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Hocus Pocus (1993) More at IMDbPro »

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87 comments in total

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54 out of 63 people found the following comment useful :-
The critics couldn't be more off-target!, 1 November 2001

Author: franko1998

While I've been enjoying this film for years, I only recently decided to read some reviews for it, and am shocked! The truth is, this film is a wonderfully comical and charming tale of three Salem witches that are resurrected by a teenage boy, who, with the help of his little sister and love interest, must try to stop them from stealing the souls of children. This movie really sparkles in the representations of the witches, who are all cast perfectly. Bette Midler provides for a hilarious and almost frightening Winifred (the leader), Sarah Jessica Parker shines as the sexy, dim-witted Sarah, and Kathy Najimy is marvelous as the funny, perky Mary. What makes the film even better is that there are two stunning musical numbers--Midler's delightful "I Put a Spell on You" and Parker's hypnotic "Come, Little Children." Ignore the critics, "Hocus Pocus" is perfect not only for Halloween, but for any time of the year!

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52 out of 61 people found the following comment useful :-
**** out of ****, 9 October 1999

Author: clay-8 from texas

I don't what the critics were talking about, but I found Hocus Pocus to be extreme fun, from start to finish. The use of color and the sets is all magical, giving the movie a strange fairy-tale feel. I also found it to be very funny with great special-effects. The movie's just plain fun. The three witches, thankfully, aren't flat and dull. This movie is scary without being profane (ala Mighty Joe Young) or super duper frightening. A great film that's much better than most Disney live-action films today.

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37 out of 43 people found the following comment useful :-
They'll "Put A Spell On You"!, 22 May 2005

Author: mdm-11 from United States

A traditional "Halloween Ghost Story" turns into a real life adventure for 3 kids who break the spell of the Sanderson Sisters. The story is an engaging one and will have even grown-ups pay close attention. The Sanderson Sisters (wonderfully played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy), convicted of witchcraft in Colonial Salem, Massachusetts and put to death some 300 years ago, are brought back to life when "a virgin lights the black candle". It's up to two teenagers and an 8 year old to stop the wicked witches from succeeding with their sinister plan: to lure the town's children to their witch house and "drink" their life-force away from them.

Bette Midler steals the show when the sisters crash a Halloween party, singing "I Put A Spell On You". There are many "time jokes" as well, having the 17th century sisters "confused" when they experience 20th century life: Blinded by a truck's head lights, they are convinced the sun is rising; they frantically avoid stepping on a blacktop driveway when they are told that it is "a black lake of death"; unable to find a broomstick, one of the sisters heads for the sky on a Hoover vacuum cleaner. The jokes are pretty good, and I was entertained throughout the film. I have watched "Hocus Pocus" several times already, and will watch it again and again. This is another example of a movie made for kids, but enjoyed by grown-ups as well. Recommended!

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38 out of 46 people found the following comment useful :-
Bewitching., 8 December 2000
Author: eli_8

I prepared my self when I sat down to watch this movie, expecting a boring Disney film not for my generation. But this movie was hilarious! Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker were fantastic in their roles as the witches, especially Midler in her role as Winifred. Unfortunately there is no soundtrack to this film, which is a shame but not a tragedy. Overall a fantastic film that the whole family should enjoy.

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18 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
Childrens Film, 26 May 1999

Author: Stephen (solacepeledivine@mailexcite.com) from Evansville, Indiana

First of all, anyone watching this film has to remember that it is aimed towards children. You cannot have the expectations that there is some deep meaning connected with this film, or that it is going to be another Bette Midler comedy with R-rated humor. If that is what you are looking for, watch "Ruthless People". This film is funny and cute. That is all. If I was a 10 year old child, I would love this movie. It is a family film and nobody should expect anything more. Secondly, it has Bette Midler and a wonderfully funny Kathy Najimy and dim-witted Sarah Jessica Parker......so, ENJOY!

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16 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Bewitching Bette, 5 July 2005

Author: robinpoe from United States

This movie is funny, scary, but warm and human all at once. It emphasizes the value of families working together to help each other and does not create confusing messages about good and evil. It's a fast-paced comedy that does not trivialize the characters. Bette Midler's rendition of "I've Put a Spell on You" shows the depth of her talent as a singer/stage performer. The divine Ms. Bette has great chemistry with both Kathy Naijimy (how does she get her mouth to do that?), and Sarah Jessica Parker (amok, amok, amok). While the scary factor with corpses and death may not be appropriate for very small children, the movie is lots of fun for the whole family.

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9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Charming, Endearing, and Under-Appreciated Tale of Three Heinous Practitioners of the Dark Arts., 22 April 2007

Author: Fiendish_Dramaturgy from .: Fiendish Writings in the Dark :.

This is the story of three nefarious practitioners of Darkly-aligned Magick and the mark they left on the town which sentenced them to death.

Disney is known to openly endorse and promote the use of the Old Ways. Whether a good Witch (Bedknobs and Broomsticks) or a bad Witch (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Disney loves Magick and those who use it.

These Witches, however, are the worst kind of rabble, and while we attempt to defeat them, character development occurs. This movie is quite entertaining, however it is too dark and scary for younger audiences, and may be considered too juvenile for adults, but the older children and tweens seem to love it.

It rates an 8.7/10 from...

the Fiend :.

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10 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
A+ 5 Stars, 15 April 2001

Author: ledzepfan215 from PA

I thought this movie was a good movie for the whole family. There is something for everyone in this movie.... singing,comedy,some action,very good music and thrills (for the younger audience). The director spiced the movie up with musical numbers by Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler. There were also some good stars in the movie; Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and a young Thora Birch (she was so cute in this movie).It's terrible that the only score for this movie was a promo CD (which is very hard to find and very expensive if you do find it)... and not a soundtrack. I really hope that Disney or some company re-releases the DVD version of this great movie.

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5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Great film!, 5 September 2005

Author: swirls_09 from Canada

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Twelve years after being released, this film has become a children's classic. Now 21 years old, I can still watch this film any day of the week and be completely entertained. It has also been a love of mine since I was a young kid - great fantastical sets and story, fun witches who are a riot to watch, a compelling plot, and some really great music.

I realize that the majority of the people who have given this film a bad review are those over the age of 40, and that would make sense. This is not an adult movie. It is a movie for kids, and for those of us who can still recognize that little kid in all of us who loves a good scare and a good old fashioned story about Halloween.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to watch a light-hearted, exciting film with some truly great acting in it (ala Bette Midler, Kathy Najimi and especially a young, pre Sex and the City Sarah Jessica Parker). Keep your ears out for the wonderful soundtrack in this film as well...Sarah Jessica Parker's singing of "Come Little Children" will mesmerize you - much like the rest of this film.

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9 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
Good One; Give it a try, 13 September 2003

Author: planebomb from Plano, Texas

This movie is really funny and gave me a few laughs. This movie has three different genres and they have three sisters who each represent a different one, to give you a bit of each. Winifred, who represents Horror. Mary, who represents Comedy. And Sarah, who represents Fantasy. Don't hesitate, Give this movie a try. You wont regret it.

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