The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›The Craft
Entertainment • Film

The Craft

The Craft is a 1996 American teen supernatural horror film directed by Andrew Fleming.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Craft is a 1996 American teen supernatural horror film directed by Andrew Fleming. It follows four teenage girls at a Los Angeles Catholic high school who form a coven and use witchcraft, with increasingly dangerous consequences. The film stars Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True.

Premise

The story follows a teenage girl who transfers to a Catholic high school in Los Angeles and befriends three students who practice witchcraft. As the group’s powers grow, their personal conflicts and ambitions lead to harmful consequences.

Cast

The main cast includes Robin Tunney as Sarah, Fairuza Balk as Nancy, Neve Campbell as Bonnie, and Rachel True as Rochelle. Their performances helped define the film’s ensemble and its later cult reputation.

Production and release

The film was directed by Andrew Fleming from a screenplay by Peter Filardi and Fleming. It was produced by Columbia Pictures and released in the United States on May 3, 1996. The production budget was about US$15 million, and it grossed about US$55–56 million worldwide.

Reception and legacy

The film received mixed-to-positive reception and later developed a cult following. It became a commercial success relative to its budget and gained a strong cult following over time. It has also been discussed as an influential teen witch film and was followed by a sequel, The Craft: Legacy, in 2020.

Key facts

  • The film centers on four teenage girls at a Catholic school who form a coven and practice witchcraft.
  • The main cast includes Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True.
  • It was produced by Columbia Pictures and released on May 3, 1996.
  • The film grossed about US$55–56 million worldwide on a US$15 million budget.
  • It received mixed-to-positive reception and later developed a cult following.
🍁
Canadian context

The film has been widely available in Canada through home video, television, and streaming distribution, and it remains a notable title in Canadian English-language coverage of 1990s cult cinema.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Craft about?
It is about four teenage girls at a Los Angeles Catholic high school who form a coven and use witchcraft, with escalating personal and supernatural consequences.
Who directed The Craft?
Andrew Fleming directed the film.
Who stars in The Craft?
The main cast is Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True.
When was The Craft released?
It was released in the United States on May 3, 1996.
Did The Craft have a sequel?
Yes. The Craft: Legacy was released in 2020.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Craft_(film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, year, genre, cast, cult following, and sequel release.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115963/
    Supports: Plot synopsis, release date, country, language, director, and cast.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/craft
    Supports: Director, screenplay, runtime, rating, genre, release date, and synopsis.
  4. Moviefone — https://www.moviefone.com/news/the-craft-facts/
    Supports: Budget, worldwide box office, and later influence/legacy claims.