Why the 90s Movie ‘The Craft’ Still Resonates with Millennial Women
For young women, uniqueness, independence and presenting a certain difference to the norm were qualities often frowned upon – right from the dawn of mankind through to the decadent, sometimes very sexist 1980s. But in the 1990s, a myriad versions of the female and the feminine began taking shape, reflected both on television and in film. ‘The Craft’ was one film that both reflected and inspired the way women could reclaim their power – not just in image, and not just through magic.
Story by Siân Alison
“We are the weirdos, Mister.”
This film quote captures the teenage experience perfectly, especially in the 1990s. For millions of millennial women, The Craft isn’t just a 90s cult movie, it’s a time capsule to that specific decade. It was a story about friendship, belonging and discovering that being different didn’t have to be a weakness; indeed, it ought to be seen as a strength. Nearly thirty years later, the themes of The Craft still resonate, proving that the film’s real magic was never witchcraft at all, but its understanding of what it meant to grow up feeling like an outsider.
Released in 1996, The Craft followed four teenage girls brought together by loneliness, rejection and a fascination with witchcraft. On the surface, it was a stylish supernatural thriller but beneath the spells, magic and black lace, was a surprisingly honest exploration of identity and the desire to belong.
Those themes in the 1990s felt painfully familiar to most teenagers, it’s a reminder of school corridors, misunderstood friendships, teenage insecurities and the comforting idea that maybe the outcasts could have a little power, too. Long before social media gave every niche community a place to gather, finding people who accepted you wasn’t always easy. The Craft explored something many teenagers desperately wanted which was finding people and friends who understood you. Sarah, Nancy, Bonnie and Rochelle weren’t the popular girls, they were the girls who existed on the outside looking in, and as an adult it’s easy to understand why the film became so popular. Millennials who grew up in the ’90s will probably remember what that felt like;in the 1990s you weren’t expected to be unique or different, you were supposed to fit in and blend.
The girls in the movie found strength in each other, embraced and encouraged one another’s talents. This is just one of the reasons the film still resonates today. Unlike many teen films of the era, The Craft didn’t shy away from difficult subjects. Bullying, racism, body image, abuse and self-harm weren’t just plot stories to create drama; they shaped the characters and the choices they made. Watching the film today, those themes remain strikingly relevant and still shocking.
The film also celebrated individuality long before it became fashionable, and certainly a different style to the Barbie-pink aesthetic of eras that preceded it. Black lipstick, kohl eyeliner, silver jewellery and gothic fashion weren’t presented as something to apologise for, they were part of the characters’ identity. Decades before social media embraced alternative aesthetics, The Craft suggested there was strength in refusing to conform.
Perhaps the film’s greatest strength, however, lies in its portrayal of female friendship. One of the reasons the film has aged so well is that it never presents female friendship as simple but, more truthfully, complicated. The characters support and protect each other, but they also become jealous, competitive and destructive. Looking back as adults, it’s that complexity that feels so believable. The Craft understood that friendship can be both a source of strength and a source of pain.
As teenagers, many viewers were captivated by the magic but watching it now, it’s the emotional message that stands out. Each girl turns to witchcraft hoping it will solve the problems that dominate adolescence, popularity, beauty, revenge, acceptance and love. Instead, the film reminds us that shortcuts rarely bring happiness and that power without self-awareness can quickly become destructive. That said, witchcraft with real intent can do wonders in achieving what one truly wants. Sometimes with a catch.
Nancy’s story is perhaps the clearest example. Played by Fairuza Balk, her character’s power very quickly gives her confidence and control, but it also isolates her. She becomes consumed by the very thing she believed would save her.
It’s a surprisingly mature message for what many people remember simply as a supernatural teen film. There is a great lesson we learned as teenagers and that was realising that power isn’t always freedom, and using shortcuts to solve problems can come with consequences.
The film also asks a timeless question… What happens when power becomes more important than happiness?
It’s a question that still feels remarkably relevant today. Part of The Craft‘s lasting appeal also comes from its timing. It belongs to a world before smartphones, social media and influencers shaping teenage life (albeit often negatively). Watching the film today feels like opening an old photo album. The fashion, the music and the teenage bedrooms instantly transport millennials back to an era when friendships were built face-to-face and Friday nights often meant a trip to the video rental shop rather than scrolling through endless streaming options.
That’s a reason why the film continues to attract new audiences while remaining so deeply nostalgic for those who grew up with it. Its visual style still feels iconic, but it’s the themes beneath the surface that have given it such remarkable staying power. Identity, belonging, friendship and self-acceptance aren’t ideas that belong solely to the 1990s or only to teenage girls; they’re experiences that every generation understands.
Today, The Craft remains far more than a cult classic. It reminds us that growing up isn’t about becoming someone else to fit in; it’s about finding the people who make you realise you never had to. It’s nice to revisit a film that reminded an entire generation of outsiders that being different wasn’t something to fear.
That’s the real magic of The Craft, and it’s why millennials continue to return to it decades later.
You can stream ‘The Craft’ free on SBS On Demand or Tubi, and the film is also available to view on Paramount+ and Netflix.
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