The Craft

The Craft

Year: 1996

Runtime: 101 min

Language: English

Director: Andrew Fleming

DramaThrillerFantasyHorror

A newcomer finds acceptance and power when she joins a group of teenage witches. They use their newfound abilities to seek retribution against those who have wronged them. As their magic grows stronger, the witches’ actions lead to increasingly dangerous consequences, blurring the lines between friendship and destruction in a thrilling exploration of power, revenge, and adolescent rebellion.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Craft yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – The Craft (1996)

Trace every key event in The Craft (1996) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Sarah Moves to Los Angeles

Sarah Bailey relocates from San Francisco to Los Angeles with her father and stepmother. She is a troubled teenager who has previously attempted suicide, seeking a fresh start in a new environment.

Los Angeles
2

Struggles at Catholic High School

Upon enrolling in a local Catholic high school, Sarah finds it difficult to fit in with her new peers. During French class, she unintentionally exhibits telekinesis, causing a pencil to spin, drawing the attention of her classmate Bonnie.

Catholic High School
3

Meeting Bonnie and the Covens

Bonnie introduces Sarah to her friends Nancy and Rochelle, hinting that Sarah is the missing piece to complete their witch coven. Each girl has her own personal struggles, which sets the stage for their bond as they navigate life together.

4

First Spellcast

The quartet visits an occult shop where the owner Lirio suggests that Sarah may have innate witch powers. When they leave the shop, they accidentally will for a vagrant to be harmed, only for him to be subsequently hit by a car, igniting Nancy's excitement about their connection to magic.

Occult Shop
5

Field Trip and Spell Casting

On a school field trip to the countryside, the girls cast their first spells. Each invokes different desires, with Sarah hoping for Chris's affection, Nancy seeking power, and Bonnie and Rochelle wishing for beauty and strength, respectively.

Countryside
6

Magic Takes Effect

After their spell casting, signs of magic manifest: Chris becomes infatuated with Sarah, Bonnie's scars heal, and Laura, who bullies Rochelle, faces consequences as her hair starts falling out. The girls delight in their newfound powers.

7

Nancy's Transformation

After a powerful incident where she causes disastrous events at home, Nancy discovers she has inherited her mother's wealth through an insurance policy. The girls begin to explore disguise-changing magic, growing more confident in their abilities.

Nancy's Home
8

Nancy’s Power Surge

The girls gather at the beach to invoke the spirit Manon, during which Nancy shockingly gets struck by lightning, leading to a significant escalation in her powers. She later demonstrates her newfound ability to walk on water.

Beach
9

Sarah’s Love Spell Backfires

Sarah’s attempt to deepen her relationship with Chris leads to a traumatic encounter where he attempts to assault her. Following her distress, Nancy seeks revenge by disguising herself as Sarah at a party which results in Chris's tragic fall.

Chris's Party
10

Descent into Madness

Following Chris's death, Sarah is haunted by nightmarish visions of her former friends. Feeling threatened and betrayed, she tries to bind Nancy's powers, but this only drives Nancy and the other girls further away, intensifying the conflict.

11

Confrontation with the Coven

As Nancy and her friends launch psychological torment against Sarah, she learns from Lirio about her mother’s witch heritage and attempts to summon Manon. However, her fear holds her back from embracing her true powers.

Lirio's Shop
12

Sarah's Climax

During a dangerous showdown, Sarah finally invokes Manon, healing herself and transforming her bindings into an offensive counter against Nancy's power. They confront each other, resulting in a fierce final battle between them.

13

Aftermath of the Battle

With Nancy defeated and confined to a psychiatric hospital, Sarah is left dealing with the emotional aftermath. Although Bonnie and Rochelle lose their powers, they approach Sarah, but she rejects their attempts at reconciliation.

Psychiatric Hospital
14

Final Display of Power

As Sarah prepares to leave Los Angeles with her father, she unknowingly demonstrates her lingering abilities by conjuring a lightning strike as a warning to Bonnie and Rochelle. This leaves her former friends in shock as she subtly asserts her independence.

15

Nancy's Deterioration

The film concludes with a glimpse into Nancy’s state in the psychiatric hospital, where she is shown screaming about her powers, illustrating the consequences of their dark journey. Her obsession with power has led her to madness, distanced from reality.

Psychiatric Hospital

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 19:25

Unlock the Full Story of The Craft

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Craft in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Craft is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Craft Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Craft, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Craft Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Craft

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Craft. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Craft

More About The Craft

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Craft: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Craft

Similar Movies to The Craft

Discover movies like The Craft that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.