10 Movie & TV Wizards That Fulfill Every Fantasy Trope & Cliché

From D&D and Warcraft to Skyrim, wizards and all their eccentricities have held a distinct sway over the fantasy genre since Merlin the Magician helped Arthur discover his place as the Once and Future King. Their wise and wily ways have charmed and bewitched viewers, gamers, and readers for centuries, but there comes a time where tropes get a bit predictable.

Apart from powerful arcane prowess, a good wizard typically needs a robe, a wand/staff, wild facial hair, and some form of elaborate headgear to truly fit the role. But just because these tropes are a bit overplayed doesn’t mean they are enjoyed any less. Many will come to know that it’s just part of the whole magical occupation.

10 Profion (Dungeons And Dragons)

While Profion doesn’t check all the boxes for being a standard-issue sorcerer, he does have an over-the-top persona worthy of any dark wizard. Truthfully, it’s Jeremy Irons’s wild-eyed portrayal that completes the character, but he does fall into a few familiar territories as a character.

He’s a mighty magic-user with long flowing robes, mystical weaponry, and an obsession with obtaining more and more mystical power by controlling all dragons with a mystical rod. What he lacks in facial hair he more than makes up for in presence, power, and personality.

9 Jafar (Aladdin)

In many circles of the Disney fandom, Jafar is often cited as the male Maleficent or the successor to her title as one of Disney’s biggest baddies. Even before his transition into an evil sorcerer, the wicked vizier already has some malicious magic about him with that hypnotic staff and slick voice of his.

It’s only after the Genie grants his wish that Jafar truly reaches his wizardly potential, complete with a more elaborate costume and an upgrade to his staff. Becoming only slightly less powerful than the Genie himself, he packs a pretty mean magical punch compared to others in his field.

8 Lo Pan (Big Trouble In Little China)

John Carpenter might be known for his sci-fi and horror projects, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t spread his wings into more fantastical material. Case in point, Big Trouble in Little China, with the over-the-top Lo Pan. Lo Pan is a deliciously evil and ancient wizard whose soul swims in dark magic, and he relishes every minute of it.

Like Profion, Lo Pan’s biggest strength is his personality provided by a brilliant performance from James Hong. From the tip of his elaborate headdress to the points of his claw-like nails, Lo Pan is one sinister sorcerer who casts his ancient curses with a gruesome grin and a fiendish cackle to follow. All wizards need to love their work, after all.

7 Stregobor (The Witcher)

Although Stregobor has found new life in the Netflix series, the book says it best: “But Stregobor always looked as, according to every rule and notion, how a wizard should look.” From his long beard to his staff and robes, there’s no mistaking that Geralt’s mage contact for anything other than a classic conjurer.

He might not be as wicked as Jafar of Lo Pan, but his motives are almost always entirely his own, and not always the “lesser evil.”  He demonstrates a phenomenal magical prowess, able to conjure practically his own pocket dimension to hide from pursuers. While the show depicts him a touch less stereotypical, he still maintains the presence and power that clung to him in the first novel.

6 Merlin (Excalibur)

Excalibur was a take on the Arthurian legends that can only be described as Dungeons and Dragons meets Heavy Metal. Of course, no take on the tale of King Arthur would ever be complete without Merlin the Magician. However, this Merlin is a touch more dark and mysterious than his normally eccentric interpretations.

This Merlin has a slightly darker edge to him, but still fills most of the wizardly boxes that make the character who he is. He has long flowing robes, a dragon-topped staff capable of calling on magical forces, and a strange but distinct chrome-domed skullcap beneath his black hood. This isn’t the typical wise old wizard, but one fantasy fans can easily cheer on.

5 Doctor Strange (Doctor Strange)

When one’s title is “Master of the Mystic Arts” and “Sorcerer Supreme,” the need for certain stereotypes is understandably excused. Even before the introduction of the MCU, Doctor Stephen Strange was already stepping into wild and wizardly territory from the first time he stepped onto a comic panel.

He’s a highly educated individual who goes from being a man of medicine to one of magic after a tragic accident, but that doesn’t mean he’s immune from certain tropes. Bright colored robes, funky facial hair, and a long flowing cape are all par for the course, as he wields the power of the Vishanti to protect the multiverse.

4 Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

A relatively new figure in the realms of fictional wizards, Albus Dumbledore encompasses all the qualities the finest of the mystic arts can offer. Along with being a notoriously powerful wizard, he has all the charm, wit, and wonderful words of wisdom in some of his best quotes that come with the territory. With a delightful personality to match his superior sorcerer strengths, it’s easy to see why he became such a beloved character.

Dumbledore has proven time and time again that he’s easily one of the most powerful sorcerers in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. Able to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Voldemort and Grindelwald without losing his cool, it’s no wonder he continues to be a stellar example of magical might.

3 Merlin (The Sword In The Stone)

Chances are that if any casual viewer is familiar with Merlin, the first image they think of is the one in Disney’s Sword in the Stone. Honestly, no one should fault them. This incarnation of the famous wizard is probably the most beloved and arguably the most powerful. Though his personality veers a bit too far into comedic, at times, his power seems only limited to his imagination.

Merlin is a very stereotypical wizard, pointed hat and all, but he’s one of Disney’s most powerful and magical mentors. His over-the-top antics are probably the film’s shining moments, and easily the element everyone takes away from every single viewing.

2 Yen Sid (Fantasia)

If one were to look in the dictionary under the word “wizard,” they’d find a picture of the great Yen Sid. As powerful as Mickey Mouse might be in the Disney canon, he had to learn his tricks somewhere. Actions truly speak louder than words, as demonstrated in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” and Yen Sid not only looks the part but acts it, as well.

Without a single word of dialogue, viewers know that this wizard wields phenomenal mystical powers, able to conjure bats and butterflies from a glowing skull and part a basement full of water like the Red Sea. It’s clear that he’s a master of his craft, with or without his magic hat.

1 Gandalf (The Lord Of The Rings)

If there’s one wizard in the realms of fantasy that truly represents the complete and total archetype of the character, it’s none other than Gandalf the Grey. With a large pointed hat, long white beard, an even longer pipe, and a gnarly staff to conjure the best fireworks in Middle-Earth, the old man is the gold standard by which all modern wizards are judged.

Gandalf is the epitome of the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-magical being who guides the party and provides mystical support and spells when the adventure calls for it. Everything, from the way he speaks and his mannerisms to his command over the mystical energy of Middle-Earth, absolutely screams classic wizard. Fans of the genre couldn’t ask for anything more.

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