Teen Witch

PG-13

Released Mar 15, 1990

1h 45m

Fantasy

List

43%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

High-school nerd Louise Miller (Robyn Lively) learns from psychic Madame Serena (Zelda Rubinstein) that she's possessed with magical abilities that will begin working on her 16th birthday. When the prophecy proves true, the teenager uses her new powers to get what she's always desired: popularity. After getting back at some bullies, the young witch casts a spell over hunky jock Brad Powell (Dan Gauthier). But Louise soon learns that getting what you want isn't all it's cracked up to be.

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Critics Consensus

While drenched in upbeat messages and heart, the wonders of high school, love, and magic often don't meld well enough for this inoffensive Teen Witch.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Whatever points Teen Witch gets for its upbeat message has to be penalized by the plebeian way it is handled on several fronts.

Feb 16, 2024

Full Review

Chris Willman

Los Angeles Times

Zelda also has the movie's worst line: "The real magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen!" Guess the makers of Teen Witch just didn't believe in themselves enough.

Feb 16, 2024

Full Review

Ada Calhoun

Austin Chronicle

Teen Witch is an all-around delicious flick, both despite and because of the afterschool special quality of its message.

Feb 16, 2024

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Roger Hurlburt

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Dull, talky and jam-packed with terrible performances, who knows which witch is which in the whammyless Teen Witch.

Rated: 1/4

Feb 16, 2024

Full Review

Joe Baltake

Sacramento Bee

All in all, Teen Witch is harmless fun. I can think of worse ways to spend two hours at the movies -- a lot of them.

Rated: 2/4

Feb 16, 2024

Full Review

Janice Drickey

L.A. Weekly

The message of the well-constructed but unsurprising script by Robin Menken and Vernon Zimmerman is practically lit in neon, and fails to adequately address the cruelty of the "haves" vs, "have-nots" caste system.

Feb 16, 2024

Full Review

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Audience Member

It got mixed reactions from critics when it came out and I saw parts of this on tv growing up Robyn Lively plays a young girl reaching her 16th birthday, she feels so left out at home and at high school Then she gets an unexpected surprise when she visits an elderly witch telling her she is one at well passing down from generation to generation Now this girl has the magic to make anything happen to her desire from getting back at her mean teacher to helping her best friend find confidence to even getting the football player she has a crush on But she starts to learn that maybe all the magic in the world can’t give her everything so she has to learn to trust in herself to make life happen Some say the film virtually has no plot and they barely resolve anything by the end It's full of unmemorable musical numbers, product plugs, bad montages, and a predictable outcome It inoffensive at best Yet it's gained a cult status over time and it has a bouncy score Did much better on home video and overseas even airing on Freeform yearly during the Halloween season Plus there have been many homages as well as parodies There is a lot of charm though from Robyn Lively even the late Zelda Rubinstein It's total 1980s it almost hurts hehe it’s just you’ll forget it very quickly

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/23/24

Full Review

Dave L

Sweet. Endearing. Funny. 100% zany 80's style. Turn your brain off, enjoy a few dance numbers and misfits, just chill. Remember: you have the power to make anything happen.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/16/23

Full Review

Vincent J

the amount of sexual tension in this movie could be heightened.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The greatest fantasy about witches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Totally 80s and totally awesome!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film really had me glued to the screen. Hilarious script for these kids and the 80s feel is great. Gotta love these late 80s early 90s supernatural teen flicks. The songs are fun and charming. Confusing ending though.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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Dorian Walker

Director

Robyn Lively

Louise Miller

Dan Gauthier

Brad Powell

Joshua John Miller

Richie Miller

Caren Kaye

Margaret Miller

Dick Sargent

Frank Miller

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Teen Witch: Official Clip - Sex Education

1:15

Teen Witch: Official Clip - Louise's Palm Reading

2:05

Teen Witch: Official Clip - Richie the Dog

1:43

Teen Witch: Official Clip - Manhood!

2:08

Teen Witch: Official Clip - The Anti-Friendship Spell

1:15

Teen Witch: Official Clip - Mr. Miller Teaches "Romance"

2:16

Teen Witch: Official Clip - Disappearing David

1:10

Teen Witch: Official Clip - Top That!

2:26

Teen Witch: Official Clip - The Most Popular Girl

2:03

Teen Witch: Official Clip - A Little Voodoo

1:23

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Synopsis

High-school nerd Louise Miller (Robyn Lively) learns from psychic Madame Serena (Zelda Rubinstein) that she's possessed with magical abilities that will begin working on her 16th birthday. When the prophecy proves true, the teenager uses her new powers to get what she's always desired: popularity. After getting back at some bullies, the young witch casts a spell over hunky jock Brad Powell (Dan Gauthier). But Louise soon learns that getting what you want isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Director: Dorian Walker
Producer: Alana H. Lambros, Rafael Eisenman
Screenwriter: Robin Menken, Vernon Zimmerman
Production Co: Trans World Entertainment (TWE)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2017
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround

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