Hocus Pocus (1993)

After three centuries, three witch sisters are resurrected in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night, and it is up to two teenagers, a young girl, and an immortal cat to put an end to their reign of terror once and for all.

Director:

Kenny Ortega

Writers:

David Kirschner (story), Mick Garris (story)

Stars:

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy

2 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bette Midler	...	Winifred Sanderson
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Sarah Sanderson
Kathy Najimy	...	Mary Sanderson
Omri Katz	...	Max
Thora Birch	...	Dani
Vinessa Shaw	...	Allison
Amanda Shepherd	...	Emily (as Amanda Shepherd)
Larry Bagby	...	Ernie 'Ice' (as Larry Bagby III)
Tobias Jelinek	...	Jay
Stephanie Faracy	...	Jenny
Charles Rocket	...	Dave
Doug Jones	...	Billy Butcherson
Karyn Malchus	...	Headless Billy Butcherson
Sean Murray	...	Thackery
Steve Voboril	...	Elijah

Storyline

300 years have passed since the Sanderson sisters were executed for practicing dark witchcraft. Returning to life thanks to a combination of a spell spoken before their demise and the accidental actions of Max, the new-kid-in-town, the sisters have but one night to secure their continuing existence...

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Plot Keywords:

halloween | spell | black cat | witch | magic | 

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Taglines:

It's just a bunch of Hocus Pocus!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some scary sequences, and for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

16 July 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Abracadabra

Filming Locations:

Plimouth Plantation - 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$39,514,713

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rhythm & Hues Studios, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Early in the film, Mary says to Winifred, "Winifred, thou art divine!" Bette Midler who plays Winifred, is known for her nickname, "The Divine Miss M."

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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.

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Quotes

Sarah: What is this place?
Mary Sanderson: It reeks of children!
Winifred Sanderson: It is a prison for children.

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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.

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Connections

Spoofed in Nostalgia Critic: Hocus Pocus (2015)

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Soundtracks

Witchcraft
Written by Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh
Performed by Joseph Malone (as Joe Malone)

User Reviews

Charming, Endearing, and Under-Appreciated Tale of Three Heinous Practitioners of the Dark Arts.

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 :.