Hocus Pocus
Movie, 1993, The Early 90s, Set in 1693 & 1993
Hocus Pocus is #13 of 27 in release order and #13 of 27 in chronological order in the VHS Kids Classics.
The story
After 300 years of slumber, three sister witches are accidentally resurrected in Salem on Halloween night, and it is up to three kids and their newfound feline friend to put an end to the witches' reign of terror once and for all.
Hocus Pocus recap
In Salem in 1693, the witch sisters Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson drain the life from a girl named Emily Binx to stay young. Her brother Thackery is turned into an immortal black cat, and the sisters are hanged, cursing the town to bring them back if a virgin lights the Black Flame Candle on Halloween. Three hundred years later, Max Dennison, new in town from Los Angeles, takes his little sister Dani trick-or-treating and tries to impress his classmate Allison. In the Sanderson house, now a museum, he lights the candle, and the witches return. Thackery, still a cat, helps the kids steal Winifred's spellbook. The witches chase them through Salem on Halloween night, raise Winifred's old lover Billy Butcherson from the grave, and take over a town party with a song. The kids trap the witches in a school kiln, but they survive.
Hocus Pocus ending explained
The witches kidnap Dani to steal her life before sunrise, and Max drinks the potion to save her. Billy turns against the sisters, the sun comes up, and all three turn to dust. Thackery dies and is freed, joining his sister Emily's ghost, and Billy returns to his grave. Max, Allison and Dani watch the two ghosts walk away together. In the last shot, back in the Sanderson house, the eye on the spellbook's cover opens.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus is streaming on Disney+ and fuboTV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.9/10, Rotten Tomatoes 42%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Rookie of the Year, before Free Willy.
- Chronological order: after Rookie of the Year, before Free Willy.
Cast
- Omri Katz as Max Dennison
- Thora Birch as Dani Dennison
- Vinessa Shaw as Allison
- Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson
- Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson
- Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson
- Tobias Jelinek as Jay
- Larry Bagby as Ernie / 'Ice'
- Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson
- Amanda Shepherd as Emily
- Stephanie Faracy as Jenny Dennison
- Charles Rocket as Dave Dennison
Directed by Kenny Ortega.