The 30-Year Legacy of Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus is a Halloween classic, a modern day cult hit viewed by millions every time the calendar rolls around to October. The Sanderson sisters (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) provide the movie’s magic as three witches who were hung in 1693 for draining the lives of children. But, they put a curse on the mystical black flame candle, and 300 years later, they are resurrected by teenage nonbeliever Max (Omri Katz). After the snafu, Max, his little sister Dani (Thora Birch), and his new crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw), will spend Halloween night trying to send the Sandersons back to where they came from.

Despite its fall setting, Hocus Pocus was actually released in theaters during the hottest time of the year, arriving in theaters on July 16, 1993. As the movie celebrates its 30th anniversary, we look back at its legacy.

Walt Disney Studios hosted a special screening of Hocus Pocus at D23, in time for the movie’s 20th anniversary in 2013, with multiple cast and crew members appearing at the screening. Disney’s Magic Kingdom introduced the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular as a part of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The show starred Disney park actresses as the Sandersons, who try to summon Disney villains for a Halloween party.

In 2018, Freeform aired The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash, which was filmed at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Most of the movie’s cast appeared in the special, including Midler, Parker, Najimy, Katz, Birch, and Shaw, as well as director Kenny Ortega.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown just about everything in 2020, the one-hour virtual special In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover aired. A charity event raising money for the New York Restoration Project, the special reunited the principal cast and featured a bevy of celebrity guests like Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Stamos, Kenan Thompson, and many others.

Following the positive reception of the 25th anniversary special in ’18, a long awaited sequel was announced in ’19. The Disney+ film reunited Midler, Najimy, and Parker, and brought back Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson. Once again, the Sanderson Sisters are seeking to solidify their place in our world and retain their youth. The movie started streaming on Disney+ in September 2022, and just a few months later in June 2023, Hocus Pocus 3 was announced.