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IMDbPro

Hocus Pocus

  • 19931993
  • PGPG
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
145K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,744
343
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in Hocus Pocus (1993)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:57
8 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyFamilyFantasy
A teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.A teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.A teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
145K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,744
343
  • Director
    • Kenny Ortega
  • Writers
    • David Kirschner(story)
    • Mick Garris(story)
    • Neil Cuthbert(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Bette Midler
    • Sarah Jessica Parker
    • Kathy Najimy
  • Director
    • Kenny Ortega
  • Writers
    • David Kirschner(story)
    • Mick Garris(story)
    • Neil Cuthbert(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Bette Midler
    • Sarah Jessica Parker
    • Kathy Najimy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 305User reviews
    • 73Critic reviews
    • 43Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 11 nominations

    Videos8

    Hocus Pocus: 25th Anniversary
    Trailer 1:57
    Watch Hocus Pocus: 25th Anniversary
    All About 'Hocus Pocus 2'
    Clip 1:37
    Watch All About 'Hocus Pocus 2'
    Our Favorite On-Screen Witches
    Clip 3:43
    Watch Our Favorite On-Screen Witches
    Hocus Pocus: Blu-Ray
    Clip 1:19
    Watch Hocus Pocus: Blu-Ray
    Hocus Pocus: Blu-Ray
    Clip 1:04
    Watch Hocus Pocus: Blu-Ray
    Which Movie Scarred Charlize Theron for Life?
    Video 1:52
    Watch Which Movie Scarred Charlize Theron for Life?
    Halloween Costume Creations
    Video 1:50
    Watch Halloween Costume Creations
    Prop Master Russell Bobbitt Reveals Movie Secrets Behind Iconic Props
    Video 2:51
    Watch Prop Master Russell Bobbitt Reveals Movie Secrets Behind Iconic Props

    Photos267

    Thora Birch and Omri Katz in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Stephanie Faracy and Charles Rocket in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Kathy Najimy in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Bette Midler and Kenny Ortega in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Kenny Ortega in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Omri Katz, and Kenny Ortega in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Sarah Jessica Parker in Hocus Pocus (1993)
    Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in Hocus Pocus (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bette Midler
    Bette Midler
    • Winifred
    Sarah Jessica Parker
    Sarah Jessica Parker
    • Sarah
    Kathy Najimy
    Kathy Najimy
    • Mary
    Omri Katz
    Omri Katz
    • Max
    Thora Birch
    Thora Birch
    • Dani
    Vinessa Shaw
    Vinessa Shaw
    • Allison
    Amanda Shepherd
    • Emily
    Larry Bagby
    Larry Bagby
    • Ernie 'Ice'
    • (as Larry Bagby III)
    Tobias Jelinek
    Tobias Jelinek
    • Jay
    Stephanie Faracy
    Stephanie Faracy
    • Jenny
    Charles Rocket
    Charles Rocket
    • Dave
    Doug Jones
    Doug Jones
    • Billy Butcherson
    Karyn Malchus
    • Headless Billy Butcherson
    Sean Murray
    Sean Murray
    • Thackery
    Steve Voboril
    • Elijah
    Norbert Weisser
    Norbert Weisser
    • Thackery's Father
    Kathleen Freeman
    Kathleen Freeman
    • Miss Olin
    D.A. Pauley
    • Fireman #1
    • Director
      • Kenny Ortega
    • Writers
      • David Kirschner(story)
      • Mick Garris(story) (screenplay)
      • Neil Cuthbert(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    6.0
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    7.1
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    The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash
    6.7
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    Casper
    6.1
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    6.8
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    5.5
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During a 20th anniversary screening of this film, Doug Jones revealed the moths that come out of his mouth at the end are real, not CGI. In a 2018 interview with Bloody Disgusting, makeup and special-effects designer Tony Gardner said that the actor wore a "mouth rig" a latex pocket attached to dentures that blocked off Jones' throat to make the moths come out "There was a small hole in the very back of the pocket so that Doug could cough some air through it ... An animal wrangler would place several moths in the pocket with tweezers, Then the stitches would be glued shut, and we'd run out of frame so that they could get to the shot as fast as possible," Gardner said.
    • Goofs
      When Max sets off the sprinkler system in the Sanderson house, he stands directly below it and gets completely drenched. When he runs out of the house, his jacket is totally dry.
    • Quotes

      Winifred Sanderson: Oh, look. Another glorious morning. Makes me sick!

    • Crazy credits
      During the end credits, the parents finally stop dancing and leave the building, exhausted; Jay and Ernie have been forgotten about and are still dangling in their cages, singing Row Row Row Your Boat, then the camera pans over to the spell book as the eye opens once more.
    • Alternate versions
      When shown on UK television in 2005, all instances of Billy losing his head and stumbling around headless were cut (rendering the credit in the cast to 'Headless Billy' meaningless). Thus, the scene when Billy loses his head and Dani steps out of the protective salt circle to retrieve it for him (giving Winnie the opportunity to grab her) no longer makes sense. It just cuts to a scene of Dani suddenly outside the protective circle and screaming as Winnie swoops down on her from above. Without knowing about Dani retrieving Billy's head the viewer is left puzzled as to why Dani left the circle.
    • Connections
      Edited into Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
    • Soundtracks
      I Put a Spell on You
      Written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins

      Produced and Arranged by Marc Shaiman

    User reviews305

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    They'll "Put A Spell On You"!
    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!
    helpful•125
    30
    • mdm-11
    • May 22, 2005

    FAQ10

    • What is "Hocus Pocus" about?
    • Is "Hocus Pocus" based on a book?
    • What are the words to the song that Sarah Sanderson sings to entice all the children in Salem?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 16, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Ma Lang Thang
    • Filming locations
      • Plimouth Plantation - 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA(Google Maps)
    • Production companies
      • Walt Disney Pictures
      • Touchwood Pacific Partners 1
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $28,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $44,342,713
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,125,471
      • Jul 18, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $45,395,069
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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