It is 1987 all over again. Jack Nicholson is grinning like a shark, Cher is looking effortless, and the special effects are just... delightfully gooey. If you’ve got a sudden craving for some 80s supernatural satire, you aren’t alone. Finding where to watch The Witches of Eastwick can be a bit of a scavenger hunt though, mostly because licensing deals for these older Warner Bros. classics shift around faster than a tennis ball in a haunted mansion.
Honestly, the streaming landscape is kind of a mess. One month a movie is on Max, the next it has vanished into the ether of "premium add-ons."
The Current Streaming Situation
Right now, if you want to catch Daryl Van Horne wreaking havoc in Rhode Island, your best bet is usually a rental. It’s annoying. I know. We all want it to be "free" on a subscription we already pay for, but George Miller’s cult hit spends a lot of time behind a paywall. As of early 2026, you can consistently find it on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. It usually goes for about four bucks.
Sometimes it pops up on TCM (Turner Classic Movies). If you have a cable login or a live TV streamer like Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV, check the "on-demand" section for TCM first. You might get lucky and find it sitting there for no extra cost.
Why isn't it on Netflix? Licensing. Netflix is focusing way more on their own original stuff these days, so older library titles from big studios like Warner Bros. often get pulled back to the studio's home turf—which is Max (formerly HBO Max). If you have a Max subscription, that should be your very first stop. If it's not there, it's likely in a "dark period" where nobody is streaming it for free, and you'll have to cough up the rental fee.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Movie
People think it's just a silly comedy. It isn't. Not really.
👉 See also: Tropic Thunder Full Movie Free: What Most People Get Wrong About Streaming It
When you sit down to watch The Witches of Eastwick, you're actually looking at a pretty biting critique of gender roles and suburban boredom. Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Cher play women who are basically "over it." They're bored. They're lonely. They accidentally conjure a man who is—quite literally—the devil.
It's based on John Updike’s novel, but the movie is way louder. The book is actually kind of mean to the women. The movie, directed by George Miller (the guy who did Mad Max!), gives them way more agency. It's a weird vibe. One minute it's a classy drama about three friends drinking martinis, and the next, there’s a giant cherry-pit vomiting scene that looks like something out of a horror flick.
The Star Power is Ridiculous
Can we just talk about the cast? You have:
- Cher as Alexandra. She’s the rock.
- Susan Sarandon as Jane. The shy cellist who finds her "fire."
- Michelle Pfeiffer as Sukie. The one with way too many kids and a psychic edge.
- Jack Nicholson. He is at his most "Jack" here.
Nicholson reportedly took the role because he wanted to work with these three women. He knew he’d have to chew the scenery to keep up with them. It worked. His performance is oily, gross, and weirdly charismatic. You totally get why these women would fall for him, even though he’s clearly a walking red flag.
The Technical Weirdness
George Miller had a nightmare of a time making this. He almost quit. The producers were breathing down his neck, and the ending was changed a bunch of times. That’s why the final act feels so much bigger and more "special effects heavy" than the rest of the movie.
If you're watching this on a modern 4K TV, the practical effects hold up surprisingly well. The puppets and the makeup have a texture that modern CGI just can't replicate. It feels tactile. It feels gross. It feels real.
Is it on Physical Media?
If you're a nerd about bitrates and high-definition audio, skip the streaming search. Go find the Blu-ray. Warner Archive released a decent version a few years back. Because streaming services constantly rotate their libraries, owning the disc is the only way to ensure you can watch it whenever the mood strikes. Plus, the colors in the "Daryl’s Mansion" scenes are way more vibrant on disc than they are through a compressed internet stream.
Where to Watch The Witches of Eastwick: The Quick Checklist
- Check Max first. It’s the natural home for Warner Bros. movies.
- Search your Live TV apps. Look for TCM or AMC on-demand.
- Rent it. Amazon, Apple, and Google Play almost always have it for $3.99.
- Physical Media. Check your local library or a used media store for the Blu-ray.
Actionable Next Steps
Stop scrolling through the Netflix "New Releases" because you won't find it there. Head straight to the search bar on your Apple TV or Amazon Fire Stick and type in the title. If it shows up as "Included with your subscription" on Max, hit play immediately. If not, just pay the four dollars. Honestly, the scene where they all hover in the air while playing tennis is worth the price of a cheap coffee alone.
Once you finish the movie, go look up the behind-the-scenes stories about the production. The feud between George Miller and the producers is legendary and makes the chaos on screen even more impressive. You'll appreciate the performances way more knowing how much the director had to fight to keep his vision intact.