Hocus Pocus (1993 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hocus Pocus |
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Theatrical release poster
by Drew Struzan |
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| Directed by | Kenny Ortega |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Story by |
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| Starring | |
| Music by | John Debney |
| Cinematography | Hiro Narita |
| Editing by | Peter E. Berger |
| Studio | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 16, 1993 |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $28 million |
| Money made | $44.9 million |
Hocus Pocus is a fun fantasy comedy film from 1993. It was written by Neil Cuthbert and Mick Garris, and Kenny Ortega directed it. The main stars are Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. They play three funny but evil witches.
The story is about these three witches. They are accidentally brought back to life by a teenage boy named Max. This happens in Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night. The film also stars Omri Katz, Thora Birch, and Vinessa Shaw.
When it first came out in 1993, the movie got mixed reviews. It wasn't a big hit in theaters. But over time, Hocus Pocus became very popular. This happened because it was shown every October on TV channels like Disney Channel and Freeform.
Now, it's a special movie that many people watch every Halloween. It has become a cult classic, which means it's loved by a dedicated group of fans. A new movie, a sequel, is being made for Disney+.
Contents
Story of Hocus Pocus
Witches Return to Salem
The story begins on October 31, 1693, in Salem, Massachusetts. A boy named Thackery Binx sees his little sister, Emily, being taken by three witches. These witches are Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson.
At their house, the witches use a spell to steal Emily's youth. This makes them young again, but it kills Emily. Thackery tries to stop them, but the witches turn him into an immortal black cat.
Soon, the townspeople, led by Thackery's friend Elijah, catch the sisters. They are sentenced to be hanged for Emily's murder. Before they die, Winifred casts a spell. It says they will come back to life on a future Halloween if a virgin lights a special candle called the Black Flame Candle. Thackery, as a cat, decides to guard the house to stop anyone from lighting it.
Max and the Black Flame Candle
Three hundred years later, on October 31, 1993, Max Dennison has just moved to Salem from Los Angeles. He's not happy about it. On Halloween night, Max takes his younger sister Dani trick-or-treating. They meet Allison, a girl Max likes.
To impress Allison, Max invites her to the old Sanderson house. It's now a museum. Inside, Max lights the Black Flame Candle. Because he is a virgin, the witches are accidentally brought back to life!
The witches try to steal Dani's soul. But Max saves her. He also takes Winifred's spellbook, as advised by Thackery, who is still a cat and now goes by Binx. The witches chase them to a cemetery. There, Winifred brings her old boyfriend, Billy Butcherson, back as a zombie to help them.
Witches in the Modern World
The witches try to understand the 20th century. They are shocked that Halloween is now a fun holiday with costumes. Mary uses her strong sense of smell to track the children. Max, Dani, and Allison find their parents at a Halloween party at City Hall. Winifred uses a spell to make everyone at the party dance until they are exhausted.
Later, at Jacob Bailey High School, the children trap the witches in a hot oven. They think the witches are gone for good. But the witches' spell brings them back to life again.
Final Battle and Farewell
Max and Allison open the spellbook, hoping to turn Binx back into a boy. The open book shows the witches where they are. The witches find them, kidnap Dani and Binx, and get their spellbook back. Sarah uses her beautiful, siren-like song to trick Salem's children into coming to the witches' house.
Max and Allison rescue Dani and Binx. They trick the witches into thinking the sun is rising early. The witches panic and pass out, letting the children and Binx escape.
Back at the cemetery, Billy the zombie catches up to them. He cuts open his stitched mouth and insults Winifred. He then joins Max, Allison, Dani, and Binx against the witches. Winifred tries to use her last potion to steal Dani's soul. Binx jumps on Winifred, knocking the potion away. Max drinks the potion, making the witches try to take his soul instead of Dani's.
As the sun rises, Winifred is about to finish draining Max's life. Allison, Dani, and Billy fight Mary and Sarah. Max and Winifred fall onto the special ground in the cemetery. This turns Winifred into stone. As the sun fully rises, Mary and Sarah turn to dust, and Winifred's stone body also crumbles.
With the witches gone, Max, Dani, and Allison say goodbye to Billy, who returns to his grave. Binx finally dies, and his soul is set free. As a spirit, Binx thanks them and says goodbye. He then reunites with the spirit of his sister, Emily.
The tired partygoers, including Max and Dani's parents, are freed from the spell. Meanwhile, at the Sanderson cottage, two bullies named Ice and Jay are still trapped in cages. They sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" to pass the time. The witches' spellbook opens its eye, showing it is still alive. This hints that the witches could possibly return.
Characters in the Movie
- Bette Midler plays Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson, the leader of the witch sisters.
- Sarah Jessica Parker plays Sarah Sanderson, one of the witch sisters.
- Kathy Najimy plays Mary Sanderson, the third witch sister.
- Omri Katz plays Max Dennison, a modern teenager from Los Angeles who just moved to Salem, Massachusetts.
- Thora Birch plays Dani Dennison, Max's 8-year-old sister who loves Halloween.
- Vinessa Shaw plays Allison, Max's crush and classmate.
- Charles Rocket plays Dave Dennison, Max and Dani's father.
- Stephanie Faracy plays Jenny Dennison, Max and Dani's mother.
- Larry Bagby plays Ernie, also known as Ice, a teenage bully.
- Sean Murray plays Thackery Binx, a teenage boy from 1693 who is cursed to be an immortal black cat.
- Jason Marsden is the voice of Thackery Binx when he is a cat.
- Doug Jones plays William "Billy" Butcherson, Winifred's ex-boyfriend who becomes a zombie.
- Kathleen Freeman plays Miss Olin, a teacher at Jacob Bailey High School.
- Steve Voboril plays Elijah, Thackery's friend in 1693.
- Norbert Weisser plays Mr. Binx, Thackery and Emily's father.
- Garry Marshall (uncredited) plays Master Devil, a homeowner.
- Penny Marshall (uncredited) plays Medusa Lady, another homeowner.
Music in Hocus Pocus
The music for Hocus Pocus was created by John Debney. He had to compose all the music in just two weeks! James Horner was supposed to do the music, but he couldn't. However, Horner did write the famous song "Come Little Children," which Sarah Jessica Parker sings in the movie.
Here are some of the songs and music featured in the film:
- "Sarah's Theme" – music by James Horner; lyrics by Brock Walsh; sung by Sarah Jessica Parker
- "I Put a Spell on You" – written by Jay Hawkins; sung by Bette Midler
- "Witchcraft" – written by Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh; performed by Joe Malone
- "I Put a Spell on You" – written by Jay Hawkins; performed by Joe Malone
- "Sabre Dance" – written by Aram Khachaturian
- Chants and Incantations – created by Brock Walsh
Legacy of the Film
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Over the years, Hocus Pocus has become a very popular movie. It sells well on DVD and Blu-ray. It also gets huge numbers of viewers when it airs every year on Freeform during their 13 Nights of Halloween. This has helped it become a cult classic.
In 2018, for its 25th anniversary, the first week of Hocus Pocus showings on Freeform had 8.2 million viewers! A special TV show called "Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash" was filmed. It included interviews with the cast like Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Many events have celebrated the movie. In 2011, the Houston Symphony played music from Hocus Pocus. In 2013, D23 held a special screening for the film's 20th anniversary. Many cast members, including Kathy Najimy and Thora Birch, attended.
In 2015, Bette Midler dressed as Winifred Sanderson during her Divine Intervention Tour. She and her backup singers performed "I Put a Spell on You" from the movie.
Since 2015, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular show has been part of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. New actresses play the Sanderson Sisters in this show.
In 2016, a book called Hocus Pocus in Focus was released. It looked closely at the film's themes and legacy. Thora Birch wrote the introduction for the book.
The city of Salem, where the movie is set, also celebrates its connection to Hocus Pocus. Many fans visit the filming locations. In 2018, Salem's annual Halloween parade was themed around Hocus Pocus for its 25th anniversary.
In 2020, the cast reunited for a virtual event called In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover. It was a benefit to raise money for charity. Many famous people joined in, including Meryl Streep and Mariah Carey.
Future of Hocus Pocus
Sequel Plans
For many years, fans wanted a sequel to Hocus Pocus. In 2014, Bette Midler said she and her co-stars, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, were interested in coming back. However, Disney had not yet approved a new movie.
In 2016, actor Doug Jones (who played Billy) said that Disney was thinking about a sequel. Sarah Jessica Parker also said she would love to make another movie.
In 2017, screenwriter Mick Garris said he was working on a script for Hocus Pocus 2. It was first thought to be a TV movie. Then, there were talks about it being a remake for Freeform. But Bette Midler said she didn't like the idea of a remake and wouldn't be in it.
In 2018, a new book was released called Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel. It included a new story about Max and Allison's daughter, Poppy. She visits the Sanderson house 25 years after the first movie.
Finally, in October 2019, a real sequel was announced! It will be an exclusive film for Disney+. Jen D'Angelo is writing the script. Soon after, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy all confirmed they wanted to play the witches again. In March 2020, Adam Shankman signed on to direct the film. It was officially announced in December 2020 that the movie would premiere on Disney+.
See also
In Spanish: Hocus Pocus (película) para niños
