a witch and vampire, respectively, who find themselves drawn to each other while guarding a mystical book and its hidden knowledge. Initially, Diana is an academic researcher avoiding any involvement with the supernatural world, including witches, vampires, and daemons. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon the ancient text Ashmole 782 at the Bodleian Library, which triggers interest from all sorts of creatures – Matthew among them, who coincidentally is a professor at Oxford. Yet, there’s a deeper connection between them that transcends their initial mistrust.
In “A Discovery of Witches,” Diana navigates through centuries, mastering the ability to travel through time. This unique skill transports her and Matthew into Elizabethan London during the second season. The series has its strengths and weaknesses compared to the books, but it excels in creating a rich, vivid world, all while relying on the convincing performances of its leads.
Showrunners: Kate Brooke, Jane Tranter, Julie Gardner
Cast: Matthew Goode, Teresa Palmer, Edward Bluemel
Years: 2018-2022
Number of episodes: 25
Where to watch: Netflix, AMC+, Sundance Now, Acorn TV
4. Charmed
Charmed” was a widely beloved TV show that aired on the WB network, which is now known as The CW. This series had a narrative centered around witches, with the main characters being the Halliwell sisters: Prue (played by Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano). One day, Phoebe stumbles upon the “Book of Shadows,” unaware that it would awaken their family’s magical abilities. However, this activation sets them on a path as the most powerful good witches in existence. Each sister has unique magical talents, but together they are known as the Charmed Ones and use their powers to combat evil. At the same time, they try to keep up with their everyday lives, making it a balance between magic and normality.
Charmed,” a popular show, spanned over eight seasons and managed to continue despite the departure of Prue, who was succeeded by Rose McGowan’s character Paige. It was a captivating series that left an indelible mark on television, influencing numerous future witch-themed shows. Even a 2018 reboot, which ran for four seasons, couldn’t help but be inspired by its charm.
Showrunner: Brad Kern
Cast: Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan, Shannen Doherty
Years: 1998-2006
Number of episodes: 179
Where to watch: Hulu, Peacock, The Roku Channel
3. WandaVision
The television series titled “WandaVision” was the pioneer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and even with the passage of time, it remains one of the finest productions. This captivating show follows Wanda Maximoff, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen, and her husband Vision, played by Paul Bettany, as they settle down in the quaint town of Westview, New Jersey following the occurrences in “Avengers: Endgame.” However, their tranquil existence is soon disrupted when they discover that Wanda has enclosed the entire town and compels its inhabitants to act out her idealized version of a fairy tale ending.
As a devoted viewer, I can’t help but marvel at how “WandaVision” masterfully weaves tributes to classic sitcoms into a profound narrative on grief and affection. The emotional punch it delivers is undeniable, with exceptional portrayals by its stellar cast, particularly Elizabeth Olsen, whose performance truly stands out.
Showrunner: Jaq Schaeffer
Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Kathryn Hahn
Year: 2021
Number of episodes: 9
Where to watch: Disney+
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Absolutely! “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is a series centered around Buffy (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), a vampire slayer who confronts not only vampires, but also other supernatural beings such as witches. Intriguingly, Buffy’s first encounter with a witch took place in the third episode of the show. However, the magical elements truly came to life when Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Buffy’s closest friend, discovered her magical abilities. Willow’s powers were so immense that many of Buffy’s crucial battles might have had drastically different outcomes without her magic.
Initially, Hannigan didn’t play Willow in the unreleased pilot episode, but she brilliantly portrayed every facet of the character, transitioning from unsure nerd to self-assured witch. Moreover, it’s worth noting that Willow wasn’t the sole witch on the series. Her partner, Tara (portrayed by Amber Benson), along with others, contributed significantly to the magical aspects and lore of the show, making “Buffy” an unexpectedly captivating exploration of witchcraft.
Showrunner: Joss Whedon, Marti Noxon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan
Years: 1997-2003
Number of episodes: 144
Where to watch: Hulu, Tubi
1. Penny Dreadful
Penny Dreadful – A Gripping Series Set in the 19th Century, Featuring Iconic British Fictional Characters like Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney), Mina Harker (Olivia Llewellyn), and Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway). This captivating tale introduces Vanessa Ives (Eva Green), a unique character, who serves as the main protagonist. Vanessa seems to possess extraordinary powers, hinting at her potential role as a powerful witch. However, she’s constantly under attack by dark forces, struggling to protect her soul.
Penny Dreadful” was abruptly ended, but throughout its three seasons, the character of Vanessa experienced a complete transformation. She struggles to maintain her path towards light despite being frequently overtaken by darkness, and the witches who surround her prove both formidable adversaries and, on one occasion, an ally. Eva Green delivers a stunning portrayal as Vanessa, navigating this delicate balance with passion and intensity.
Showrunner: John Logan
Cast: Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton, Reeve Carney
Years: 2014-2016
Number of episodes: 27
Where to watch: Paramount+
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2025-06-10 13:32