Truthfully, movies do a grave injustice to professional tarot card readings. The reason is apparent: Sensationalism. Hollywood Studios are in it to win it. Everything is about making a bank.
A truthful representation of a tarot card reading would have to forego the overhyped, supernatural elements, particularly the demonic entities running rampant in tarot card-themed blockbusters. While nobody is disputing that otherworldly elements are at play when professional psychics, mediums, or readers delve into the cards, it’s about so much more than that.
Tarot 2024
We begin our fascinating foray into this topic by examining several blockbuster films relating to tarot cards. First in line is the eponymous 2024 release – Tarot. Given that this is a supernatural horror film, fans of the genre can pretty much ascertain precisely what it’s all about.
The storyline is captivating, albeit grossly far-fetched and highly improbable. With a tagline that states – Your Fate is in the Cards – this PG-13 slasher-horror film certainly brings everybody’s worst fears to life on the big screen in double-quick time.
Like many stock horror films, Tarot begins with a group of reckless friends who violate the sacred rules of the readings. When they unwittingly delve into supernatural elements over which they have no control, they unleash a demonic entity so powerful that nobody is safe.
The film’s directors, Anna Halberg and Spencer Cohen did a fantastic job of maintaining suspense throughout, albeit with little correlation to real-life tarot card readings. The film stars include Jacob Batalon, Adain Bradley, and Harriet Slater.
Given the film’s lackluster reviews, with an IMDb rating of 4.8/10 from 31,000 reviewers, it’s a mediocre film at best. This film shows that a deck of cursed tarot cards – belonging to a demonic entity – can kill anyone privy to a reading.
At the box office, Tarot generated worldwide takings of $49,256,239 – a substantial haul for a relatively low-budget horror. Rotten Tomatoes reviewers gave the film 17% via the Tomatometer and 56% on the Popcornmeter.
Tarot Curse – TV Movie 2025
Director Jason Winn delivered a made-for-TV movie, Tarot Curse, similar to the Final Destination series of films. In this rendition of horror-related tarot cards, a group of youngsters vacationing in New Orleans attends a tarot card reading with a dark character. Unbeknownst to them, the cards are predicting their gruesome demise, one by one.
With a production budget of $1 million, this TV film did a good job entertaining horror fans, albeit with conventional storylines and predictable endings. Very few reviews of this TV movie exist online; suffice it to say that those who took the time to review the film deemed it a good start, but it was full of plot holes.
The Ninth Gate 1999
Johnny Depp starred in the Roman Polanski hit The Ninth Gate. The film tracks a rare book dealer named Dean Corso. His job is to authenticate a demonic manuscript that has the power to summon the devil. Throughout the film, various mystical symbols, including tarot cards, play a crucial part in the unfolding mystery.
These accouterments reinforce the supernatural and eerie tone of the film. Tarot card imagery in The Ninth Gate isn’t as in-your-face as the films mentioned above – it’s part and parcel of the mice-en-scene of a deep-rooted occult tradition.
There is a definite psychological edge to this film and its supernatural elements. It’s not strictly horror, which is a reprieve for the tarot cards – it’s dark fantasy and mysticism. This is precisely where it gets something right in this compelling entry into the tarot card list of films.
The Ninth Gate boasted a budget of $38 million when it was released in 2000. It went on to haul a worldwide gross of $58,401,898. Despite being a box office flop, it is a highly entertaining film, especially for fans of Johnny Depp, a.k.a. Captain Jack Sparrow.
Films Keep the Mystical Allure of Tarot Cards Alive
There is one good thing that all of these films do for tarot cards, mystics, psychics, mediums, and palm readers – they give them free advertising. There is tremendous power in a professional tarot card reading.
When done right, the cards can reveal fascinating truths about an individual based on energy and messaging moving across dimensions and worlds. Powerful flows of information take place, and they manifest in the cards dealt to the individuals in question.
It’s important to carefully select only professional, recommended, and well-trained psychics to read tarot cards. This is not a task for amateurs – trifling with tarot cards can have disastrous implications, particularly if incorrect messages are believed and acted upon by recipients. Movies should always be taken at face value – they are designed for entertainment purposes only.
Tarot cards are not used for sinister purposes; they are used to provide insight into real life issues, challenges, and opportunities. For example, the Three of Pentacles tarot card is a symbol of collaboration, achievement and craftmanship. Hollywood films focus exclusively on the dark side of readings, and that’s a shame.
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Brian formed Living By Examplealongside Cynthia after working for two decades alongside international institutions for humanitarian aids and other efforts worldwide, may it be catastrophes made by men or nature. Brian built Living By Examplewith the hopes of bringing more cultural diversity across the internet.
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