Witches are some of the most iconic figures in fiction, especially in fantasy. The villainous image of an old hag casting spells on unsuspecting heroes has endured through multiple types of media over centuries. Nowadays, they're particularly prominent on film, and they've terrified viewers since cinema's inception.
Some go beyond the simple fear factor, demonstrating abilities which lowly mortals and even other witches only dream of. These evil sorceresses trample all over the forces of nature, manipulating the powers that be to awe-inspiring effect. Even the mightiest warriors are mere playthings to these supernatural mistresses.
8 The Fairy Godmother — Shrek 2
The Shrek flicks love to subvert traditional fairy tale tropes. What better way than to make the Fairy Godmother a power-hungry diva? Her power lies in the surface level, however. This floating prima dona can transform anyone into anything. This is often instant, with the help of her wand. With just a flick of the wrist, she brings furniture and other objects to life as her personal muscle. She's also synthesized her transformative gifts into potions. Thousands of vials lie ready and waiting in her lair.
All of this obviously comes in handy for combat, but she prefers to peddle her goods to the gullible masses. This speaks to the shallow nature of the world. People here judge by appearances, so no wonder the Fairy Godmother has a monopoly on "Happily Ever After."
7 Ursula — The Little Mermaid
Given the water pressure, one has to be strong to live at the bottom of the ocean. The true strength of the Little Mermaid's nemesis lies in her wealth of concoctions. Her alchemical knowledge gives her the same transformative gifts as the Fairy Godmother. Her creations even stand up to the King of the Sea. The binding magical contract she draws up is unbreakable, sturdy enough to withstand the royal trident.
Swiping said trident only multiplies Ursula's formidability tenfold. Not only can she zap enemies into submission, but she can grow to Godzilla size and control the Seven Seas themselves. It makes one wonder why King Triton never tried this. Perhaps Ursula only could because she combined her own power with the trident.
6 The Grand High Witch — The Witches
Obvious by the title, The Witches has no shortage of witches, but this aristocratic antagonist commands them all. This alone speaks to her authority and mastery over her craft. Sometimes, though, the subordinates need a little demonstration. She thus incinerates them as easily as snapping her fingers. One wonders how catastrophic her full power is.
The Grand High Witch's penchant for violence has also led to a cruel inventiveness. She shows this off by building a machine to turn the world's children into mice. Crossing magic with science is uncharted territory, and unique among most witches in pop culture. Maybe that creativity is why the Grand High Witch is the top dog in this adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's book.
5 Bellatrix Lestrange — The Harry Potter Series
The Harry Potter series frames Voldemort as the big bad, but his most loyal follower easily rivals him in evil. Bellatrix's fierce devotion to her master's twisted ideals and her years in a hellish prison have made her utterly unhinged. She takes pleasure in the suffering of others, and she has the knowledge required to inflict that pain.
Lestrange slings spells with wild abandon. She doesn't care whom she hits or how fatal the injury. Friend or foe, no one should be in the vicinity when she goes nuts. Those who are often meet untimely ends. Magic is might.
4 Ravenna — Snow White And The Huntsman
There have been many versions of Snow White, and audiences have thus seen many renditions of the Evil Queen . That said, none are deadlier than the demonic despot from Snow White and the Huntsman. She comes with all the tools one would expect, such as far-reaching sight thanks to a magic mirror and a bushel of poisoned apples.
This version, however, also sports a plethora of new moves. Among the more helpful is her ability to such the life out of people, restoring her youth and ensuring she stays the most beautiful in the land. She can't even be scarred, as she's impervious to traditional weapons. This lets her withstand entire armies, but she can also decimate her attackers with bizarre abilities aplenty. She can summon a barrage of blades, Venom-esque tendrils, and seemingly anything else the writers think of. The viewer never knows what this witch will pull out of her hat (or crown).
3 The Wicked Witch Of The West — The Wizard Of Oz
The menace of The Wizard of Oz practically defined the "evil witch" archetype as it stands in film today. Even years later, she still maintains a firm grip on that title. The broom gives her an aerial advantage, and she has sleeping spells and other tricks to rain down misery on Dorothy and her little friends from afar.
If that's not enough, this cackling villainess boasts strength in numbers. Legions of flying monkey soldiers are enslaved to her will. Their penchant for striking swiftly and retreating safely enables her to terrorize the land of Oz. If the Good Witch didn't keep her in check, she would have long since taken over.
2 Jadis The White Witch — The Chronicles Of Narnia
Jadis is the terror of Narnia, crushing any opposition with sheer military might. Not only does she have an army of mythical monsters at her beck and call, but she isn't afraid to get her own hands dirty. The White Witch proves better at physical fighting than other movie sorceresses, felling many seasoned soldiers on the battlefield in both the film adaptation and C.S. Lewis' original books.
Her magic complements this melee prowess, as her staff can instantly freeze anyone it comes in contact with. Using these resources, she brings a hundred years of winter to the unsuspecting land. Even after death, her spirit is strong enough to endure, constantly trying to claw its way back by influencing the weak-willed in subsequent tales. Now, that's dedication.
1 Maleficent
Here's another fairy tale witch, but this one takes the cake. The antagonist of Sleeping Beauty is an overwhelming force of malevolence, hence her name. She, of course, comes with the requisite army of metal monstrosities, but this is only the beginning. Her penchant for curses can inflict untold amounts of misery on those unfortunate enough to anger her.
More dangerous are Maleficent's fiery abilities. Within seconds, she can engulf an entire room in green flame. This is but a precursor to her mightiest weapon: shapeshifting. The witch can transform into an enormous, fire-breathing dragon, and she uses it to wreak death and destruction on a cataclysmic scale. Maleficent is the self-professed "Mistress of All Evil," and she truly has the tools to back that up.