Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- campy
- eerie
- rebellious
- halloween night
- late night horror marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the appealing lead performances and feminist themes compelling, but felt campy supernatural effects and a heavy-handed moralistic second half weakened the film.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sarah and the other teenagers channel insecurity, attraction, scars, racism, and social exclusion through witchcraft.
The coven begins as a refuge for Sarah, Nancy, Bonnie, and Rochelle before their shared power intensifies personal conflict.
The witches cast spells against Chris, Laura, and other sources of cruelty after being marginalized at school.
The Catholic-school setting, witchcraft rituals, dramatic transformations, and campy magic create a distinctly 1990s gothic teen atmosphere.
Films like The Craft, and why
Ginger Snaps
teen supernatural horror, female friendship, outsider identity, and retaliatory occult power
Heathers
darkly comic teen rebellion, outsider girls, social cruelty, and revenge against school hierarchies
Practical Magic
young women discovering dangerous supernatural abilities amid friendship, jealousy, and moral consequences
Jennifer's Body
stylized occult horror centered on adolescent identity, forbidden power, and escalating supernatural consequences
Movie Details
- Director
- Andrew Fleming
- Release Date
- 1996-05-03
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (2133)
Cast
- Robin Tunney
- Fairuza Balk
- Neve Campbell
- Rachel True
- Skeet Ulrich
- Christine Taylor
- Breckin Meyer
- Nathaniel Marston
- Cliff DeYoung
- Assumpta Serna
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Sundance Now, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Craft about?
- Four marginalized Catholic-school teenagers discover witchcraft and turn adolescent grievances into a dangerous struggle over friendship, revenge, and control.
- What is The Craft like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Craft as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Craft violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Craft as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Craft?
- Critics broadly found the appealing lead performances and feminist themes compelling, but felt campy supernatural effects and a heavy-handed moralistic second half weakened the film.
- Which films are like The Craft?
- Films with a similar feel include Ginger Snaps, Heathers, Practical Magic, and Jennifer's Body.
- How long is The Craft?
- The Craft runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Craft?
- In United States, The Craft streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Sundance Now, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
