Teen Witch

Teen Witch is a 1989 American teen fantasy comedy film directed by Dorian Walker, written by Robin Menken and Vernon Zimmerman, and starring Robyn Lively and Zelda Rubinstein.

Not to be confused with the 1962 comic series Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Teen Witch
A teenage girl with textbooks, a gypsy-looking witch, and a male wearing black tank top.
Home video cover, also used for a theatrical release poster
Directed byDorian Walker
Written by
Produced by
  • Moshe Diamant
  • Rafael Eisenman
  • Alana H. Lambros
  • Bob Manning
  • Eduard Sarlai
Starring
CinematographyMarc Reshvosky
Edited byNatan Zahavi
Music by
Production
company
Distributed by
Release date
  • April 23, 1989 (1989-04-23)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.5 million
Box office$27,843

Originally pitched as a female version of Teen Wolf (1985), it was later reworked into a standalone spin-off film of its own; the film features numerous impromptu rap musical numbers and has since become a cult classic,[1][2] aided by midnight theater showings and regular cable television airings (including through annual showings as part of ABC Family/Freeform's 13 Nights of Halloween). The film is also popular for its music and 1980s fashion nostalgia.[1]

Plot

After a bike accident, the sweet-yet-nerdy 15-year-old Louise Miller knocks on the door of a strange-looking house, hoping to use the phone. Instead, she meets a unique but welcoming woman, the seer Madame Serena. Reading Louise's palm, Serena is stunned when she learns that Louise is a reincarnated witch and an old friend from one of her previous lives. Serena reveals that exactly one week later, on Louise's 16th birthday, her magical powers will return with the aid of a powerful amulet that was lost in a former life, an item that Madame Serena says searches for its owner.

Once Louise discovers that she has the power to alter the world around her, she attempts to make her dreams come true by casting a love spell to win over Brad, the hottest guy in school. With Madame Serena's help, Louise uses her newfound powers to become the most popular girl in school, while also getting back at her harassing English teacher, Mr. Weaver and the catty group of cheerleaders who never respected her. It is only after her popularity spell gets out of hand—which in turn causes her to abandon her equally unpopular, but loyal, best friend Polly—that Louise realizes she doesn't need magic. In the end, she relinquishes her powers by giving her amulet to Madame Serena, creating her own happy ending and winning over Brad by herself.

Cast

Box office and reception

The production budget for Teen Witch was $2,500,000. The film was released in the United States on April 23, 1989 and grossed $3,875 in its opening weekend at the box office, and only $27,843 in its entire run.[3] April 1989 box office competition included Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner and Pet Sematary written by Stephen King. Both films were released on April 21, 1989, two days before Teen Witch was released.

Teen Witch is a cult classic, having gained newer, younger audiences after regular re-airings on premium and basic cable networks such as HBO and Cinemax in the 1990s.[1][2][4][5] Jarett Wieselman of the New York Post stated, "There are good movies, there are bad movies, there are movies that are so bad they're good and then there is Teen Witch -- a cult classic that defies classification thanks to a curious combination of songs, spells and skin."[1] Joshua John Miller stated of his involvement with the film as character Richie, "If you look at Teen Witch, it was a very campy performance. But it's a really fun film and something I have grown to honor."[2] The hosts of the popular movie podcast How Did This Get Made? are avowed fans of the film, praising the strange musical numbers and Miller's performance as Richie in particular.[6]

There are parodies or homages of the film, especially of its rap song "Top That" (including an homage starring Alia Shawkat).[4][7] Drew Grant of Nerve.com stated, "If you've never seen the original rap scene from the 80s classic Teen Witch, you must immediately stop what you're doing and watch it right now. It's everything wonderful and terrible about that decade rolled into one misguided appropriation of... hip-hop."[7] Stephanie Marcus of The Huffington Post called "Top That" "the worst song of all time."[8]

On July 12, 2005, MGM released the film to DVD in its original widescreen theatrical version. In 2007, ABC Family (now Freeform) acquired the basic cable television rights to the film, and has since made it a regular offering of its annual 13 Nights of Halloween holiday block.[9]

Soundtrack
  1. "All Washed Up" - Larry Weir
  2. "Dream Lover" - Cathy Car
  3. "Finest Hour" - Cindy Valentine featuring Larry Weir
  4. "High School Blues" - The Puppy Boys
  5. "I Keep on Falling" - Blue Future
  6. "I Like Boys" - Elizabeth and The Weirz
  7. "Get Up and Move" - Cathy Car
  8. "Much too Much" - Cathy Car
  9. "Never Gonna Be the Same Again" (opening sequence) - Lori Ruso
  10. "Never Gonna Be the Same Again" (concert version) - Cindy Valentine
  11. "Popular Girl" - Theresa and The Weirz
  12. "Rap" - Philip McKean and Larry Weir
  13. "Shame" - The Weirz
  14. "Top That" - The Michael Terry Rappers
  15. "In Your Arms" - Richard Elliot

Music was recorded at Weir Brothers Studio.[10]

Accolades
Year Nominee / work Award Result
 Eleventh Annual Youth in Film Awards 1988-1989[11]
1989 Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture Young Artist Awards: Joshua John Miller Nominated
1989 Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture Young Artist Awards: Robyn Lively Nominated

Adaptations

The Weir brothers created Caption Records and collaborated with Teen Witch film producer Alana Lambros for the Teen Witch the Musical project.[5][12]

Financial backers of Teen Witch had neglected to provide funding for the original soundtrack release: After a decade and a half, the master audio tapes had become unavailable. The Weir brothers were interested in recreating the now-popular songs that Larry Weir had written; Alana Lambros brought her long-held view that Teen Witch the Musical was viable as a Broadway bound production to the project.[5]

In 2007, the audio CD for Teen Witch the Musical was released, a new generation of actors were cast for the stage-play, which was presented in workshop. This adaptation never found a larger venue.[13]

The cast of Teen Witch the Musical:[14]

  • Alycia Adler as Randa (Cheerleader)
  • Bryce Blue as Rhet
  • Blake McIver Ewing as Brad Powell
  • Ashley Crowe as Madame Serena
  • Monet Lerner as Darcy (Cheerleader)
  • Tessa Ludwick as Phoebe (Cheerleader)
  • Lauren Patten as Polly
  • Sara Niemietz as Louise Miller
  • Heather Youmans as Shana the Rock Star
  • V-Style as rapper

In April 2008, Variety reported that Ashley Tisdale signed with FremantleMedia North America and was in talks with United Artists to star in a remake of Teen Witch.[15]

References
  1. Wieselman, Jarett (February 7, 2011). "Happy Birthday to the Most Popular Girl". New York Post. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2013. And while everyone born after 1999 thinks of star Robyn Lively as Blake's older sister, those in the know are hep to the fact that Robyn is not only the Most Popular Girl, but also the best/worst dressed witch in the history of teen cinema.
  2. Stratford, Jennifer Juniper (April 2013). "Off Hollywood - Joshua John Miller". Vice. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  3. "Teen Witch". IMDb. April 28, 1989.
  4. Samson, E. J. (December 18, 2009). "Exclusive: Rachel Antonoff and Alia Shawkat's Teen Witch Video Remake". Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  5. Steph Beasly (June 15, 2006). "Austinist Interviews Teen Witch Songwriter Larry Weir". austinst - Gothamist LLC. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  6. "Episode 130: Teen Witch". Earwolf (Podcast). Earwolf. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  7. Grant, Drew (December 22, 2009). "Top That! Alia Shawkat Does Teen Witch Cover". Nerve.com. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  8. Marcus, Stephanie (January 24, 2013). "'Top That' 'Teen Witch' Rap: Where Are They Now (PHOTOS, VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  9. Dabney, Marisa (October 22, 2013). "Listing / Movies". Check Out the Full Schedule for 13 Nights of Halloween. ABC Family News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013. Teen Witch (12:00 - 2:00 AM ET/PT)
  10. "Weir Brothers Studio: Filmography". Teen Witch (1989). Yahoo.com. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  11. "Eleventh Annual Youth in Film Awards 1988-1989". The Young Artist Foundation. 1989. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  12. Harrison, Estelle (June 21, 2007). "Caption Anticipates Multimedia Lift". Teen Witch the Musical. Marketwire: Caption Records / Studio City Sound. "Teen Witch is a phenomenon from the '80s with a huge fan base. We've all been working hard on taking it on the road where it will hopefully reunite its fans, as well as appeal to the same audiences that enjoyed shows such as 'High School Musical' and 'Legally Blonde,'" says Tom Weir. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. "Teen Witch The Reading Finale" (Requires Flash Player). Charles Faris. June 4, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012. Actor's roles from video of acting workshop
  14. "Teen Witch the Musical". ©Caption Records / Studio City Sound. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  15. "Ashley Tisdale: From 'High School' to 'Teen Witch'". April 27, 2008.
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