From Genie to The Wizard of Oz: 10 Characters Who Make Wishes Come True

Disney's live-action remake of Cinderella is just the latest in a long line of movies that revolve around characters with the power to grant the wishes and desires of others. Let’s look at ten more in the business of making dreams reality.

Despite the fact that this “wizard” was a flashy charlatan, Dorothy and her pals got what they were looking for in the end, making the trip worth an attack or two from an army of flying monkeys.

This early Disney classic featured its own take on the classic story of an enchanted puppet that longs to be a real boy. The beautiful Blue Fairy had the power to grant that wish, but only after he proved himself brave and honest enough.

Down-on-his-luck banker George Bailey (James Stewart) gets a second chance at life from the angel Clarence (Henry Travers) and audiences got a holiday movie mainstay. It’s a win-win.

With the new version of Cinderella inspiring this article, how could we not include the original Disney classic? This animated take on the iconic fairy tale features a lovable fairy godmother with a persistently catchy theme song who grants poor Cinderella her heart's desire.

Marlon Brando's mob boss had a distinct talent for giving his friends and family what they wanted – and making offers of the “can’t refuse” variety. Whether that required a little sweet-talking or leaving a severed horse head in someone's bed, the Godfather always got the job done.

In this lavish adaptation of the epic fantasy novel, a young boy (Barret Oliver) is granted a window into the world of Fantasia when he discovers a mystical book. This land is ruled by the Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach), a wish-granter who is nonetheless dependent on the power of his imagination to save her realm.

In what is easily his most memorable film role, glam rock superstar David Bowie played the villainous goblin king in this fantasy tale. He tempted the film's heroine (played by Jennifer Connelly) with visions of a life free of responsibility or care. But somehow, she never fell for his charms.

What distinguished Genie was less his mandate to grant his master three wishes and more the terrific way comedian Robin Williams brought the character to life.

You can forgive Brendan Fraser's plucky hero for being tempted by The Devil when Satan took the form of Elizabeth Hurley. This comedy (a remake of the 1967 original) saw Fraser's character sign away his soul and wish for one outlandish new life after another. Each wish ended in disaster when it turned out the trickster added a few complications.

The Shrek franchise lampoons pretty much every iconic fairy tale element and trope, so the movies have their fair share of wish-granters. Our favorite? The nefarious Rumpelstiltskin, who granted Shrek one day to live as a “real ogre.”