Hocus Pocus is an American media franchise consisting of two films, a sequel novelization, and other Disney media and merchandise. The series was created by David Kirschner and Mick Garris.
Films Film U.S. release date Director Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s) Release type Status Hocus Pocus Kenny Ortega Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert David Kirschner and Mick Garris David Kirschner and Steven Haft Theatrical Released Hocus Pocus 2 Anne Fletcher Jen D'Angelo David Kirschner & Blake Harris and Jen D'Angelo Lynn Harris Disney+ original
Hocus Pocus (1993)
300 years ago, in 1693, in Salem, Massachusetts, the Sanderson sisters were hanged by the population of Salem after a boy named Thackery Binx tried to stop the witches and was turned into an immortal black cat while saving his sister Emily. Before they die, Winifred (the oldest of the sisters) casts a spell stating they will return when a virgin lights a black candle in their house. In the present day, 1993, a newcomer from Los Angeles, California, Max, is bullied at school by two bullies, and has a crush on his schoolmate Allison. On Halloween night, his parents force him to go trick-or-treating with his sister Dani while they go to a party. Max and Dani stumbles upon the house of Allison and decide to go to the house of the Sanderson sisters. While at the house, Max lights a black candle and brings back Winifred, along with her sisters Sarah and Mary Sanderson. The sisters have but one night to suck the essence of the children of Salem and survive for more than one night before sunrise. But Max, Allison, and Dani want to avoid their wish to come true, so they team up with a 300-year-old cat and Winifred's lover, Billy Butcherson, to save the day.
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
In 1653, in Salem, the teenage Winifred Sanderson is banned from the village by the local Reverend Traske after refusing to marry John Pritchett. After causing havoc in the town, she runs with sisters Sarah and Mary to a forbidden forest. There, they meet the Mother Witch, who gives Winifred a magic spell book. In the present day, 29 years after the events of the first film, in 2022, an aspirant witch named Becca is celebrating her 16th birthday with her friend Izzy. When the owner of a magic store named Gilbert gives a magic black candle to Becca for her birthday, she goes to the forest with Izzy along with their other friend Cassie and they accidentally summon the Sanderson sisters. Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson return to seek children to eat and plan revenge against Reverend Traske's descendants. The trio must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking havoc on the world.
Hocus Pocus 3 (upcoming) In October 2022, executive producer Adam Shankman stated that the storyline involving Becca in the second film allows for future projects, including potential spin-offs. By February 2023, Midler stated that while nothing was official she was open to returning in a third film. Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham as well as original film stars Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, and Jason Marsden each expressed interest in returning for a third installment. In June 2023, Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, confirmed that a third film is in development, and planned for a release on Disney+. A few days later, Omri Katz expressed interest in reprising his role as Max Dennison for the third film only if asked by Disney. Later that month, it was announced that Anne Fletcher will once again serve as director, with a script written by Jen D'Angelo. In October 2023, D'Angelo confirmed that work on the script had already begun. In July 2024, Midler confirmed that the film was still in development. Later that month, during an appearance on QVC's Busy This Week, she confirmed that she still has not seen a script for the film yet, but has heard rumblings of one. The following year, in July 2025, Sarah Jessica Parker revealed on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that while the development progress on the movie was slow, conversations are currently ongoing to try to make it happen. In October 16, 2025, Tobias Jelinek, who played Jay Taylor in the original film, expressed his interest in reprising his role in the third film. Two days later, on October 18, during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Bette Midler confirmed that there was a script for the movie, citing discussions, budget and rewrites talks were ongoing. Later that same month, Thora Birch, who played Dani Dennison in the original film, stated that she was "super open" to returning to her role in the third film. In May 2026, a third film was officially announced, with Midler, Parker, and Najimy confirmed to reprise their roles.
Television Special On October 20, 2018, a special entitled Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash aired on Freeform. The special featured interviews with members of the cast, including Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, as well as a costume contest hosted by Sharon and Kelly Osbourne. It was filmed at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Potential series In September 2022, franchise creator and executive producer for Hocus Pocus 2 David Kirschner, stated that he has ideas for a spin-off television series. Inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kirschner stated that the concept revolves around Salem's supernatural history, including characters whose names appear on the tombstones during the first film.
Short film Hocus Pocus: As Told by Chibi (2022) In 2022, Disney Channel ran a short titled Hocus Pocus: As Told by Chibi. This continues the trend started by Big Hero 6: The Series shorts spin-off Big Chibi 6 The Shorts and continued with several Disney franchises. The short was released on October 15, 2022, simplifies the plot of the first Hocus Pocus.
Cast and characters
Characters Films Hocus Pocus Hocus Pocus 2 Hocus Pocus 3 1993 2022 Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson Bette Midler Bette Midler rowspan="7" Sarah Sanderson Sarah Jessica Parker Sarah Jessica Parker Mary Sanderson Kathy Najimy Kathy Najimy William "Billy" Butcherson Doug Jones Doug Jones Maximilian "Max" Dennison Omri Katz rowspan="3" Danielle "Dani" Dennison Thora Birch Allison Watts Vinessa Shaw David Dennison Charles Rocket colspan="2" Jennifer Dennison Stephanie Faracy colspan="2" Thackery Binx Sean MurrayJason Marsden colspan="2" Miss Olin Kathleen Marshall colspan="2" Emily Binx Amanda Shepherd Master Devil Garry Marshall Medusa Lady Penny Marshall Ernie "Ice" Larry Bagby colspan="2" Jay Tobias Jelinek colspan="2" Elijah Steve Voboril colspan="2" Mr. Binx Norbert Weisser Gilbert Sam Richardson Becca Whitney Peak Izzy Belissa Escobedo Jefry Traske Tony Hale Reverend Traske Tony Hale Mother Witch Hannah Waddingham Cassie Traske Lilia Buckingham Mike Froy Gutierrez
Additional crew and production details FilmCrew/Detail Composer Cinematographer Editor Production companies Distributing company Running time Hocus Pocus John Debney Hiro Narita Peter E. Berger Walt Disney Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1 Buena Vista Pictures Distribution 1 hr 36 mins Hocus Pocus 2 Elliot Davis Julia Wong Walt Disney Pictures, David Kirschner Productions, Weimaraner Republic Pictures, Disney+ Original Films Disney+ 1 hr 43 mins
Reception Viewership ratings In 2009, during ABC Family's (now Freeform) 13 Nights of Halloween lineup, a broadcast of the first film garnered 2.5 million viewers. In 2011, an October 29 airing became the lineup's most watched program, garnering 2.8 million viewers. In 2018, the lineup, now known as 31 Nights of Halloween during its 25th anniversary year, the first week of Hocus Pocus viewings garnered 8.2 million viewers.
SVOD viewership According to Whip Media, Hocus Pocus was the most watched movie across all platforms in the United States during the week of October 31, 2021. According to Whip Media, Hocus Pocus was the 2nd most watched movie across all platforms in the United States during the week of September 30, 2022 to October 2, 2022, the 7th during the week of October 9, 2022, and the 9th during the week of October 23, 2022.
In October 2022, Disney+ reported Hocus Pocus 2 was the service's most-viewed-film premiere in the United States, based on the number of hours streamed in the first three days of its release. Disney later reported that Hocus Pocus 2 was the service's most-viewed film.
According to Whip Media, Hocus Pocus 2 was the 2nd most anticipated film of September 2022, the most watched straight-to-streaming title of 2022 in its first three days, as of October 2022, the most watched film across all platforms in the United States during the week of September 30, 2022, to October 2, 2022, the 2nd during the week of October 9, 2022, the 4th during the week of October 23, 2022, as well as the 4th during the week of October 30, 2022, and the 9th during the week of November 4, 2022 to November 6, 2022. According to the streaming aggregator Reelgood, Hocus Pocus 2 was the most watched program across all platforms during the weeks of October 5, 2022, and October 14, 2022.
Box office performance Film Release date Box office gross Box office ranking Budget Ref(s) United States opening weekend North America Other territories Worldwide All timeNorth America All timeworldwide Hocus Pocus July 16, 1993 $8,125,471 $44,101,060 $1,046,929 $45,147,989 #2,056 style="text-align:center;" $28 million Hocus Pocus 2 September 30, 2022 style="text-align:center;" style="text-align:center;" style="text-align:center;" style="text-align:center;" style="text-align:center;" style="text-align:center;" $40 million Totals $68 million
Critical and public response
Film Critical Public Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore Hocus Pocus 40% (63 reviews) 43 (27 reviews) B+ Hocus Pocus 2 65% (157 reviews) 56 (32 reviews)
In other media Events In October 2011, the Houston Symphony celebrated various horror and Halloween classics, including Hocus Pocus, with "The Hocus Pocus Pops". In October 2013, D23 held a special screening of Hocus Pocus at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, to honor the 20th anniversary of the film. Nine of the cast and crew gathered for the screening, and hundreds of D23 members attended. Returning members included Kathy Najimy, David Kirschner, Thora Birch, Doug Jones, Vinessa Shaw, and Omri Katz. During her Divine Intervention Tour in 2015, Bette Midler appeared on stage dressed as Winifred Sanderson. Her Harlettes appeared with her dressed as Mary and Sarah, and the three of them performed the film's version of "I Put a Spell on You". In October 2020, the cast reunited for "In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover". The one-hour broadcast was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the proceeds went to the New York Restoration Project. Members of the cast who participated were Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Thora Birch, Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, and Doug Jones. Other notable participants of the benefit included Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey, Cassandra Peterson, Glenn Close, Billy Crystal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Todrick Hall, Jennifer Hudson, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Michael Kors, Adam Lambert, George Lopez, Alex Moffat, Martin Short, Sarah Silverman, John Stamos, Kenan Thompson, Sophie von Haselberg, and Bella Hadid. The City of Salem has celebrated its connection to Hocus Pocus, while local filming sites have become an attraction for fans as the film's legacy has grown over the years. In 2018, the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, an annual Salem festival held every October, was Hocus Pocus-themed in honor of the film's 25th anniversary. A representative for Destination Salem also reported a huge uptick in tourism for the 25th anniversary year, stating: "There's always been a 'Hocus Pocus' component to the visitors to Salem, especially in October. But it's like the film's following grows every year."