Hocus Pocus: Putting a Spell on You for 30 Years — Movie News | Regal (2024)

Hocus Pocus: Putting a Spell on You for 30 Years — Movie News | Regal (1)

Carly Baskette - Regal
Posted on Sep 25, 2023 2:30:07 PM

Celebrate 30 years ofHocus Pocus by seeing it at Regal on October 6, 2023.

The temperature outside is starting to drop a bit. The evening air is crisp and stores are overflowing with Halloween decorations. That can only mean one thing: Hocus Pocus season is upon us! This year is a big milestone as the original 1993 movie turns 30 years old. The potion for the perfect Halloween movie is equal parts 90s nostalgia and lovable kooky characters with just a dash of outlandish premise. Disney cast a spell on audiences who grew up watching this movie every Halloween. Now that 30 years have passed, the tradition has been passed down to younger audiences as well. As we gear up for our annual rewatch, let’s reminisce on the characters of Hocus Pocus 30 years later and see what some of the cast is up to now!

The Cast That Put a Spell on You

Omri Katz plays Max, the new kid in school who moved from California. Omri appeared in several 90s and early 2000s roles, but he hasn’t acted in the last couple of decades. He currently owns a cannabis company and still makes appearances with some of hisHocus Pocusco-stars at various conventions.

Thora Birch plays Max’s precocious little sister, Dani. Thora was something of an icon throughout the 90s and early 2000s with memorable roles inAmerican BeautyandGhost World. She has continued her acting career and just had her directorial debut in 2022 with the Lifetime movieThe Gabby Petito Story.

Hocus Pocus: Putting a Spell on You for 30 Years — Movie News | Regal (2)

Vinessa Shaw plays Allison, Max’s classmate and crush. Vinessa is still acting in film and television roles and does fan appearances at various conventions.

Fun fact: everyone’s favorite sarcastic black cat, Thackery Binx (or just Binx for short) is voiced by a different actor than the actor who plays Thackery’s human form. Both human and cat Binx are voiced by Jason Marsden. Jason has done voice work on many shows and movies you know and love since the 90s, including various voices inThe Fairly Oddparentsand Max inA Goofy Movie. Today he’s still doing voice work and also does lots of fan appearances for his various roles.

Hocus Pocus: Putting a Spell on You for 30 Years — Movie News | Regal (3)

Of course, at the heart ofHocus Pocusare the wickedly endearing Sanderson sisters. The trio steals the show from the moment they appear. The slapstick comedy between Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Najimy) is reigned in by their ringleader Winifred (Bette Midler). All three actors returned to star in 2022’sHocus Pocus 2.

Sarah Jessica Parker is of course most famous for her role as Carrie in HBO’s hit show from the 90s and 2000s,Sex and the City. She’s currently reprising her role in the sequel seriesAnd Just Like That.

Kathy Najimy’s most notable roles are as Sister Mary Patrick inSister ActandSister Act 2: Back in the Habitas well as the voice of Peggy Hill onKing of the Hill. These days she does mostly voice acting with some live action acting as well. She’s also an activist and does a lot of appearances to advocate for issues she is passionate about.

Bette Midler’s illustrious career has spanned Broadway and the silver screen. For her contributions in entertainment and artistry, she has received 3 Grammys, 3 Emmys, and 2 Tonys. After an incredible decades-long career, she is now quietly enjoying semi-retirement. She still accepts some acting roles but toldParade in 2021that her days of live performances were behind her.

Hocus Pocus: Putting a Spell on You for 30 Years — Movie News | Regal (4)

There is one more character who returned for the sequel. Doug Jones plays Billy Butcherson, a clumsy zombie who once dated Winifred. In the years since the originalHocus Pocus, Jones has worked extensively with Guillermo del Toro to bring many of his creatures to life, including the aquatic creature in 2017’sThe Shape of Water. Like many of his co-stars, he also does fan appearances from time to time.

The Future of a Cult Classic

The long-awaited sequelHocus Pocus 2was released last fall. The Sanderson sisters wreaked havoc upon Salem once again, this time terrorizing a new generation of unsuspecting citizens. The movie was an immediate hit, as fans of the original movie were eager to not only see more from their favorite Halloween characters, but also share the magic of the franchise with their own kids.

Hocus Pocus: Putting a Spell on You for 30 Years — Movie News | Regal (5)

Even the cast members themselves were fans of the original movie. Last year,Moviefone sat down for an interviewwith the returning Doug Jones and Sam Richardson who plays bookshop owner Gilbert inHocus Pocus 2. Sam spoke about how he grew up withHocus Pocus: “I wouldn't say that I was a fan of the original, I would say that I was an uberfan and a true obsessed maniac for this movie.” It was a dream come true for him to work alongside the characters he loved as a kid.

For those of us who are wanting even moreHocus Pocuscontent to devour, I have some spook-tacular news! On June 4th of this year, Disney confirmed thatHocus Pocus 3 is in the works. No release date has been set, but pretty soon our favorite Halloween franchise will expand into a triple feature! We can’t wait to see more hijinks from our favorite witches. In the meantime, you can see Hocus Pocus on the big screen again when it returns to Regal for its 30th anniversary on October 6, 2023.

Hocus Pocus: Putting a Spell on You for 30 Years — Movie News | Regal (2024)

FAQs

What went wrong with Hocus Pocus 2? ›

This film suffers from a lazy script due to several rehashed lines or sequences from the original film. I get that the writers were aiming for the nostalgia of the original film, but it was completely overdone.

Is there a Hocus Pocus 3 coming out? ›

In an interview with The New York Times in June 2023, President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production Sean Bailey confirmed that Hocus Pocus 3 was happening. Both Fletcher and D'Angelo were said to return for the third installment as director and writer, respectively.

Was Hocus Pocus a flop when it came out? ›

The film was released in North America on July 16, 1993, by Walt Disney Pictures. Upon its original release, it received mixed reviews from critics and was initially a box-office bomb, possibly losing Disney around $16.5 million during its theatrical run.

Who came back for Hocus Pocus 2? ›

The film stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and Doug Jones reprising their roles. Sam Richardson, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Tony Hale, and Hannah Waddingham join the cast. Filming took place from October 2021 to January 2022 in Rhode Island, replacing Salem, Massachusetts.

Why is Hocus Pocus 2 inappropriate? ›

Parents Need to Know

The witches (returning stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) discuss eating kids to stay young, and they threaten to kill and torture others, including teenagers. They set fires, use spells requiring blood and bones, and talk about stealing souls.

What is the warning about Hocus Pocus 2? ›

Gooch first warned parents about the film on social and then joined CBS' local Texas affiliate Kwtx for a now-viral interview. “A worst case scenario is: you unleash hell on your kids and in your home,” Gooch said. “The whole movie is based on witches harvesting children for blood sacrifices.”

Were the Sanderson sisters real? ›

CNN reported that the Sanderson sisters are fictional characters. There were not three sisters named Winifred, Sarah and Mary who were executed for practicing witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. However, even though they might be fictional, CNN said that there were really three sisters who were accused of witchcraft.

Did Billy Butcherson love Sarah? ›

Billy greatly despises Winifred, but he did have a relationship with her when he was alive because they shared one kiss. He put up with it until he is fed up with her obsession and fell in love with her youngest sister Sarah.

Why did Winifred turn to stone? ›

Max drinks the potion that witch Winnie intended for Dani, so Winnie tries to suck Max's life force instead. Max manages to knock Winnie off her broom and onto the ground. Since Winnie is standing on hallow ground, she turns to stone.

Why aren't Max and Dani in Hocus Pocus 2? ›

'Hocus Pocus' stars open up about why they aren't in sequel: 'It just didn't work' The Sanderson sisters were brought back to life in “Hocus Pocus 2,” but the children's franchise couldn't strike the right alchemy for some of its original cast members.

What happened to Max and Allison after Hocus Pocus? ›

In the novel Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel, which is set 25 years after the events of the first film, Max and Allison are revealed to have married and had a daughter named Poppy.

Is Emily Binx in Hocus Pocus 2? ›

Didn't Return: Thackery Binx (Sean Murray)

Murray did not return to Hocus Pocus 2, nor was there any mention of Thackery or his little sister Emily, aside from some 1993 flashback footage of the Sanderson Sisters attacking Emily, featuring Emily's portrayer Amanda Shepherd.

Hocus Pocus 2 - WikipediaWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org ›

Hocus Pocus 2 is a 2022 American fantasy comedy film directed by Anne Fletcher, written by Jen D'Angelo and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a sequel...
So of course Disney made a sequel. Hocus Pocus 2, which started streaming on Disney+ yesterday, revives the reviled Sanderson sisters—Winifred, Mary, and Sarah ...
Hocus Pocus is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film directed by Kenny Ortega from a screenplay by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert, and a story by David Kirschner a...

Why did Mary's mouth change in Hocus Pocus 2? ›

Najimy said there's a simple explanation for the change. “It's on the other side mainly because it's so hard for me to do it on the side I did it on 30 years ago,” the actor told Entertainment Weekly.

What is the conflict of Hocus Pocus 2? ›

Three young women accidentally bring back the Sanderson Sisters to modern day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking havoc on the world. Cast: Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson.

Why is the ending of Hocus Pocus 2 so sad? ›

In order to achieve immortality, she sacrificed her sisters, and in a teary moment, Sarah and Mary say their goodbyes before slowly turning into glimmering dust fluttering around a horrified Winnie. Fortunately, the spell can be undone. But rather than bring Sarah and Mary back, Winnie meets the same fate.

Did Hocus Pocus 2 do well? ›

Hocus Pocus 2 is not only the most-watched movie ever on Disney+, but has broken a Nielsen record for a streaming movie in its debut weekend with 2.7 billion minutes views.

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