SHOP WISHMASTER
IMDb >
Wishmaster (1997)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsnews articlesPromotional
taglinestrailers and videospostersphoto galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsWishmaster (1997)
| Photos (see all 24 | slideshow) | Videos |
Overview
Tagline:
Be careful what you wish for. morePlot:
A demonic djinn attempts to grant its owner three wishes, which will allow him to summon his brethren to earth. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
2 nominations moreUser Comments:
Slightly Above Average Film With Cameos Galore moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Tammy Lauren | ... | Alexandra Amberson | |
| Andrew Divoff | ... | The Djinn / Nathaniel Demerest | |
| Robert Englund | ... | Raymond Beaumont | |
| Chris Lemmon | ... | Nick Merritt | |
| Wendy Benson-Landes | ... | Shannon Amberson (as Wendy Benson) | |
| Tony Crane | ... | Josh Aickman | |
| Jenny O'Hara | ... | Wendy Derleth | |
| Kane Hodder | ... | Merritt's Guard | |
| Tony Todd | ... | Johnny Valentine | |
| Ricco Ross | ... | Lt. Nathanson | |
| John Byner | ... | Doug Clegg | |
| George 'Buck' Flower | ... | Homeless Man | |
| Gretchen Palmer | ... | Ariella | |
| Ted Raimi | ... | Ed Finney | |
| Angus Scrimm | ... | Narrator (voice) |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for horror violence and gore, and for language.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
90 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreCertification:
Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Singapore:R21 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Brazil:16Filming Locations:
Los Angeles, California, USAMOVIEmeter: 
No change since last week
why?
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Many crew members, including director Robert Kurtzman (man killed by piano) had small roles in the film, some times appearing in different scenes as different characters. moreGoofs:
Continuity: When the tramp presses himself up against the drug store window, the positions of him arms change from up or down between shots. moreQuotes:
[first lines]Narrator: Once, in a time before time, God breathed life into the universe. And the light gave birth to Angels. And the earth gave birth to Man. And the fire gave birth to the Djinn, creatures condemned to dwell in the void between the worlds. One who wakes a Djinn will be given three wishes. Upon the granting of the third, the unholy legions of the Djinn will be freed to rule the earth. Fear one thing in all there is... FEAR THE DJINN.
more
Soundtrack:
Listen to the Heart moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Wishmaster (1997) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| The Incredibles | Night of the Comet | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Alien: Resurrection | A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Fantasy section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |


















A long time ago, the djinn (basically genies) were an influential force, able to grant wishes while also wreaking horrible havoc on the countryside. One djinn (the Wishmaster) is trapped in a gem and imprisoned inside a statue. Many, many years later in America the statue breaks... and the djinn once again tries to continue his evil ways.
The basic idea of this film is really cool: a genie grants wishes and the wishes go very, very badly. This works well, especially in one scene where a man wishes he had money and then his mother gets killed (allowing him to inherit her life insurance). But I also felt too many liberties were taken with the wishes: many of the things that counted as wishes were simply comments about desires, some of them vague and many sarcastic. This seems like a plot hole if ever there was one.
That concern aside, the effects and deaths were cool... and the film as a whole was very enjoyable. I have not yet seen "Wishmaster 2" but would be interested into doing so.
What makes this film really stand out is the impressive list of horror names associated with it, starting with director Robert Kurtzman (the K in the KNB special effects company) and writer Peter Atkins (who I believe was the man behind some of the "Hellraiser" films. The actors? Kane Hodder, Robert Englund and Tony Todd should be names familiar to any horror fan. What about Ted Raimi or Dan Hicks (both from "Evil Dead") and Angus Scrimm or Reggie Bannister (both from "Phantasm")? They're here, too. Even Verne Troyer (Mini-Me) and Walter Phelan show up.
Who really stands out is Andrew Divoff, who plays The Djinn and his human counterpart Nathaniel Demerest. I know Divoff from "Lost" (as Bakunin) but prior to the show, I think he probably had his best-known roles in the "Wishmaster" series, which I have neglected to watch until now. He is amazing -- both suave and a solid actor, but vicious when he needs to be. Not unlike the character of Bakunin, only far more handsome in this role.
"Wishmaster" is something of a horror classic, if for no other reason than the people who appear in it. It's not a great film. It's a decent film. I'd like to give it some extra credit because Robert Kurtzman signed my copy of the movie, but I won't be a fanboy like that. Let's just put it like this: "Wishmaster" is nothing great like "In the Mouth of Madness" but it's much better than other movies about mythological creatures, like "Leprechaun".