What Is The Craft About?
The premise of The Craft in 278 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a sun‑drenched Los Angeles high school, a shy newcomer arrives hoping to start fresh after a turbulent past. Sarah Bailey carries the weight of recent loss and a restless yearning for belonging, and the unfamiliar corridors of her Catholic school quickly reveal a hidden current of whispered rumors and unseen energy. The atmosphere hums with a blend of teenage angst and a subtle, uncanny undercurrent, hinting that not everything in this suburban landscape is as ordinary as it seems.
At the heart of the mystery lies a tight‑knit circle of outcast girls who call themselves a coven. Bonnie exudes a fierce determination forged by pain, while Nancy masks a fragile home life with a quiet intensity, and Rochelle wrestles with the sting of social exclusion. Their bond is forged in shared outsider status, and together they introduce Sarah to a world where thoughts can shape reality and the line between imagination and power blurs. The tone oscillates between the electric thrill of discovering secret gifts and the looming anxiety of what such powers might demand, wrapping the story in a moody, atmospheric blend of teen drama and supernatural intrigue.
As the girls navigate the turbulence of adolescence—first loves, rivalries, and the search for identity—they begin to test the limits of their newfound abilities. The film captures the heady mix of exhilaration and uncertainty that comes with stepping into a realm where ordinary rules no longer apply, and where each whispered spell feels both a promise and a danger. In this charged setting, friendships deepen, ambitions rise, and the once‑ordinary hallways of the school become a stage for a quiet, compelling rebellion against the constraints of everyday life.
What Happens in The Craft?
The complete story of The Craft, from the first scene to the last, in 868 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 8 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Sarah Bailey, played by Robin Tunney, is a troubled teenager grappling with past turmoil, including a previous suicide attempt. Recently relocating from San Francisco to Los Angeles with her father, Cliff De Young, and her stepmother, she faces new challenges as she enrolls in an unfamiliar Catholic high school. Struggling to fit in, her journey takes a notable turn during French class, where her classmate Bonnie, portrayed by Neve Campbell, witnesses a bewildering display of Sarah’s emerging telekinetic abilities as she effortlessly rotates a pencil on its tip.
At lunchtime, Sarah draws the attention of Chris, the school’s star football player, played by Skeet Ulrich. Curious about Bonnie and her friends, Nancy, played by Fairuza Balk, and Rochelle, portrayed by Rachel True, Chris warns Sarah to steer clear of the trio, labeling them as “witches.” Intrigued by the group’s dynamics, Bonnie informs Nancy and Rochelle that Sarah is the missing piece they’ve sought to complete their coven. Each of the girls carries their own burdens: Nancy endures an unstable home life in a trailer with her mother, Grace Downs (Helen Shaver), who is plagued by an abusive stepfather Ray (John Kapelos); Bonnie navigates significant emotional scars resulting from a severe burn injury; and Rochelle faces a distressing experience with racism at the hands of Laura, the school’s popular blonde girl, played by Christine Taylor.
After a school day that leaves Sarah feeling isolated, she finds solace with Bonnie, Nancy, and Rochelle, who take her to an mystical shop. The shop owner, Lirio, played by Assumpta Serna, senses something unique in Sarah and suggests that her powers might be inherent. The chain of events escalates when the girls collectively will for an accident to befall an aggressive vagrant, resulting in a fatal collision that sparks an exhilarating and daunting awakening to their newfound abilities.
As the friendship deepens, Nancy introduces Sarah to the concept of invoking spirits, specifically a powerful entity named Manon, which becomes the coven’s ultimate aspiration. However, when Sarah rejects Chris’s advances, claiming her boundaries and refusing intimacy, he spreads rumors at school that leave her humiliated and heartbroken. In their effort to uplift her spirits, Nancy, Bonnie, and Rochelle invite Sarah on a field trip, during which they cast different spells, each expressing their wishes—Rochelle seeks strength against hatred, Sarah casts a love spell on Chris, Bonnie desires beauty, and Nancy pursues immense power.
The impact of their spells soon manifests: Chris develops an intense obsession with Sarah, Bonnie’s scars fade away, and when Laura torments Rochelle, she experiences a hair loss incident of her own. The dark turn of events continues as Nancy inadvertently brings tragedy to her home, causing her stepfather Ray to suffer a fatal heart attack. Shortly after, their luck appears to shift when they learn they’ve inherited a significant sum from an insurance policy. Thus, Nancy and her mother relocate to a lavish apartment, and unbeknownst to them, their fortunes come with a price, as they suppose a rift in their friendships may be brewing.
The girls’ excursions into the supernatural lead them to the ocean, where they make contact with Manon. However, during their most intense invocation, Nancy is struck by lightning, which elevates her powers to unprecedented levels. As her powers grow, the dynamics of friendship begin to dissolve, with tensions rising between the girls, particularly when Rochelle expresses guilt over the spell that affected Laura. As an evening unfolds, Sarah finds herself facing the bitter consequences of her love spell gone awry, culminating in a harrowing encounter with Chris that nearly culminates in assault.
The spiral into darkness intensifies when Nancy seeks vengeance, resulting in Chris’s tragic demise. Sarah’s coping mechanism leads her down a nightmarish path, haunted by alarming visions of her once-close friends turned enemies. In desperation, she seeks Lirio’s guidance once again, unearthing secrets about her own lineage—with her mother being a substantial witch herself. Empowered by this revelation, Sarah attempts to invoke Manon, but finds herself stifled by fear of the destruction she foresees, leading to a terrifying separation from her former allies.
As Sarah is pushed to her limits by the taunts and threats of Bonnie and Rochelle, she learns of a deceptive trick that threatens to undo her, prompting a dangerous battle for survival. Faced with psychological manipulations, escalating horrors, and life-threatening stakes, Sarah finds herself tapping into her ancestral power, provoking a showdown with Nancy. In the climactic confrontation, Sarah successfully binds Nancy’s powers, ensuring she can no longer wreak havoc upon the world.
Ultimately, the remaining girls, stripped of their abilities, confront Sarah, seeking her forgiveness, taunting her in parting. As her father prepares to leave Los Angeles, Sarah reveals a potent reminder of her unyielding strength through a display of lightning that nearly crushes her former friends. With a warning to reflect on their actions and a smile hinting at her latent powers, Sarah embraces her destiny, while we catch a glimpse of Nancy’s fate in the confines of a psychiatric hospital, where she cries out, “He gave me powers! I can fly, I’m flying, I’m flying, I’m flying!” This journey through friendship, betrayal, and the supernatural marks a potent exploration of young female empowerment amidst harrowing trials.
The Craft Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Sarah Moves to Los Angeles” to “Nancy's Deterioration”. 10 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 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.
Where: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.
Where: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.
Where: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.
Where: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.
Where: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.
Where: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.
Where: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.
Show the other 5 events of The Craft Hide the last 5 events
- 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.
Where: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.
Where: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.
Where:Psychiatric Hospital
Who Are the Main Characters in The Craft?
5 characters, among them Sarah Bailey, Nancy Downs and Bonnie: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Sarah Bailey
Played by Robin Tunney
Sarah is a troubled teenager struggling with her past, which includes a suicide attempt. As she discovers her telekinetic abilities, she finds both empowerment and conflict within her newfound friendships. Her journey is one of self-acceptance and resilience, culminating in her embracing her true powers.
- 👩🎓 Protagonist
- 🌪️ Powerful
-
Nancy Downs
Played by Fairuza Balk
Nancy embodies the darker side of power and ambition. Coming from a troubled home, her thirst for control leads her to become increasingly volatile, transforming her from a friend to an antagonist. Her character arc highlights the consequences of unchecked ambition and a loss of morality.
- 🌑 Antagonist
- 🔥 Ambitious
-
Bonnie
Played by Neve Campbell
Bonnie, marked by her scar from a traumatic injury, represents vulnerability and the quest for acceptance. Through her bond with Sarah and the coven, she seeks healing and transformation, but grapples with the repercussions of her choices as their powers spiral out of control.
- 💔 Vulnerable
- ✨ Aspirant
- R
Rochelle
Played by Rachel True
Rochelle faces the harsh realities of racism, and her character embodies the struggle for strength and justice amidst adversity. As part of the coven, she seeks empowerment through witchcraft, but must confront the moral implications of her newfound abilities.
- ⚖️ Justice
- 🖤 Resilient
-
Chris
Played by Skeet Ulrich
Chris is portrayed as the archetypal high school heartthrob whose fleeting affection for Sarah leads to conflict and turmoil. His initial charm conceals a darker side, revealing how societal perceptions can complicate personal relationships.
- 🏈 Popular
- 💔 Temptor
Where and When Is The Craft Set?
The Craft is set in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Here is why the place matters to the story.
When
The events in 'The Craft' reflect contemporary teenage struggles at the cusp of the late 1990s. This period is marked by a growing interest in new-age spirituality and exploration of identity, especially among youth, setting the tone for the characters' journey into witchcraft and empowerment.
Where
San Francisco, Los Angeles
The movie shifts between San Francisco, known for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and vibrant culture, and Los Angeles, a city famed for its entertainment industry and diverse neighborhoods. The transition from one city to another marks a significant change in Sarah's life as she struggles to adapt to her new environment, especially in her Catholic high school.
- 🏙️ City
- 🏫 School
What Are the Themes of The Craft?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Empowerment, Witchcraft and Betrayal.
-
01
Empowerment
The theme of empowerment runs strongly throughout the film, particularly focusing on young women discovering their intrinsic strengths. The coven's journey illustrates how friendship can both uplift and unravel them, showcasing the double-edged nature of power in their lives as they navigate personal demons and societal challenges.
-
02
Witchcraft
Witchcraft here serves as a metaphor for self-discovery and the exploration of one's capabilities. As the girls delve deeper into their powers, they confront their pasts and each other's vulnerabilities, revealing how the quest for power can lead to both liberation and destruction.
-
03
Betrayal
Betrayal emerges as a crucial theme when the bonds of friendship fracture under the weight of ambition and desire. Sarah's rejection of Chris and her ultimate confrontation with Nancy underscore the emotional turmoil that arises when personal ambitions clash within relationships.
What Kind of Film Is The Craft?
Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A tense and foreboding supernatural thriller following a coven of teenage witches as their quest for power and revenge escalates into a dangerous and destructive battle for supremacy.
- malevolent
- anxious
- unsettling
- rebellious
- vengeful
- cathartic
- witchcraft
- teenage rebellion
- friendship
- revenge
Content notes: suicide attempt, bullying, racism, domestic abuse, sexual assault attempt, fatal accidents.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Craft? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch The Craft
Stream it on HBO Max and Plex Channel, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
HBO Max 
HBO Max Amazon Channel 
Plex Channel 
Sundance Now 
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
