Top 10 Scariest Movie Witches

What’s a grief-stricken father to do to seek revenge on the teens that accidentally killed his son? Head directly to the local witch to ask for her help in committing murder by summoning an ancient monster with the intention of directing its deadly wrath on the teenagers, of course. Skulking in the shadows and constantly silhouetted by creepy firelight, the witch is every bit as frightening as the demon they commission for the killing spree. With her thinning hair and crepe-paper skin, she’s far past the benefits of a good deep condition and facial treatment – but hey, looks aren’t everything, right?

Sometimes, it’s what you don’t see that’s scariest. That’s the case with this found-footage pioneer, which follows three film students as they traverse Maryland to document the legendary Blair Witch. What they learn is that several mysterious historical events in the area all trace their roots to a witch who was hanged in the 18th century, and apparently had some unfinished business in the town. A tale of hauntings, kidnappings, and ceremonial murders begins falling into place just as strange occurrences start befalling the young students. Whether she’s a real witch or simply the product of years of combined legends, we’ll never know for sure. But we’re scared either way.

This anachronistic, fable-based caper follows the story of Hansel and Gretel, who have grown up into professional witch hunters after their childhood trauma in the gingerbread house. They’ve been hired to thwart a plan by a local coven of witches that involves kidnapping children and blood sacrifices and moons and the like. Their efforts bring them face to face with the grand witch, Muriel. Muriel might be easy on the eyes but that sure changes quick when she morphs into witch-mode.

L. Frank Baum first penned the classic story of Dorothy and her dog, Toto, who’ve been transported to a magical realm after being caught up in a tornado. They’re trying to return home and have been tasked with retrieving a broomstick by the mysterious Wizard of Oz. Of course, that means they have to go toe-to-toe against a green-faced shrew who has a bone to pick with Dorothy after she killed her sister and made off with her magical slippers. Characterized by her pointy witch’s hat and even pointier facial features, this evil enchantress set the standard for all evil witches to come.

As they’re wont to do, a group of meddling teenagers decides that there’s no better way to test their mettle than to mess with the supernatural – with deadly results. The films follows the story of a group of teens who makes the ill-advised decision to throw rocks at an abandoned house to see if the legendary Open Hearth witch will show up and attempt to murder them all – which, of course, she does. Hearing a legend that a witch needs to eat kids for their youth and vitality should’ve been the first hint that there wouldn’t be twinkling wands and yellow brick roads in their future.

This Disney classic centers on the tale of Aurora, a young beauty who was has fallen into an eternal slumber, to be awoken by her true love’s kiss. Maleficent, spiteful over not receiving an invitation to Princess Aurora’s christening, decides that the appropriate reaction is to curse the child to die on her sixteenth birthday. Sure, not getting an invite to a party can sting, but murder doesn’t seem like an appropriate response – especially not when it’s aimed at a baby. Combine this level of pettiness with the fact that this evil witch can transform into a gruesome dragon, and you’ve got a terrifying force to be reckoned with. Just make sure to invite her to the next royal event.

Here Anjelica Huston plays Miss Ernst, a lipstick and eye shadow abusing witch who dislikes kids. Moreover, she’s not just any witch; she’s the Grand High Witch, and she doesn’t just dislike kids – she wants them to die. All of them. She and her cohorts have convened at a hotel to have a conference and figure out the details of their master plan to essentially end the future generation of humankind. The moment when the witches snatch off their own wigs and reveal their true selves is legendary, if for nothing else but its collective grossness.

Set in the 1970s, this film gets scary as it follows the story of a family that recently moved into a house that appears to be fraught with paranormal activity. As it turns out, they’re up against an ancient, evil witch named Bathsheba, who is none too happy about folks moving onto her property. The family is beset with violent, otherworldly harassment, and seeks the aid of paranormal investigators. Bathsheba is a formidable, mortifying, foe who won’t be deterred by some pesky exorcism.

After Sylvia Ganush is denied an extension on her mortgage, she curses her loan officer Christine Brown to a living nightmare, condemning her to hell for over-achieving at her job. In spite of her creepy eyeball and dead teeth, Ms. Ganush initially appears unassuming – that is, until she’s faced with the prospect of homelessness. That’s when her eyeball gets serious and she pulls out the big guns: demons. Sylvia may not be the best at managing her finances, but she’s a beast when it comes to sending people to burn in hell for all eternity.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Princess Asa Vajda
“Black Sunday” (1960)
- Lady Mary Van Tassel
“Sleepy Hollow” (1999)
- Anna / Baal
“Season of the Witch” (2011)
- Stygian Witches
“Clash of the Titans” (2010)

The life of a ballerina isn’t all Swan Lake and pointe shoes. As this ‘70s horror flick illustrates, sometimes it’s maggots for dinner and blood sacrifices before pilates. The first in a trilogy of witch-based films, “Suspiria” tells the story of an American ballerina who’s travelled to Germany to attend a prestigious ballet school. What she’s met with instead is a series of mysterious deaths that culminate in her coming face to face with the head witch behind it all: Helena. An ancient evil force with an ancient evil face to match, Helena needs to be eliminated or all of humanity stands to be wiped off the planet.

Do you agree with our list? Who is your favorite scary movie witch? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.