Hocus Pocus
2023 marked the 30th day of remembrance of Disney’sHocus Pocus . For over two decades , fans have been watching the Halloween - themed movie repeatedly during the calendar month of October and Disney+ gave fans a sequel in late years ( with a potential third pic on the way).Even the most die - hard fans , however , can lose details in their favorite movies .
Throughout the ninety - minute adventure , Max Dennison , his little sister Dani , and their newfangled friend Allison pass their Halloween night taking on the witches the Sanderson sisters , and stopping them from ruining the lives of children all over Salem , Massachusetts . During all of the action and comedy , there were a lot of details fan could overlook . While some are intentional Easter eggs , others are error , and still others are thing devotee only get when they have seen the film so many times that they know it by centre .
Max’s Note To Allison Changes
There Were Two Different Notes Used During Filming
When the motion picture kicks off , Max Dennison is meddlesome doubt the truth behind the witchy storiesabout the Sanderson sisters . His history category get the tale recounted by their instructor , and when Max jib at the idea of Halloween being a real holiday at all , he gets adjust by Allison about the twenty-four hour period ’s chronicle . Max ’s reaction is to give Allison his phone number . Allison gets one over on him by returning the note to him when they next meet up outside the schooling .
We still love the 1993 movie Hocus Pocus , including the case Allison . We ’re weighing whether she was really a witch or not .
Eagle - eyed buff will notice thatthe placement of Max ’s sound figure on the paper as well as facet of the authorship change . There were two different notes used during cinematography ! Of course , modern fan will also notice in TV viewing that Max Dennison ’s phone numberwas blurred out . Though 555 numbers are typically used for fictitious numbers , telephone company get issuing those number as the number of people with cell phones grow . Someone actually has Max Dennison ’s phone issue today .
The Fountain From Friends Appears In Hocus Pocus
The Sitcom Was Released A Year Later
While it might not have been noticeable in 1993,many fans might ascertain one particular fountain in the movie familiar in the modern daylight . When the group thinks ( after they break into their school day and practice the ceramic kiln against the Sanderson baby ) that they vote out the enchantress , Dani and Allison run around in front of a fountain while Max and Binx talk of the town . That fountain has a place in pop civilization story .
Friendsdidn’t premier until September of 1994 , so no originalHocus Pocusviewings would have made this item one that mystify out in viewers ' minds .
It ’s become a famous film location thanks to the opening acknowledgment of the sitcomFriends . It ’s the same fountain that the main cast of the show splash around in . It ’s really located in Cherry Hill , New York . Friendsdidn’t premier until September of 1994 , so no originalHocus Pocusviewings would have made this detail one that adhere out in viewers ' minds . WithFriendsas one of the most beloved sitcom of all time now , however , modern fan are flying to view it .
Custom image by Amanda Bruce
Hocus Pocus Used Real Bugs
Sarah Jessica Parker Ate A Real Spider
There have been a lot of anniversary interviews with members of the casting over the years , and one point that often gets brought up is the use of bugs . Sarah Jessica Parker ’s Sarah run through a wanderer at one stop in the movie , and Doug Jones ’ Billy Butcherson has moth fly out of his mouth .
The 1993 interview might have been surprised to incur out that those glitch were all real years afterward . Yes , Parker consume a real spider and Jones hold hot moths in his oral cavity to get the perfect take . For Jones , moths in his back talk were n’t that simple though . There was a little more to keep the moth in place than Jones simply couch them in his backtalk . accord to Tony Gardner , who worked on the makeup team for the movie , a " latex sac " had to be created to put in Jones ' mouth to keep the moth in place .
Bette Midler’s Music Career Has Nods
Winifred Has A Love For Performing Just Like The Actress Herself
Bette Midler is a legendary entertainer . Though she might be best - known for her contribution to movies , there ’s a reasonso many of her characters have had melodic numbers over the last 30 years . She ’s also an realised singer . Because Bette Midler ’s Winifred has a love for performing just like the entertainer herself , there are nod to Midler ’s music vocation splosh throughout the movie . While one nod occur before a performance , the other does n’t .
Mary refers to Winifred as “ elysian ” too soon in the movie , which isa nod to Midler being known as “ the divine Miss M ” for her level presence . Winifred also famously says , “ Hello , Salem . My name ’s Winifred . What ’s yours , ” before sing at a Halloween party . That is a play on a similar line from Midler as Madam Rose in the musicalGypsy , which she also appeared in during the 1993 television time of year .
Someone Is A Fan Of Astrology
The Storybook Version OfHocus PocusHas Some Zodiac Signs On The Cover
The movie opens the same way a lot of classic Disney movies do — with a storybook . Many of Disney ’s early works , specially their animated child ’s movies , played on the idea of reading the hearing a fay tale from a beautiful book . The cover of the book forHocus Pocus , however , is an interesting one . It sport an artist ’s portrayal of the Sanderson sisters ' mansion , but that ’s not all .
In the area that would be the night sky there are symbolization that will be conversant to those who love astrology . The book that appear to be the storybook variation ofHocus Pocushas the zodiac signsVirgo , Leo , Gemini , and Taurus appear in the sky . Those symbols are n’t visible from the same post at the same time on Earth , so they either have crucial meaning to the Sandersons , or the artist responsible for the impression .
Allison Swaps Out Her Pendant
She’s Wearing A Different Necklace After Changing Into Normal Clothing
WhenMax and Dani find themselves at Allison ’s houseon Halloween , Allison is wear out a necklace with her costume . The necklace has a cameo pendant on it and a string of what looks to be pearls . Allison ’s necklace inHocus Pocus , however , changes . After she change from her costume into normal clothing to take Max and Dani to the Sanderson mansion , she ’s wearing a different necklace .
The necklace Allison wears during the sleep of the picture does n’t have the cameo dependent on it . Instead , it looks more like a metal locket . What ’s interesting though is that the pendant is on the same string of pearls , which means Allison either has two very interchangeable necklace , or she took the clip to switch out the chandelier for the night .
Of of course , the most logical explanation here is that it was a error made while film the motion-picture show . It ’s possible one of the necklaces was misplace while filming or that the person in armorial bearing of Allison ’s jewellery opt a unlike necklace to film with for the prospect in costume by misunderstanding .
Hocus Pocus tells the story of the Sanderson Sisters, a trio of witches who are inadvertently resurrected by a teenage boy on Halloween. When the witches threaten to take over the town of Salem, Massachusetts, it’s up to Max, sister Dani, and friend Alison to stop them with the help of Thackery Binx, one of the Sandersons' victims trapped in the immortal body of black cat.
The Witches' Costumes Are Reflected Elsewhere In The Movie
Max’s Shirt Has The Colors The Sanderson Sisters Wear
The dresses of Winifred , Mary , and Sarah have become iconic Halloween costumes . The type are out of the question to miss in the film thanks to their very classifiable garb . Each of the sisters has their own specific coloration scheme . Sarah clothing purple , Mary wears reddish , and Winifred wears green . Each of the babe has other colour within their dresses , but those are their primary colors . Their color scheme , and often , those three colors together , is mull over elsewhere in the pic .
Allison is catch wearing a cloak that resembles Mary ’s at the kickoff of the movie , for model . Likewise , Max ’s first tee shirt in the movie is a standoff - dyed one that flux the colorsof all three of the sisters ' dresses . While some fans will say this link the magic the sisters have to other character , it ’s much more potential that these colors , and specially the vivid and jewel - tincture versions of them , were used because they pop so well on tv camera . It makes sentiency to feature them repeatedly in the motion picture .
There Are Numerous Wizard Of Oz References
All Because The Wicked Witch Of The West Remains One Of The Most Iconic Witches On Screen
One of the most iconic witch on cover persist the Wicked Witch of the West inThe Wizard Of Oz . She ’s so iconic that her backstory has been search inWicked . Her theme music is even now placeable . In fact , fans might hear riffs of it throughoutHocus Pocusand other movies that give callbacks to the villain .
There ’s also one matter in the movie that call back to that same witch . InThe Wizard Of Oz , when Dorothy ’s planetary house land in Kansas , it lands on top of the Wicked Witch ’s baby . As Glinda removes her shoe , her striped stockings are visible the right way before they twine up . Winifred wears a pair of striped stocking throughHocus Pocusas well , and they get plenty of focal point when she turns to stone in the graveyard .
Of of course , Wizard of Ozreferences are very common in projection featuring other witches that the writers might hope become just as iconic .
Of naturally , Wizard of Ozreferences are very rough-cut in labor featuring other witches that the writers might hope become just as iconic . Marvel’sAgatha All Along , released in 2024 on Disney+ , is also filled with reference toWizard of Oz , right down to Agatha ( Kathryn Hahn ) dress as the Wicked Witch of the West and Lilia ( Patti Lupone ) groom as Glinda in an episode .
There Are Familiar Costumes
Some Costumed Children Appear Multiple Times
In scenes that involve a destiny of extra , it ’s not uncommon for the same people to appear repeatedly . It ’s a draw easier for the picture ’s production team to utilize the same few extras for multiple scenes on the same day or to have the same extras appear in a scene multiple times to make the earthly concern appear be in . If fan are pay off attending , they ’ll notice that pass off inHocus Pocusas well .
Just outside the " master ’s " planetary house , there are quite a few kids magic - or - treating . At least , the camera wantsthe audience to think there are quite a few shaver . A few of them walk back and away across the scene multiple time , including a child dressed like a bumblebee and one dressed like a playing card .
There is a lot that fans do n’t know about The Sanderson Sisters along with Max , Dani , and Allison . Here are some playfulness fact gathered from the books .
perchance the fry were just trying to get as much confect as potential from the neighborhood . The more obvious costumes , like Mrs. Potts fromBeauty And The Beast , do n’t walk by as often , but they furnish nods to a lot of other Disney properties .
The Sanderson Sisters Were Not Witch Trial Victims
TheHocus PocusOpening Was Set Months After The End Of The Trials
ThoughHocus Pocuspresents itself as a kid - favorable tarradiddle of witches mark by the Salem Witch Trials ( if there is such a thing ) , the Sanderson sisters were not adult female feign by the trials . TheHocus Pocusopening was set on October 31 , 1693 , exactly 300 years before Max and Dani ’s part in the story .
The Salem Witch Trials began in early 1692 . More than 200 citizenry were accused of witchcraft and put on trial ( or , more accurately , interrogated and torture ) between February 1692 and May 1693 . Salem end their trials before the Sanderson sisters kidnapped Emily Binx and turn her brother into a quat .
That ’s not to say that women could n’t have been oppress after May 1693 in the settlement . The governor of Salem , however , assure his own married woman accused of witchery in 1692 and ordered the visitation , the test , and the hangings to stop .
Billy Cheated On Winifred Six Months Before Her Death
He Supposedly Had An Affair With Sarah
Because Thackery Binx was a fry during the last years of the Sanderson babe ' lives , he is used a lot to instruct them about their history . He say Max , Dani , and Allisonthe story of Billy Butcherson ’s expiry to bring home how vindictive Winifred Sanderson can be . When Winifred found out that Billy was concerned in her sister Sarah , she take her vengeance on him . What fans might not notice on Billy ’s headstone is just when Winifred stitch Billy ’s mouth shut out and murdered him .
Hocus Pocus(1993 ) Key fact Breakdown
Budget
$ 28 million
Box Office
$ 48 million
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score
41 %
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
72 %
Billy Butcherson ’s date of expiry is May 1 , 1693 . That means he supposedly cheated on Winifred with Sarah only six calendar month before the Sanderson baby decide to steal the sprightliness of Emily Binx and swear the town of Salem . The use of Emily ’s lifetime is what Delaware - elderly the Sanderson baby by several years . Billy liked the witches before Winifred make up one’s mind to make them “ young and beautiful ” again .
Siblings Played A Married Couple
Gary Marshall And His Real-Life Sister Penny
These day , adult will be agile to descry this odd fleck of casting forHocus Pocus . Kids watching the movie for the first time , however , will have no idea that “ satan ” and his “ footling cleaning lady ” were actually play by siblings because they in all likelihood wo n’t recognize the actors .
Gary Marshall act the man in a devil costumethat the Sanderson sisters mistook for their sea captain . His married woman was play by his veridical - life sister Penny Marshall . Both have a celebrated calling in the industry as actors , directors , and producer , but they have n’t played a marital match since ( or beforeHocus Pocus ) .
No one working on the movie has ever explained why they cameoed in these particular office , but they ’ve become a self-aggrandising part of theHocus Pocusfun . InHocus Pocus 2 , their tantrum contract a very meta nod , anddirector Anne Fletcher revealedshe want to let in them as a way to honor the original moving picture .
There’s A Witchy Police Badge
It Was Possibly Made To Be A Halloween Costume
After Max illumine the black flame standard candle and bring the Sanderson sisters back , he tries to go to the police for help . Unfortunately , the laugh is that the police officer is n’t really a police force policeman at all . The man he come near send away Max for playing a prank , but reveals himself to be in costume in the same tantrum after Max leave . He ’s just someone out celebrating Halloween too .
If the audience is paying tending , they would be in on the gag before the reveal . The man ’s “ uniform ” does n’t have a existent Salem Police Department piece on the sleeve . Instead , the patch features a witch riding a broom handle , give a skilful indication that it was made specifically to be a Halloween costume .
As fans have channelise out since the original release of the moving picture , however , the man in costume could have been in trouble if a real legal philosophy enforcement officer had see the vista . While it is apparently not against the law to clip up as a member of natural law enforcement for Halloween since many citizenry do , impersonating an officer is against the natural law . That means allow someone to think he is a actual police officer and not admitting the costume .
Filming Produced A Lot Of Continuity Errors
Fans Might Not Have Noticed Some Of These On The First Watch
There are even more filming misunderstanding and persistence errors in the movie than there are Easter eggs . Fans might not have noticed some of these on the first watch , but they can be easy to blot on repetition screening , just as is the case for any long - time fans revisiting holding .
In some scenes of the witches take flight , the cables holdingtheHocus Pocusactorsup can still be find out . Sarah ’s hair’s-breadth change styles throughout the movie . In some scene it ’s curly , in others crinkly , and in still others , blow - dried straight . Mrs. Dennison ’s nuptials band melt and re-emerge during her company aspect , just like Ernie ’s chapeau does when he first find the Sanderson sisters . Spotting all the mistakes can take aside from the picture magic for kids , but it make for a fun party game for adult .
Binx Dies On Emily’s Grave
His Spirit Is Freed When The Sanderson Sisters Die
Thackery Binx is just a stripling when he determine out to kibosh the Sanderson babe from hurting his babe . He does n’t bring home the bacon , but when the babe anathemise him , he get it his delegation to be sure that no one ever brings their magic back to Salem . He has a long time to make that pass since they curse him with immortality .
Though Binx is cursed to spend immortality as a cat , when the Sanderson sisters are destroyed , his spirit is finally capable to move on , and the bozo “ dies . ” When Binx dies , it ’s in the same graveyard where he took the kids to give them background on the witches .
The first Hocus Pocus was shoot on soundstages but many exterior dead reckoning were film in literal locations in Salem , places rooter can go visit .
His place of end , however , is even more significant because it ’s not on Billy ’s grave , where he first told them history . Instead , it ’s on his sister ’s grave , who then meets him to take him to the hereafter . It brings his level full lot since he gave up the life he knew to protect his baby , and then spent his sprightliness as a cat trying to aby for not vex to her in sentence .
Winifred Couldn’t Have Heard The “Hocus Pocus”
It Was Impossible For Her To Quote Max
“ It ’s just a crew of hocus pocus ” is one of the often - quote lines from the motion picture . One of the things most people recall first , the phrase is originally said by Max when he lights the sinister flaming standard candle because he guess the story of the Sanderson sisters is nonsense . Max does n’t believe in magic yet . Winifred then quotes his own Bible back to him later on in the movie .
Winifred ’s snide quote to him is meant to bemock him for doubting the existence of magic . The worry is , her quoting him is inconceivable . She was n’t yet brought back to Earth and could n’t have heard him . If the audience purchase that she heard him from beyond the tomb , she would have already known that Dani , Max , and Allison were all present in the house as well .
Binx Is Played By Two Actors
Sean Murray And Jason Marsden Are The Duo
Like the Marshall siblings appearing as a marital couple , this detail is more likely to be noticed by adult than tyke watching the movie for the first time . Sean Murray , who is now better known to audience as the longest - running roll member on the crime dramaNCIS , star as the human version of Thackery Binx . He , however , is n’t the only actor to wager the role .
Jason Marsden , famous for his vocalisation acting role in numerous animated series and video games is well know for voicing Max inA Goofy Movie . He vocalize the role of Binx the cat as well as Thackery the human , even though Murray physically portrays the part .
The producers did n’t want Binx to vocalize too contemporaneous , so they cast Marsden to sound him in the part of the cat . When realizing that Marsden and Murray ’s accents vocalize nothing alike , the producer had Marsden disk Murray ’s line as well . Murray still read Binx ’s lines on set for the mold to respond to them .
Hocus Pocus Occurs On An Impossible Day
October 31 Was A Sunday In 1993
Everyone can rest easy cognise that the Sanderson sister will never revert to this Earth becauseHocus Pocushas to be set in a whole different reality . In the real world , the events of the movie occur on an impossible daytime .
During the movie , the kid go to schoolhouse , then go home to attend Halloween parties or trick - or - care for . The trouble is , that day was a Sunday in 1993 .
The picture show is set on October 31 , 1993 . During the movie , the kid go to shoal , then go home to attend Halloween parties or trick - or - treat . The trouble is , that solar day was a Sunday in 1993 . alike , there was no full moonshine on that day . The last time Salem , Massachusetts saw a full moon on Halloween was in 1944 . The next one come about in 2020 - though on a Saturday .
Hocus Pocuswas film from October 1992 to February 1993 and actually hit theater of operations in July 1993 , hoping to gain more nestling in seat with school out for summertime holidays . It had been in development , however , since the early eighties for Disney . That means that the year in which the picture was coiffure likely changed with each draft . That ’s not unusual . It just means that it ’s improbable anyone was really look into on whetherHocus Pocuscould actually happen on the movie ’s calendar .
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Hocus Pocus tells the report of the Sanderson Sisters , a trio of witches who are unknowingly resurrected by a teenage boy on Halloween . When the witches jeopardise to take over the townsfolk of Salem , Massachusetts , it ’s up to Max , sister Dani , and supporter Alison to block them with the help of Thackery Binx , one of the Sandersons ' victim immobilize in the immortal torso of black khat .
