The Wishmaster movie series is a horror franchise comprising four films released between 1997 and 2002. The series’ primary theme revolves around a powerful Djinn, a mythical creature from Arabian folklore, who grants wishes but with terrifying consequences. The first film, Wishmaster, was released in 1997 and quickly gained a cult following for its blend of horror, dark humor, and suspense. The sequels continued exploring the dangerous consequences of granting wishes, often with creative twists on the original formula. The Wishmaster movies are known for their over-the-top special effects, imaginative twists on the Djinn’s powers, and an entertaining cast of characters.
The franchise has been popular with horror fans due to its unique take on the genie mythology and its commitment to delivering thrilling, gory, and often darkly comedic horror. The series also has a strong following among fans of the B-movie genre, who appreciate its low-budget charm and campy sensibility. Whether you’re a horror aficionado or a fan of cult classics, the Wishmaster movies offer a captivating and entertaining experience.
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All 4 Wishmaster Movies By Their Release Order
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Wishmaster
Director: Robert Kurtzman
Writer: Peter Atkins
Stars: Tammy Lauren, Andrew Divoff, Angus Scrimm
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
Wishmaster is a 1997 horror film centered around an ancient and evil Djinn (genie) inadvertently awakened by a pawn shop owner from a gemstone. The film begins in ancient Persia, where an evil Djinn is captured and sealed within a gemstone by a sorcerer. Centuries later, in the present day, the gemstone is in the possession of a wealthy collector. The gemstone is accidentally opened during a mishap at an art gallery, releasing the Djinn.
Once free, the Djinn begins to wreak havoc by taking on various human forms and offering people wishes. However, these wishes always come with a dark and fatal twist. For example, when a man wishes to see a vision of Hell, he is gruesomely killed and shown Hell firsthand. As the Djinn continues to grant wishes, it becomes more powerful and seeks to unleash a horde of other Djinn upon the world, which would bring about catastrophic destruction.
The film’s main protagonist is Alexandra Amberson, a young gemologist who becomes aware of the Djinn’s evil nature. She teams up with a security guard to try and stop the Djinn and prevent it from bringing about the end of the world. The film is a race against time as Alexandra and the security guard must find a way to send the Djinn back to the gemstone before it fulfills its goal.
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Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies
Director: Jack Sholder
Writers: Peter Atkins, Jack Sholder
Stars: Holly Fields, Chris Weber, Al Foster
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
It is a 1999 horror film and the sequel to the 1997 movie Wishmaster. The film opens with the Djinn being captured and imprisoned in a jewel-studded statue after his rampage in the first film. The statue ends up in the possession of a criminal named Morgana, who is incarcerated in a Los Angeles prison. While in prison, Morgana unwittingly awakens the Djinn when she cuts herself on one of the gems in the statue, releasing him once again.
The Djinn resumes his quest to grant wishes and collect souls with his freedom restored. He uses various human disguises to manipulate people into making wishes, all of which have deadly consequences. Morgana, however, is immune to his powers because she is pure of heart, having never made a selfish wish.
Morgana becomes the Djinn’s primary target, and he attempts to trick her into making a wish that will ultimately doom her. Meanwhile, a priest named Gregory becomes aware of the Djinn’s presence and seeks to stop him. Together with Morgana, he must find a way to defeat the Djinn and prevent him from causing more destruction.
As the Djinn continues to grant wishes, the body count rises, & the stakes become higher. The film explores the consequences of wishes and the battle between good and evil as Morgana and Gregory try to outsmart Djinn and send him back to prison before he can unleash chaos upon the world.
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Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell
Director: Chris Angel
Writers: Alex Wright, Peter Atkins
Stars: Jason Connery, A.J. Cook, Tobias Mehler
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Thriller
It is a 2001 horror film and the third installment in the Wishmaster film series. While it retains the theme of an evil Djinn granting wishes with dire consequences, it features a new cast and storyline.
The film follows a college student named Diana Collins, studying ancient relics and artifacts at a university. Diana becomes the unwitting host for the evil Djinn when she accidentally touches an ancient gemstone while examining it. Once the Djinn is freed, he resumes his mission to grant wishes to people while causing chaos and destruction.
As the Djinn begins to grant wishes, Diana realizes the evil nature of the being she has unleashed and seeks to stop him. She is aided by her boyfriend, Greg, and a professor named Joel Barash, who possesses knowledge about the Djinn and his history.
Similar to the previous films, the Djinn grants wishes with deadly consequences. The film features gruesome and creative death scenes as the Djinn manipulates people into making wishes that lead to their demise. Diana and her allies must figure out a way to defeat Djinn, but Djinn is determined to fulfill his goal of amassing enough souls to unleash his fellow Djinn upon the world.
As the film progresses, Diana and her companions engage in a battle of wits with the Djinn, trying to outsmart him and find a way to contain his evil. The stakes are high as they race against time to stop the Djinn from causing more destruction and chaos.
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Wishmaster: The Prophecy Fulfilled
Director: Chris Angel
Writers: John Benjamin Martin, Peter Atkins
Stars: Tara Spencer-Nairn, Michael Trucco, Jason Thompson
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Romance
It is the fourth and final installment in the Wishmaster film series, released in 2002. Like its predecessors, it explores the concept of an evil Djinn (genie) granting wishes with deadly consequences.
The film follows the story of Lisa, a young and curious woman who works as a gemologist. One day, Lisa comes into possession of a mysterious gemstone, which is, unbeknownst to her, the prison for the Djinn. She unknowingly releases the Djinn from his captivity when she accidentally touches the gemstone.
As in previous films, Djinn takes on a human form and begins to grant wishes, but each desire has dark and lethal consequences. Lisa soon realizes the dangerous power she has unleashed and seeks help to stop the Djinn. She is aided by her boyfriend, Sam, and a friend named Nick, who is knowledgeable about the Djinn and his history.
The Djinn continues manipulating people into making wishes that lead to gruesome deaths, amassing more souls in his quest to fulfill a prophecy. This prophecy, revealed in the film, suggests that the Djinn can gain ultimate power by obtaining the soul of a confident woman of pure heart.
Lisa and her allies must outsmart Djinn and find a way to stop him before he can achieve his ultimate goal of unleashing chaos and destruction upon the world. Along the way, they uncover secrets about the Djinn’s past and his connection to the prophecy.
Conclusion
The Wishmaster film series has captivated audiences with its chilling depiction of an evil djinn and the catastrophic consequences of granting wishes. Watching the movies in order provides a more immersive experience, allowing for a deeper understanding of the djinn’s origins and motivations. With critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base, the Wishmaster movies have left a lasting impact on the horror genre. An interesting statistic is that the first film, Wishmaster, is often regarded as the strongest entry in the series.
All Wishmaster Movies by Their IMDb Ratings
- Wishmaster – 5.8 with 25K Votes
- Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies – 5.0 with 9.2K Votes
- Wishmaster: The Prophecy Fulfilled – 4.0 with 4K Votes
- Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell – 3.5 with 5K Votes
FAQs
In the Wishmaster movies, Andrew Divoff portrays the main antagonist, the Djinn. His portrayal of the Djinn is a franchise highlight, adding depth and terror to the character.
There are no connections or crossovers between the Wishmaster series and other horror movie franchises. The Wishmaster movies stand alone as a unique horror franchise centered around the evil Djinn and his granting of twisted wishes.
There are no announced plans for a reboot or continuation of the Wishmaster franchise. However, given the enduring popularity of the horror genre, it is always possible for future projects to be developed.
No significant production challenges or behind-the-scenes stories were reported during the Wishmaster movies’ making. The films were produced smoothly, allowing the creative team to bring the evil Djinn’s story to life.
