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Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Sabrina the Teenage Witch is an American television franchise based on the Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Sabrina the Teenage Witch is an American television franchise based on the Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman. The best-known version is the 1996–2003 live-action sitcom starring Melissa Joan Hart as a teenage witch balancing school, friendships, and magic. The franchise began with a 1996 television film and also includes animated and other television adaptations.

Premise

The story follows Sabrina Spellman, a teenage girl who discovers she is a witch and must learn to control her powers while living a normal adolescent life. Her aunts Hilda and Zelda help guide her, while her spells often cause trouble.

1996 television series

The best-known adaptation is the live-action sitcom that premiered in 1996 and ran for seven seasons. It starred Melissa Joan Hart, Caroline Rhea, Beth Broderick, and Nick Bakay.

Origins

Sabrina originated in Archie Comics and later became the basis for television adaptations. The 1996 franchise also began with a television film before the weekly series launched.

Reception and legacy

The series became a prominent late-1990s family sitcom and remains the most recognized screen version of the character. It helped establish Sabrina Spellman as a widely known figure in television and pop culture.

Key facts

  • The franchise is adapted from the Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman.
  • The 1996 live-action series stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina.
  • The series follows Sabrina after she learns on her 16th birthday that she is a witch.
  • Sabrina lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda Spellman and the talking cat Salem.
  • The television series originally aired on ABC from 1996 to 2003.
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Canadian context

The series aired widely in Canada and became part of the shared North American television landscape, making it familiar to Canadian viewers who watched family sitcoms in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sabrina the Teenage Witch?
It is a television franchise based on the Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman, best known for the 1996–2003 live-action sitcom.
Who played Sabrina in the 1996 series?
Melissa Joan Hart played Sabrina Spellman in the best-known live-action television series.
When did the TV series air?
The ABC sitcom aired from 1996 to 2003.
Where is the 1996 series set?
It is set in the fictional town of Westbridge, Massachusetts.
Who are Sabrina’s aunts?
Her aunts are Hilda Spellman and Zelda Spellman, both witches.
Who is Salem?
Salem is Sabrina’s talking cat and a recurring character in the television series.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabrina_the_Teenage_Witch
    Supports: Franchise overview and origin in Archie Comics; 1996 television film and subsequent series.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabrina_the_Teenage_Witch_(1996_TV_series)
    Supports: 1996–2003 ABC sitcom details, cast, setting, and premise.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115341/
    Supports: Series title, run dates, and basic plot description.