The Craft

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1:49

The Craft

R

1996

1h 40m

Horror

Play Trailer

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

After transferring to a Los Angeles high school, Sarah (Robin Tunney) finds that her telekinetic gift appeals to a group of three wannabe witches, who happen to be seeking a fourth member for their rituals. Bonnie (Neve Campbell), Rochelle (Rachel True) and Nancy (Fairuza Balk), like Sarah herself, all have troubled backgrounds, which combined with their nascent powers lead to dangerous consequences. When a minor spell causes a fellow student to lose her hair, the girls grow power-mad.

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Critics Consensus

The Craft's campy magic often overrides the feminist message at its story's core, but its appealing cast and postmodern perspective still cast a sporadic spell.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

I really enjoy the characters. Every single one of them is very unique and the film does an excellent job at fleshing out each girl.

Rated: B-

Oct 23, 2020

Full Review

Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

What can you say about a movie that seems to have been conceived like a trailer and written in exclamation points and gets stolen by the cinematographer?

Rated: 1.5/4

Dec 6, 2018

Full Review

Wally Hammond

Time Out

... deliciously dangerous excursions into adolescent self-discovery.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 6, 2018

Full Review

Sean Collier

Box Office Prophets

The Craft ... has a legacy that outweighs both its limited success and few flaws.

Rated: 8/10

May 21, 2021

Full Review

Nick Levine

NME (New Musical Express)

Set to a banging alt-rock soundtrack, it follows four teenage outcasts who begin dabbling in the dark art of witchcraft, and soon find themselves out of their depth.

May 10, 2021

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Masquerades as a female empowerment film despite prioritizing the toxicity that can be rampant in groups of friends (female or otherwise).

Rated: 2.5/5

Dec 30, 2020

Full Review

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Sebastian D

A Dated Teen Witch Mess. The Craft is a dated teen horror that squanders its witchy premise with clichéd drama and shallow scares, turning potential empowerment into vapid fluff. Robin Tunney’s Sarah hints at vulnerability, but the coven—Fairuza Balk’s Nancy, Neve Campbell’s Bonnie, Rachel True’s Rochelle—comes off as interchangeable stereotypes, their arcs diluted by predictable revenge and romance tropes. The LA visuals and spells evoke 90s mood, but the third act devolves into campy excess with cheesy effects that undercut tension. What could have been a sharp take on teen angst and the occult becomes a formulaic slog, recycling tropes without the depth to elevate them. The 1996 YA wave deserved more; this cult fave charms nostalgically but fails to cast a lasting, meaningful spell.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/25

Full Review

Danny K.

One of my favorite movies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/06/25

Full Review

Ed R

An absolute classic and must watch every year!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/25

Full Review

Josh M.

Fun and original storyline. Great soundtrack. Pacing toward the end could’ve been picked up a bit, was never really sure when we were going to reach to conclusion. Overall good movie for spooky season enthusiasts who have a love for 90s nostalgia.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/23/25

Full Review

Jacob B

An enjoyable low fantasy/horror film, The Craft isn't perfect, particularly where the third act is concerned, and definitely feels like a product of its time but the memorable quartet of characters, iconic scenes, willingness to discuss themes such as double standards, even if the guy was a jerk and, with regards to Wicca and neopaganism, being surprisingly educational make it an entertaining, for lack of a better term, "goth chick flick".

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

Full Review

Russell H

This is too 90s to not like

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/06/25

Full Review

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Andrew Fleming

Director

Robin Tunney

Sarah Bailey

Fairuza Balk

Nancy Downs

Neve Campbell

Bonnie

Rachel True

Rochelle

Skeet Ulrich

Chris Hooker

The Craft: Official Clip - You're Going to Kill Yourself Tonight

3:21

The Craft: Official Clip - Blessed Be

2:54

The Craft: Official Clip - One Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars

2:40

The Craft: Official Clip - Nancy Walks on Water

2:02

The Craft: Official Clip - Snakes For Sarah

2:08

The Craft: Official Clip - As I Will It, So Shall It Be

1:40

The Craft: Official Clip - Light As a Feather, Stiff As a Board

2:11

The Craft: Official Clip - Relax, It's Only Magic

2:20

The Craft: Official Clip - He's Gotta Pay

2:59

The Craft: Official Clip - I Bind You, Nancy

2:44

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The Craft: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After transferring to a Los Angeles high school, Sarah (Robin Tunney) finds that her telekinetic gift appeals to a group of three wannabe witches, who happen to be seeking a fourth member for their rituals. Bonnie (Neve Campbell), Rochelle (Rachel True) and Nancy (Fairuza Balk), like Sarah herself, all have troubled backgrounds, which combined with their nascent powers lead to dangerous consequences. When a minor spell causes a fellow student to lose her hair, the girls grow power-mad.

Director: Andrew Fleming
Producer: Douglas Wick
Screenwriter: Peter Filardi, Andrew Fleming
Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 3, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.7M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Stereo, SDDS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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