Believe it or not it’s been a month since the second season of Netflix’s Wednesday concluded and while a third season is in the works, fans are already missing the goth drama. Fortunately, it’s October and spooky season streaming is in full swing with various platforms offering a wide range of horror content for viewers to sink their teeth in. This is especially fortunate for Wednesday fans looking for something to fill that dark, Wednesday-shaped hole in their hearts because Paramount+ is streaming a definitive goth horror classic that’s sure to satisfy.
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As part of the streamer’s Peak Screaming collection for Halloween. Paramount+ has added a ton of scare-worthy content including 1996’s The Craft. The film is part of their new curated “Witches, Vampires, and Werewolves” carousel available to subscribers for the month of October. The film was a surprise it when it debuted and has not only earned praise over the years for its clever departure from the general teem movie genre, but also helped shape the modern witch archetype, leaving a huge influence on popular culture.
The Craft Completely Changed Portrayals of Witches in Pop Culture
With its story of four outcast teen girls and their pursuit of witchcraft — and the consequences of that pursuit — The Craft redefined how witches and witchcraft were presented in pop culture, including television, films, and more. Particularly influencing depictions that came shortly after the film’s release, The Craft’s themes of female empowerment and a more modern approach to witchcraft can be traced through major hit series of the late ‘90s including Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In the case of Charmed, the influence can be seen in the general concept of the powerful, female-driven coven of witches not to mention a very direct reference with the show’s theme song, a cover of The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?” that was featured in The Craft.
Even decades later, The Craft continues to influence witches in pop culture. Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina leaned deeper into horror and explored the intersection of witchcraft and feminism in ways that are similar to The Craft. Even American Horror Story benefitted from the trail blazed by The Craft with its third season, Coven, sharing the same focus on the darker elements of magic and female power. Perhaps most recently, fans could even catch a glimpse of the craft in the credits for Agatha All Along.
The Craft Continues To Influence, Both Via Streaming And A Sequel
Thanks to the availability of The Craft on streaming, the film continues to have influence as new audiences discover the film, but beyond that, The Craft has established its legacy by way of a sequel as well. Fittingly titled The Craft: Legacy, the direct follow up to The Craft arrived in 2020 and while it was met with mixed reviews and poor box office performance, the film also received praise for giving a new generation of fans their own story of magic, one that respects the original and offers a path for a whole new batch of weirdos. The Craft: Legacy isn’t available to stream on Paramount+, but it is on Peacock so fans wanting to see both The Craft and its successor will need both services.
The Craft is now streaming on Paramount+
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