Kim Gwizdala and Nikka Markarian have driven four hours to be here today. They’ve dressed in Dallas-style outfits (cropped jackets and black suede cowboy boots) and are sporting Reagan-era ’dos (blown out and heavily feathered). And now, these best friends from Las Vegas, both 32, will spend several more hours in line at a hotel in Burbank, waiting to meet the 83-year-old actress who, decades ago — before Gwizdala and Markarian were even born — played J.R. Ewing’s long-suffering wife. The character who tried to buy a baby on the black market, spent the better part of a season locked away in a sanitarium and whose sister shot her husband.
“Linda Gray!” they chime in unison, as if reciting a holy incantation.
And those are just two of the more than 2,500 rabid fans who have converged at the Burbank Marriott on this hazy weekend in March for The Hollywood Show,...
“Linda Gray!” they chime in unison, as if reciting a holy incantation.
And those are just two of the more than 2,500 rabid fans who have converged at the Burbank Marriott on this hazy weekend in March for The Hollywood Show,...
- 3/29/2024
- by Michael Callahan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Max Dennison, Dani Dennison, Allison Watts, and Thackery Binx made a triumphant return to Salem last weekend, but it wasn’t the Sanderson Sisters who brought them together in the historic Massachusetts town this time. Actors Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, and Jason Marsden commemorated the Hocus Pocus 30th anniversary with an celebration dubbed It’s Just a Buncha Halloween.
“It exceeded my expectations!” exclaimed Marsden of the festivities, which consisted of a costume party, a meet and greet, and a tour of the filming locations. “Not to present false modesty, I understand how popular this project is, but I never expected the amount of people to flock to the party and to wait out in the rain for hours on end just to say hello to us. What made it all worthwhile was the energy by the local Salemites. It really, really enhanced the experience for us.”
“I had the best time,...
“It exceeded my expectations!” exclaimed Marsden of the festivities, which consisted of a costume party, a meet and greet, and a tour of the filming locations. “Not to present false modesty, I understand how popular this project is, but I never expected the amount of people to flock to the party and to wait out in the rain for hours on end just to say hello to us. What made it all worthwhile was the energy by the local Salemites. It really, really enhanced the experience for us.”
“I had the best time,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
There’s something about Eerie, Indiana that brings out even more early ’90s nostalgia than a pair of Mc Hammer pants or A.C. Slater slamming you into a locker. Right up there with Are You Afraid of the Dark? as some of the all-time best gateway TV horror for kids, Eerie always felt like a must watch if you could catch it on Disney or eventually Saturday mornings on Fox Kids Network. The show idea was simple and easy to relate to when you were a kid because every adult in suburbia seemed weird as fuck at the time. Hell, they still do.
In the show, Marshall Teller (Omri Katz) and his friend Simon (Justin Shenkarow) investigate the weird and possibly sinister happenings of their neighborhood and as usual… the adults never believe them.
Eerie, Indiana is jam packed with Halloween atmosphere and horror goodness and it just so...
In the show, Marshall Teller (Omri Katz) and his friend Simon (Justin Shenkarow) investigate the weird and possibly sinister happenings of their neighborhood and as usual… the adults never believe them.
Eerie, Indiana is jam packed with Halloween atmosphere and horror goodness and it just so...
- 10/23/2023
- by Mike Holtz
- bloody-disgusting.com
It's Halloween, and what's the spooky season without a little "Hocus Pocus," my sweet children? The beloved Disney movie may have been a box office flop when it debuted in theaters back in the summer of 1993. But today, it's a seasonal favorite that many consider one of the greatest Halloween movies of all time. Just earlier this month, the movie re-entered the box office charts in the #10 spot, thanks to 30th anniversary screenings at theaters across the country. The love even spawned a long-anticipated sequel, and though it doesn't quite measure up to the original, there may be another one in the works at Disney.
In the meantime, for those who want more of the Sanderson Sisters stirring up trouble, Lego has you covered. Earlier this year, the building brick company released a Lego version of the creepy Sanderson Sisters' cottage, inspired by a fanmade Lego Ideas creation that was...
In the meantime, for those who want more of the Sanderson Sisters stirring up trouble, Lego has you covered. Earlier this year, the building brick company released a Lego version of the creepy Sanderson Sisters' cottage, inspired by a fanmade Lego Ideas creation that was...
- 10/23/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
It’s been 30 years since Winifred Sanderson and her sisters put a spell on fans, and “Hocus Pocus” remains a Halloween classic. So, what are the witchy women up to these days? What about the kids they tormented? Well, at least when it comes to the latter, they aren’t kids anymore.
In fact, you can catch most of them at fan conventions across the country when they aren’t on-screen. Vinessa Shaw, Omri Katz, Thora Birch and Jason Marsden have reunited more than a few times at events in the last few years, as “Hocus Pocus” found its cult following later in its life cycle.
As for the Sanderson sisters, well, they’re obviously still hard at work in Hollywood too. In fact, they just reunited last year for “Hocus Pocus 2” on Disney+.
You can see what the ‘Hocus Pocus” cast looks like now in the photos below.
In fact, you can catch most of them at fan conventions across the country when they aren’t on-screen. Vinessa Shaw, Omri Katz, Thora Birch and Jason Marsden have reunited more than a few times at events in the last few years, as “Hocus Pocus” found its cult following later in its life cycle.
As for the Sanderson sisters, well, they’re obviously still hard at work in Hollywood too. In fact, they just reunited last year for “Hocus Pocus 2” on Disney+.
You can see what the ‘Hocus Pocus” cast looks like now in the photos below.
- 10/21/2023
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
A lot has changed since "Hocus Pocus" (aka The Ultimate Halloween movie) was released in 1993, especially the actors. Ok, maybe Bette Midler looks mostly the same, but the child and teen stars from the original haunting tale are all grown up now. And while some, like Thora Birch and Sean Murray, have continued to act in film and TV, others, like Omri Katz, have moved on to other projects. Only the original Sanderson sisters - Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and Midler - plus Doug Jones returned in 2022's long-awaited sequel, but we can always watch the original movie again and revisit the Salem residents we first fell in love with.
Back in 2018, Parker confessed on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" that though the movie is a classic with fans, her own recollection of it was pretty hazy. "I don't have a lot of memories. I remember the filming of it.
Back in 2018, Parker confessed on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" that though the movie is a classic with fans, her own recollection of it was pretty hazy. "I don't have a lot of memories. I remember the filming of it.
- 9/28/2023
- by Maggie Panos
- Popsugar.com
With its 30th-anniversary rerelease the family-friendly Witches of Eastwick secures its status as a sweet-natured and sometimes weirdly brutal cult favourite
Maybe it’s beside the point to have a 30th-anniversary rerelease for Disney’s Halloween witch comedy starring Bette Midler – it’s been on a kind of permanent, low-level rerelease for three decades. The persistent, annual revival on US TV since it bombed on its cinema release in 1993 is supposed to be what’s gradually turned this film into a slow-burn success and then a cult favourite. Watching it again reveals Hocus Pocus to be … well … the pretty good film that it should have been recognised as at the time, a sort of family-friendly Witches of Eastwick.
A cheeky 17th-century prologue sequence in Salem, Massachusetts establishes that – whatever Arthur Miller might claim – witches with evil power were a real thing and the menfolk of the time were entirely justified in hating and fearing them.
Maybe it’s beside the point to have a 30th-anniversary rerelease for Disney’s Halloween witch comedy starring Bette Midler – it’s been on a kind of permanent, low-level rerelease for three decades. The persistent, annual revival on US TV since it bombed on its cinema release in 1993 is supposed to be what’s gradually turned this film into a slow-burn success and then a cult favourite. Watching it again reveals Hocus Pocus to be … well … the pretty good film that it should have been recognised as at the time, a sort of family-friendly Witches of Eastwick.
A cheeky 17th-century prologue sequence in Salem, Massachusetts establishes that – whatever Arthur Miller might claim – witches with evil power were a real thing and the menfolk of the time were entirely justified in hating and fearing them.
- 9/27/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Don’t believe anything you read. Hocus Pocus is a damn good movie. From its opening frame, the 1993 film contains all the magic and wonder you could want from a gateway horror movie – earning its place next to other ‘90s essentials like Halloweentown. It’s got a talking black cat, spooky spellcasting, a zombie, and three children-eating witches – oh my! Released in the height of summer (July 12), the Kenny Ortega-directed feature hasn’t lost its allure. In fact, its legacy is as strong as ever. It’s still an extraordinarily fun picture 30 years later.
Hocus Pocus endures because of nostalgia. In the era of TV reboots, remakes, and requels, millennials yearn for their childhood and a simpler time. There’s a reason we got a completely unnecessary sequel last fall. But more importantly, Hocus Pocus defines an entire generation of horror fans. For many, it was their very first spooky movie.
Hocus Pocus endures because of nostalgia. In the era of TV reboots, remakes, and requels, millennials yearn for their childhood and a simpler time. There’s a reason we got a completely unnecessary sequel last fall. But more importantly, Hocus Pocus defines an entire generation of horror fans. For many, it was their very first spooky movie.
- 8/17/2023
- by Bee Delores
- bloody-disgusting.com
“Hocus Pocus 3” is casting its spell.
Following Sunday’s announcement that the Disney+ sequel from last fall is now getting a sequel of its own, TheWrap has learned that film’s director Anne Fletcher and writer Jen D’Angelo will be returning to the witchy franchise.
The news of a new “Hocus Pocus” sequel, after last year’s surprisingly enjoyable follow-up to the 1993 Disney classic, came during a profile of Walt Disney Studios president Sean Bailey in The New York Times. Bailey confirmed that there was another film in development — although, at the time, not much else was known.
It’s currently unclear, for instance, if original stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker will be back for “Hocus Pocus 3,” or if other actors from the first film who skipped “Hocus Pocus 2” will return for the new movie. Another looming question: whether the new movie will go straight...
Following Sunday’s announcement that the Disney+ sequel from last fall is now getting a sequel of its own, TheWrap has learned that film’s director Anne Fletcher and writer Jen D’Angelo will be returning to the witchy franchise.
The news of a new “Hocus Pocus” sequel, after last year’s surprisingly enjoyable follow-up to the 1993 Disney classic, came during a profile of Walt Disney Studios president Sean Bailey in The New York Times. Bailey confirmed that there was another film in development — although, at the time, not much else was known.
It’s currently unclear, for instance, if original stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker will be back for “Hocus Pocus 3,” or if other actors from the first film who skipped “Hocus Pocus 2” will return for the new movie. Another looming question: whether the new movie will go straight...
- 6/7/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
A third “Hocus Pocus” film is officially in the works at Disney+, President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production Sean Bailey confirmed to the in a New York Times profile while discussing the company’s upcoming live-action project slate.
The news comes months after Disney+ released a long-awaited sequel to the 1993 cult classic, which saw the return of Bette Midler’s Winifred Sanderson, Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sara Sanderson and Kathy Najimy’s Mary Sanderson.
“Hocus Pocus 2” certainly succeeded in capturing new and old fans alike, with the Sept. 30, 2022, release securing its spot as the most watched original Disney+ movie in the first three since its launch and logging 2.7 billion minutes viewed.
Also Read:
Original ‘Hocus Pocus’ Kids Explain Why They Weren’t in the Sequel: ‘Such a Roller Coaster Ride’
Further details about “Hocus Pocus 3,” including cast and release date, are unknown at this time.
Not all...
The news comes months after Disney+ released a long-awaited sequel to the 1993 cult classic, which saw the return of Bette Midler’s Winifred Sanderson, Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sara Sanderson and Kathy Najimy’s Mary Sanderson.
“Hocus Pocus 2” certainly succeeded in capturing new and old fans alike, with the Sept. 30, 2022, release securing its spot as the most watched original Disney+ movie in the first three since its launch and logging 2.7 billion minutes viewed.
Also Read:
Original ‘Hocus Pocus’ Kids Explain Why They Weren’t in the Sequel: ‘Such a Roller Coaster Ride’
Further details about “Hocus Pocus 3,” including cast and release date, are unknown at this time.
Not all...
- 6/4/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
The second Hocus Pocus took nearly 30 years to reach screens, landing on Disney+ last year. From the sounds of it, we won't have to wait quite as long for a third. In a new New York Times profile of Disney live-action production chief Sean Bailey, there is a small mention of the new movie headed our way.
Of course, there has been no official statement from Disney itself, with the movie still in development, and no guarantee it'll actually happen. Still, while the sequel didn't enjoy huge critical success, it did well for the company on Disney+ last October.
Screenwriter Jen D’Angelo hinted to Variety at a potential sequel that would showcase Omri Katz’s Max Dennison and Vinessa Shaw’s Allison Watts.
"We tried so hard to get the original cast back for cameos and then it just kept not working out for one reason or the other," D’Angelo told the trade magazine's site.
Of course, there has been no official statement from Disney itself, with the movie still in development, and no guarantee it'll actually happen. Still, while the sequel didn't enjoy huge critical success, it did well for the company on Disney+ last October.
Screenwriter Jen D’Angelo hinted to Variety at a potential sequel that would showcase Omri Katz’s Max Dennison and Vinessa Shaw’s Allison Watts.
"We tried so hard to get the original cast back for cameos and then it just kept not working out for one reason or the other," D’Angelo told the trade magazine's site.
- 6/4/2023
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
A third “Hocus Pocus” film is officially in development, Walt Disney Pictures president Sean Bailey has confirmed.
In a profile with The New York Times, Bailey stated that “Yes, ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ is happening” when discussing additional upcoming live-action projects in development at the company.
“Hocus Pocus 3” comes after the success of the 2022 sequel “Hocus Pocus 2,” which saw Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprise their children-hungry witching roles. The sequel broke records amongst the Nielson Top 10 streaming charts, taking home the largest opening weekend with 2.7 billion minutes viewed following its Sept. 30 premiere. The Disney+ movie also became the most watched original film for Disney+ over the frame of the first three days of release.
Though not all original “Hocus Pocus” characters were featured in “Hocus Pocus 2,” screenwriter Jen D’Angelo hinted at a potential sequel that would showcase Omri Katz’s Max Dennison and Vinessa Shaw’s Allison Watts.
In a profile with The New York Times, Bailey stated that “Yes, ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ is happening” when discussing additional upcoming live-action projects in development at the company.
“Hocus Pocus 3” comes after the success of the 2022 sequel “Hocus Pocus 2,” which saw Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprise their children-hungry witching roles. The sequel broke records amongst the Nielson Top 10 streaming charts, taking home the largest opening weekend with 2.7 billion minutes viewed following its Sept. 30 premiere. The Disney+ movie also became the most watched original film for Disney+ over the frame of the first three days of release.
Though not all original “Hocus Pocus” characters were featured in “Hocus Pocus 2,” screenwriter Jen D’Angelo hinted at a potential sequel that would showcase Omri Katz’s Max Dennison and Vinessa Shaw’s Allison Watts.
- 6/4/2023
- by McKinley Franklin
- Variety Film + TV
Omri Katz is an American former child actor best known for his roles as John Ross Ewing III in the television series Dallas and as Max Dennison in the film Hocus Pocus. Like a handful of other child actors, he didn’t have a great run in the industry. So, he decided to hang up his boots and retire. Before he called it quits, the star appeared in several series and films, including Eerie, Indiana, Adventures in Dinosaur City, and Matinee. Katz retired from acting in the late 1990s and has since kept a low profile. Nevertheless, here are 10 things you...
- 4/29/2023
- by Tracy Ume
- TVovermind.com
Get your Feeny calls ready. Most of the main cast of “Boy Meets World” is set to reunite at ’90s Con in Tampa, Florida. The event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the sitcom, which aired from 1993 to 2000.
Confirmed cast for the “Boy Meets World” reunion include Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter), Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), Trina McGee (Angela Moore), Matthew Lawrence (Jack Hunter), William Daniels (Mr. Feeny), Bonnie Bartlett Daniels (Dean Lila Bolander), Betsy Randle (Amy Matthews), William Russ (Alan Matthews) and Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus). Ben Savage, who portrayed Cory Matthews and is currently running for Congress, is not set to attend.
This is the third ’90s Con, presented by Thats4Entertainment, and is set to take place at the Tampa Convention Center on September 15, 16 and 17.
In 2022, Strong, Friedle and Fishel launched “Pod Meets World,” a rewatch podcast. The group revealed that they asked Savage...
Confirmed cast for the “Boy Meets World” reunion include Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter), Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), Trina McGee (Angela Moore), Matthew Lawrence (Jack Hunter), William Daniels (Mr. Feeny), Bonnie Bartlett Daniels (Dean Lila Bolander), Betsy Randle (Amy Matthews), William Russ (Alan Matthews) and Lee Norris (Stuart Minkus). Ben Savage, who portrayed Cory Matthews and is currently running for Congress, is not set to attend.
This is the third ’90s Con, presented by Thats4Entertainment, and is set to take place at the Tampa Convention Center on September 15, 16 and 17.
In 2022, Strong, Friedle and Fishel launched “Pod Meets World,” a rewatch podcast. The group revealed that they asked Savage...
- 3/31/2023
- by Emily Longeretta
- Variety Film + TV
This episode of the Horror TV Shows We Miss video series was Written and Narrated by Niki Minter, Edited by Adam Walton, Produced by John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian. Here’s the text of the video script:
I think 1991 shaped my life before I even realized it did. Aeon Flux, Pete & Pete, Clarissa Explains It All, Liquid Television, The Addams Family, People Under the Stairs, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, and of course, Eerie, Indiana.
All those shows and movies I just mentioned, I can still enjoy just the same as I did then. A few of them actually get repeat viewings throughout the year. There was something cool about these shows made for kids and teens around this time– they weren’t dumbing it down. Kids felt like they were watching something that they could experience for themselves– it was something that felt real. These...
I think 1991 shaped my life before I even realized it did. Aeon Flux, Pete & Pete, Clarissa Explains It All, Liquid Television, The Addams Family, People Under the Stairs, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, and of course, Eerie, Indiana.
All those shows and movies I just mentioned, I can still enjoy just the same as I did then. A few of them actually get repeat viewings throughout the year. There was something cool about these shows made for kids and teens around this time– they weren’t dumbing it down. Kids felt like they were watching something that they could experience for themselves– it was something that felt real. These...
- 3/28/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Last year, Disney+ brought back the infamous Sanderson sisters to great success with “Hocus Pocus 2,” but the kids who defeated them in the original 1993 cult classic didn’t return with them. The actors who played them just revealed why.
At 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, original “Hocus Pocus” stars Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw and Jason Marsden appeared at a panel and discussed the absence of their characters. In the original film, Katz and Birch played Max and Dani Dennison, two siblings whom alongside Max’s classmate crush Allison (Shaw) accidentally revive the Sanderson witches. The three kids must find a way to defeat the coven with the help of Thackery Binx (Marsden), a teen boy who was transformed into an immortal cat by the Sandersons 300 years prior.
Birch said that there had been ideas about ways to bring Max, Dani, Allison and Binx back in a sequel...
At 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, original “Hocus Pocus” stars Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw and Jason Marsden appeared at a panel and discussed the absence of their characters. In the original film, Katz and Birch played Max and Dani Dennison, two siblings whom alongside Max’s classmate crush Allison (Shaw) accidentally revive the Sanderson witches. The three kids must find a way to defeat the coven with the help of Thackery Binx (Marsden), a teen boy who was transformed into an immortal cat by the Sandersons 300 years prior.
Birch said that there had been ideas about ways to bring Max, Dani, Allison and Binx back in a sequel...
- 3/19/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
On Jan. 18, Amanda Bynes reawakened our inner '90s kid when she announced that she'll be reuniting with her former "All That" costars at '90s Con. The convention will take place from March 17 to 19 at the Connecticut Convention Center. There, Bynes will be joined by Kel Mitchell, Danny Tamberelli, Lori Beth Denberg, and other Nickelodeon icons.
"I'm really excited to reunite with my castmates and meet the fans."
The reunion will be Bynes's first public appearance since the end of her nine-year conservatorship on March 21, 2022. "I'm really excited to reunite with my castmates and meet all of the fans at 90's con," she told Popsugar in a statement. Fans will also be able to see the star in person at a panel and meet-and-greet featuring the "All That" cast, where she will be signing autographs and taking photos. Photo ops for '90s Con - including photos on Nickelodeon's...
"I'm really excited to reunite with my castmates and meet the fans."
The reunion will be Bynes's first public appearance since the end of her nine-year conservatorship on March 21, 2022. "I'm really excited to reunite with my castmates and meet all of the fans at 90's con," she told Popsugar in a statement. Fans will also be able to see the star in person at a panel and meet-and-greet featuring the "All That" cast, where she will be signing autographs and taking photos. Photo ops for '90s Con - including photos on Nickelodeon's...
- 1/18/2023
- by Chanel Vargas
- Popsugar.com
Just about 30 years after the release of the original classic, Hocus Pocus 2 is proving to be a huge success for Disney+, becoming the #1 film premiere on the streaming service earlier this month. And the good news gets even better, with Deadline reporting this week that Hocus Pocus 2 also set another huge record for minutes viewed on the overall Nielsen charts.
Deadline notes, “Hocus Pocus 2 set a record for streaming minutes by a movie on Nielsen’s weekly chart, drawing more than 2.7 billion minutes of viewing from September 26 to October 2. The Disney sequel premiered on September 30, meaning only its first weekend counted toward the total.” Previous record holder was Encanto, which debuted with 2.2 billion minutes.
Deadline adds for context, “Nielsen’s weekly rankings measure only streaming via a TV screen (meaning mobile viewing is not counted) for titles on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV+, Prime Video, HBO Max and Netflix,...
Deadline notes, “Hocus Pocus 2 set a record for streaming minutes by a movie on Nielsen’s weekly chart, drawing more than 2.7 billion minutes of viewing from September 26 to October 2. The Disney sequel premiered on September 30, meaning only its first weekend counted toward the total.” Previous record holder was Encanto, which debuted with 2.2 billion minutes.
Deadline adds for context, “Nielsen’s weekly rankings measure only streaming via a TV screen (meaning mobile viewing is not counted) for titles on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV+, Prime Video, HBO Max and Netflix,...
- 10/28/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
According to Omri Katz, aka the cynical protagonist Max from "Hocus Pocus," the then-16-year-old almost got in major trouble for being high on set of the 1993 film. In an Oct. 26 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Katz recalled, "That was at an age where I started experimenting with cannabis. Let's just say, some of those scenes, I was having a good old time."
Despite his best efforts, though, Katz said he wasn't good at disguising his behind-the-scenes habit, which quickly made him a subject of suspicion. While he can't recall exactly which scenes became problematic, he does know that members of the crew eventually started catching on. "I'll tell you what I do remember: I was misperforming and not hitting my keys or marks. Kenny [Ortega, the director] comes up to me and practically grabs me by the shirt, and he was like, 'Are you high?' and I was like,...
Despite his best efforts, though, Katz said he wasn't good at disguising his behind-the-scenes habit, which quickly made him a subject of suspicion. While he can't recall exactly which scenes became problematic, he does know that members of the crew eventually started catching on. "I'll tell you what I do remember: I was misperforming and not hitting my keys or marks. Kenny [Ortega, the director] comes up to me and practically grabs me by the shirt, and he was like, 'Are you high?' and I was like,...
- 10/28/2022
- by Chandler Plante
- Popsugar.com
In October of 1992, Hocus Pocus shot on location in Salem for two weeks (followed by several months of sound stage shoots in California). It was neither critically nor commercially successful upon its theatrical release in July of 1993, but annual airings on the Disney Channel and later ABC Family/Freeform helped an impressionable audience (re)discover the film. Eclipsing cult status, its popularity continues to grow exponentially each Halloween season.
Exactly 30 years later, Omri Katz — who starred as Max Dennison in Hocus Pocus at the age of 17 — returned to the historic Massachusetts town on October 22 for the first time since the shoot. Presented by The Horror Squad Podcast, the eventful day included a meet-and-greet and a Hocus Pocus screening with a Q&a.
Prior to the festivities, we visited some of the original filming locations. Three decades removed from the production and now sporting a salt-and-pepper beard, Katz was largely able...
Exactly 30 years later, Omri Katz — who starred as Max Dennison in Hocus Pocus at the age of 17 — returned to the historic Massachusetts town on October 22 for the first time since the shoot. Presented by The Horror Squad Podcast, the eventful day included a meet-and-greet and a Hocus Pocus screening with a Q&a.
Prior to the festivities, we visited some of the original filming locations. Three decades removed from the production and now sporting a salt-and-pepper beard, Katz was largely able...
- 10/27/2022
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Hocus Pocus (1993) might be a well-known staple of the Halloween season now, and one that brings spooky magic to households all over the globe, but back when writer/producer David Kirschner conceived it, there was nothing even remotely similar out there. It really was one of the first films to fully export the USA’s colorful autumnal holiday of fear across the world.
Originally a much darker story that was conceived as a bedtime tale for Kirschner’s daughters, the producer was soon pitching the flick to studios as the quintessential Halloween movie. Leaning into the film’s original title of Halloween House, Kirschner even used Halloween decorations, such as a table strewn with candy corn and the movie’s soon-to-be infamous vacuum cleaner “broomstick” hanging from the ceiling, for his pitches to executives.
Nonetheless, its status as a holiday classic is something of a Halloween miracle since Hocus Pocus...
Originally a much darker story that was conceived as a bedtime tale for Kirschner’s daughters, the producer was soon pitching the flick to studios as the quintessential Halloween movie. Leaning into the film’s original title of Halloween House, Kirschner even used Halloween decorations, such as a table strewn with candy corn and the movie’s soon-to-be infamous vacuum cleaner “broomstick” hanging from the ceiling, for his pitches to executives.
Nonetheless, its status as a holiday classic is something of a Halloween miracle since Hocus Pocus...
- 10/24/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Just about 30 years after the release of Hocus Pocus, the beloved Halloween classic has finally spawned a sequel with Hocus Pocus 2, and it looks to be a huge success for Disney+.
Hocus Pocus 2, which premiered Only on Disney+ this past Friday, has become the #1 film premiere on Disney+ to date, the streaming equivalent to topping the box office charts.
This statistic is based on “hours watched domestically in the first 3 days,” Disney+ notes.
Clearly, audiences across the United States were hungry to see the return of the Sanderson Sisters, with Hocus Pocus 2 making for one of this Halloween season’s first big events. For years those who never found much to love about the original movie have been wondering how big the fanbase really is, and it would seem we now a definitive answer to that question.
Yes, haters. People actually do love Hocus Pocus. And we love it too.
Hocus Pocus 2, which premiered Only on Disney+ this past Friday, has become the #1 film premiere on Disney+ to date, the streaming equivalent to topping the box office charts.
This statistic is based on “hours watched domestically in the first 3 days,” Disney+ notes.
Clearly, audiences across the United States were hungry to see the return of the Sanderson Sisters, with Hocus Pocus 2 making for one of this Halloween season’s first big events. For years those who never found much to love about the original movie have been wondering how big the fanbase really is, and it would seem we now a definitive answer to that question.
Yes, haters. People actually do love Hocus Pocus. And we love it too.
- 10/4/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Hocus Pocus 2.] The witches are back! Sanderson sisters, Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary (Kathy Najimy) are reuniting once again for Disney+‘s long-awaited Hocus Pocus sequel, but could a third film be on the horizon? Below, we’re examining the possibility based on hints dropped in Hocus Pocus 2, so beware of major spoilers ahead. As fans of the Halloween-y franchise have come to know, the Sanderson sisters are summoned from beyond the grave when a virgin lights a black flame candle. In the first film, that’s Max (Omri Katz), and in Hocus Pocus 2, it’s Becca (Whitney Peak). What follows is the witches wreaking delicious havoc on their old stomping grounds of Salem, Massachusetts. (Credit: Disney+) In the new film, Becca is tricked into lighting a black flame candle by magic shop owner Gilbert (Sam Richardson) who gifts her the item for her sixteenth birthday.
- 9/30/2022
- TV Insider
Note: This article contains massive spoilers for “Hocus Pocus 2” on Disney+. Read on at your own risk
Lock up your children Salem, the Sanderson Sisters are back, again! But once more, the witchy trio only returns for one night in “Hocus Pocus 2” — or so it seems. But could a threequel be possible now? Let’s break down this ending.
First, we need to take it back a touch. Much like the original film, the Sanderson Sisters were only able to return to Salem this year thanks to a Black Flame candle. It’s not the Black Flame candle — the one that Max (Omri Katz), Alison (Vinessa Shaw) and Dani (Thora Birch) used to resurrect the witches the first time — but it works the same way. A virgin lights it on Halloween, during a full moon, and ichita copita melaka mystica, Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker) return,...
Lock up your children Salem, the Sanderson Sisters are back, again! But once more, the witchy trio only returns for one night in “Hocus Pocus 2” — or so it seems. But could a threequel be possible now? Let’s break down this ending.
First, we need to take it back a touch. Much like the original film, the Sanderson Sisters were only able to return to Salem this year thanks to a Black Flame candle. It’s not the Black Flame candle — the one that Max (Omri Katz), Alison (Vinessa Shaw) and Dani (Thora Birch) used to resurrect the witches the first time — but it works the same way. A virgin lights it on Halloween, during a full moon, and ichita copita melaka mystica, Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker) return,...
- 9/30/2022
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
Salem may never be free of witchery, especially when it comes to the Sanderson sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” When they first came to Salem to wreak havoc on the town and claim the lives of children to stay young and beautiful, it was 1993, 300 years after they were initially hung for draining the life source of one Emily Binx. Just in the nick of time, Winifred Sanderson cast a curse that ensured the return of the tricky trio. All it took was some airhead virgin lighting a candle.
“Hocus Pocus 2” sees the return of the witches alongside some new characters. A black cat named Cobweb reminds us of Thackery Binx from the first film. Chaos ensues as the Sanderson sisters try to accomplish their original goal in 2022, with iPhones, a Walgreens, Rumba vacuum cleaners and more.
Fans of the original “Hocus Pocus” or those just joining the fandom may be...
“Hocus Pocus 2” sees the return of the witches alongside some new characters. A black cat named Cobweb reminds us of Thackery Binx from the first film. Chaos ensues as the Sanderson sisters try to accomplish their original goal in 2022, with iPhones, a Walgreens, Rumba vacuum cleaners and more.
Fans of the original “Hocus Pocus” or those just joining the fandom may be...
- 9/30/2022
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Magic is afoot in the long-awaited “Hocus Pocus 2,” now streaming exclusively on Disney+. Returning to reprise their original roles include Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson, Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson and Doug Jones as William “Billy Butcherson.” Sadly, as you’ll find out from the following recap, Thackery Binx won’t be returning for the spooky sequel. Nor will Thora Birch, who played Dani in the 1993 film, Omri Katz who played Max or Vinessa Shaw who portrayed Allison.
A great cast of new characters carries on the legacy of the original frightening film, released almost 30 years ago. Within the film itself, 300 years pass, taking the sisters from 1693 Salem to 1993 Salem. Some airhead virgin summons them back by lighting the Black Flame Candle, and chaos ensues.
Here’s what you need to remember from “Hocus Pocus” in order to be absolutely ready for “Hocus Pocus...
A great cast of new characters carries on the legacy of the original frightening film, released almost 30 years ago. Within the film itself, 300 years pass, taking the sisters from 1693 Salem to 1993 Salem. Some airhead virgin summons them back by lighting the Black Flame Candle, and chaos ensues.
Here’s what you need to remember from “Hocus Pocus” in order to be absolutely ready for “Hocus Pocus...
- 9/30/2022
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
"Hocus Pocus 2" has a very funny moment that calls back to one of the stranger - and most criticized - parts of the 1993 original. In "Hocus Pocus," the Sanderson sisters can only return to Salem if a virgin teen lights the Black Flame candle. Max (Omri Katz) is the one to do it, and the movie is shameless in mocking him for his lack of sexual experience. Even his 8-year-old sister, Dani (Thora Birch), makes fun of him for it.
The focus on virginity is a little weird for a movie ostensibly for kids, and it's been the subject of a lot of criticism over the years for buying into tropes of toxic masculinity. Max doesn't deserve to be mocked because of what he has or hasn't done in his relationships (never mind the fact that virginity is a construct). "Hocus Pocus 2" makes a great change around this plot point,...
The focus on virginity is a little weird for a movie ostensibly for kids, and it's been the subject of a lot of criticism over the years for buying into tropes of toxic masculinity. Max doesn't deserve to be mocked because of what he has or hasn't done in his relationships (never mind the fact that virginity is a construct). "Hocus Pocus 2" makes a great change around this plot point,...
- 9/30/2022
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
It’s unlikely even Disney knew they had a classic Halloween scene on their hands when they put microphones in front of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, and said “sing.” Yet the original Hocus Pocus of 1993 conjured real magic from the moment Midler teased, “I put a spell on you, and now you’re mine” to the scene’s finale in which Midler cursed all the adults of Salem to dance until they die! Thirty years on, that spell endures still, making the scene and the movie it’s borne from a stone cold holiday classic.
Hence Hocus Pocus 2’s fundamental dilemma.
Redoing such iconography is always the greatest intimidation, yet biggest audience expectation, that comes with remakes, reboots, and legacy sequels. And it’s a kind of credit to Hocus Pocus 2 that the movie is unafraid of going full tilt for it. In fact,...
Hence Hocus Pocus 2’s fundamental dilemma.
Redoing such iconography is always the greatest intimidation, yet biggest audience expectation, that comes with remakes, reboots, and legacy sequels. And it’s a kind of credit to Hocus Pocus 2 that the movie is unafraid of going full tilt for it. In fact,...
- 9/30/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
In the almost 30 years since “Hocus Pocus” first came out, a fan theory has emerged, and slowly gained steam above all others. The notion is that Allison, Max Dennison’s (Omri Katz) love interest in the movie played by Vinessa Shaw, was herself a witch, tasked with protecting Salem with her own good magic. And this year, Shaw is finally giving some clarity on that idea.
The theory first started flying thanks to a scene that Allison and Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler) share in “Hocus Pocus,” in which Allison keeps the witch at bay with her container of salt, after making a circle around herself with it. In response, Winifred calls her “a clever little white witch.” If you need a quick refresher, you can watch the moment below:
It’s the only time that Allison is explicitly referred to as any sort of witch, so naturally, it’s caught...
The theory first started flying thanks to a scene that Allison and Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler) share in “Hocus Pocus,” in which Allison keeps the witch at bay with her container of salt, after making a circle around herself with it. In response, Winifred calls her “a clever little white witch.” If you need a quick refresher, you can watch the moment below:
It’s the only time that Allison is explicitly referred to as any sort of witch, so naturally, it’s caught...
- 9/29/2022
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
Plot: It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.
Review: For three decades, fans have clamored for a sequel to Hocus Pocus. The Disney film has maintained a cult following thanks to a cheeky blend of humor and scares appropriate for all ages. While a sequel was released in the form of a 2018 novel that directly followed the plot and characters of the original movie, it took until now for Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy to reunite on screen as the Sanderson Sisters. Under the direction of Anne Fletcher, Hocus Pocus 2 was guaranteed to be a hit this Halloween season regardless of the quality of the film.
Review: For three decades, fans have clamored for a sequel to Hocus Pocus. The Disney film has maintained a cult following thanks to a cheeky blend of humor and scares appropriate for all ages. While a sequel was released in the form of a 2018 novel that directly followed the plot and characters of the original movie, it took until now for Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy to reunite on screen as the Sanderson Sisters. Under the direction of Anne Fletcher, Hocus Pocus 2 was guaranteed to be a hit this Halloween season regardless of the quality of the film.
- 9/29/2022
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Finally, the Sanderson sisters of Salem have returned to trouble a new generation in Hocus Pocus 2, the decades-later sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic streaming exclusively on Disney+.
Taking place 29 years after the events of the first film, three high school students have to team up with a magic-savvy shopkeep to stop the Sanderson sisters, who have returned to present-day Salem looking for revenge.
The inimitable Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker are set to return as Winifred ‘Winnie’ Sanderson, Mary Sanderson, and Sara Sanderson respectfully. Doug Jones...
Taking place 29 years after the events of the first film, three high school students have to team up with a magic-savvy shopkeep to stop the Sanderson sisters, who have returned to present-day Salem looking for revenge.
The inimitable Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker are set to return as Winifred ‘Winnie’ Sanderson, Mary Sanderson, and Sara Sanderson respectfully. Doug Jones...
- 9/28/2022
- by Sage Anderson
- Rollingstone.com
A few years back, original Hocus Pocus star Thora Birch had expressed interest in returning for the sequel, which is now coming to Disney+ this Friday, September 30. Birch, however, isn’t back in Hocus Pocus 2 alongside the other legacy stars from the original classic, and the actress explains why in a new interview with Entertainment Tonight that went live this week.
The reason Thora Birch isn’t in Hocus Pocus 2? Scheduling issues.
Thora Birch tells Entertainment Tonight, “I was just a little dismayed I wasn’t able to make it. I was working on something else when they were filming. Otherwise I was definitely going to be there on set with the girls.”
“I can’t wait to see what they do with it,” Birch continues, “I know they’re taking a completely different, fresh approach, so I’m excited.”
A young Thora Birch played Dani Dennison in...
The reason Thora Birch isn’t in Hocus Pocus 2? Scheduling issues.
Thora Birch tells Entertainment Tonight, “I was just a little dismayed I wasn’t able to make it. I was working on something else when they were filming. Otherwise I was definitely going to be there on set with the girls.”
“I can’t wait to see what they do with it,” Birch continues, “I know they’re taking a completely different, fresh approach, so I’m excited.”
A young Thora Birch played Dani Dennison in...
- 9/28/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Slow and steady wins the race — and in the case of “Hocus Pocus 2,” the Sanderson sisters are returning to seek revenge on Salem after 29 years.
While Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy all reprise their roles as the three villainous witches in the sequel, there were some notable absences. For one, the main protagonists of the original film — Omri Katz’s Max Dennison and Vinessa Shaw’s Allison Watts — don’t appear in the movie.
During the “Hocus Pocus 2” worldwide premiere on Tuesday in New York City, screenwriter Jen D’Angelo shed a light of hope that Max and Allison could return for a potential third installment.
“We tried so hard to get the original cast back for cameos and then it just kept not working out for one reason or the other,” D’Angelo told Variety. “But I’m hoping in ‘Hocus Pocus 3,’ we’ll see Max and Alison living in California.
While Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy all reprise their roles as the three villainous witches in the sequel, there were some notable absences. For one, the main protagonists of the original film — Omri Katz’s Max Dennison and Vinessa Shaw’s Allison Watts — don’t appear in the movie.
During the “Hocus Pocus 2” worldwide premiere on Tuesday in New York City, screenwriter Jen D’Angelo shed a light of hope that Max and Allison could return for a potential third installment.
“We tried so hard to get the original cast back for cameos and then it just kept not working out for one reason or the other,” D’Angelo told Variety. “But I’m hoping in ‘Hocus Pocus 3,’ we’ll see Max and Alison living in California.
- 9/28/2022
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
During Et’s visit to the set of “The Gabby Petito Story”, Lifetime’s true-crime film about the van life murder, director Thora Birch opened up about her involvement in two other anticipated projects, “Hocus Pocus 2” on Disney+ and Netflix’s “Wednesday” series.
“I was just a little dismayed I wasn’t able to make it,” Birch said of the sequel to “Hocus Pocus“, in which she originated the role of 8-year-old Dani Dennison, one of the Salem, Massachusetts, kids who gets caught up in the mayhem after the resurrection of the Sanderson sisters.
Nearly 30 years later, Midler, Najimy and Parker have reunited for a new tale about the three witches, with Doug Jones reprising his zombie role. However, the original film’s young stars, Omri Katz and Vinessa Shaw, are not among the cast returning for the sequel.
“I was working on something else when they were filming,...
“I was just a little dismayed I wasn’t able to make it,” Birch said of the sequel to “Hocus Pocus“, in which she originated the role of 8-year-old Dani Dennison, one of the Salem, Massachusetts, kids who gets caught up in the mayhem after the resurrection of the Sanderson sisters.
Nearly 30 years later, Midler, Najimy and Parker have reunited for a new tale about the three witches, with Doug Jones reprising his zombie role. However, the original film’s young stars, Omri Katz and Vinessa Shaw, are not among the cast returning for the sequel.
“I was working on something else when they were filming,...
- 9/27/2022
- by Shakiel Mahjouri
- ET Canada
The Sanderson Sisters officially return to their bewitching antics next week — just in time for Halloween. And already the merchandise is flying off the shelves. The “Hocus Pocus” Yahtzee is currently a best seller on Amazon, and that’s not the only Sanderson sister tie-in that candle-lighting. Virgins are hyped for this spooky season.
From glittering gold Hocus Pocus-themed Crocs to a Hot Topic Cardigan inspired by the one worn by an 11 year-old Thora Birch in the original film, check out some of the best “Hocus Pocus” merch to buy ahead of “Hocus Pocus 2.”
In the sequel, which premieres Sept. 30 on Disney+, Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Dajimy) rise from the dead to face off against two young girls who take over for Max Dennison and Dani in stopping the sibling witches from becoming immortal before the sun rises.
Hocus Pocus Crocs Courtesy of...
From glittering gold Hocus Pocus-themed Crocs to a Hot Topic Cardigan inspired by the one worn by an 11 year-old Thora Birch in the original film, check out some of the best “Hocus Pocus” merch to buy ahead of “Hocus Pocus 2.”
In the sequel, which premieres Sept. 30 on Disney+, Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Dajimy) rise from the dead to face off against two young girls who take over for Max Dennison and Dani in stopping the sibling witches from becoming immortal before the sun rises.
Hocus Pocus Crocs Courtesy of...
- 9/27/2022
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety Film + TV
Autumn leaves, chilly gloom and fall-scented candles are about to fill the air — along with some witchy magic, Halloween spirit and a black candle flame, summoning the spookiest sequel in September: “Hocus Pocus 2.” The Sanderson sisters will return in this long awaited sequel alongside some new faces.
The film is directed by Anne Fletcher and produced by Lynn Harris, with Ralph Winter, David Kirschner and Adam Shankman serving as executive producers.
With the end of September and the start of October just around the corner, it’s time to get into gear for a magical movie 30 years in the making. Below we have compiled everything we know about “Hocus Pocus 2.”
Also Read:
All the Halloween Movies Streaming on Disney+ This Fall The Sanderson sisters will return to Salem
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will reprise their original roles of Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson, the...
The film is directed by Anne Fletcher and produced by Lynn Harris, with Ralph Winter, David Kirschner and Adam Shankman serving as executive producers.
With the end of September and the start of October just around the corner, it’s time to get into gear for a magical movie 30 years in the making. Below we have compiled everything we know about “Hocus Pocus 2.”
Also Read:
All the Halloween Movies Streaming on Disney+ This Fall The Sanderson sisters will return to Salem
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will reprise their original roles of Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson, the...
- 9/23/2022
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
We’re just about one week away from the long-awaited premiere of Hocus Pocus 2, with the brand new sequel movie coming exclusively to Disney+ on September 30, 2022.
The film is being billed as “the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic,” with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy all back as the beloved Sanderson Sisters.
Doug Jones will also be returning as Billy Butcherson, seen in the latest trailer.
Check out three new character posters below, spotlighting the sisters!
“It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to figure out how to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before midnight on All Hallow’s Eve.”
Anne Fletcher (The Guilt Trip) directed Hocus Pocus 2...
The film is being billed as “the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic,” with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy all back as the beloved Sanderson Sisters.
Doug Jones will also be returning as Billy Butcherson, seen in the latest trailer.
Check out three new character posters below, spotlighting the sisters!
“It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to figure out how to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before midnight on All Hallow’s Eve.”
Anne Fletcher (The Guilt Trip) directed Hocus Pocus 2...
- 9/22/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
When Halloween comes around each year, you’d have to twist your bones and bend your back to avoid “Hocus Pocus.” The film regularly wins cable movie telecast ratings each October. Disney theme parks have an annual “Spelltacular” centered around the Sanderson Sisters. It’s even getting a sequel, “Hocus Pocus 2,” set to hit Disney+ next week.
But if Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are effectively Halloween royalty, why, you may wonder, did it take 30 years to get a second film? Well, “Hocus Pocus” wasn’t always the cultural touchstone it is in 2022.
When “Hocus Pocus” hit theaters in 1993, it was panned by critics — Roger Ebert’s one-star review said it was “like attending a party you weren’t invited to, and where you don’t know anybody, and they’re all in on a joke but won’t explain it to you.” And the movie flopped at the box office,...
But if Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are effectively Halloween royalty, why, you may wonder, did it take 30 years to get a second film? Well, “Hocus Pocus” wasn’t always the cultural touchstone it is in 2022.
When “Hocus Pocus” hit theaters in 1993, it was panned by critics — Roger Ebert’s one-star review said it was “like attending a party you weren’t invited to, and where you don’t know anybody, and they’re all in on a joke but won’t explain it to you.” And the movie flopped at the box office,...
- 9/21/2022
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
In the most recent trailer for Hocus Pocus 2, we get a taste of some backstory footage that’s set over 300 years prior to the events of the original movie, revealing that we’re going to be meeting the Sanderson Sisters as kids in the upcoming sequel. Ahead of Hocus Pocus 2 arriving on Disney+ on September 30, producer David Kirschner teases that trip into the past.
The Broadway Podcast network’s hit show The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul, hosted by actor & journalist Robert Peterpaul, just debuted the first part of their interview with Kirschner, the creator of Hocus Pocus and the producer of the new sequel. The Art of Kindness spotlights kindness in the arts through intimate conversations with industry powerhouses who use their platforms to make the world a better place. Kirschner joined Peterpaul to discuss the kindness of making the cult classic, along with what to expect from the upcoming sequel.
The Broadway Podcast network’s hit show The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul, hosted by actor & journalist Robert Peterpaul, just debuted the first part of their interview with Kirschner, the creator of Hocus Pocus and the producer of the new sequel. The Art of Kindness spotlights kindness in the arts through intimate conversations with industry powerhouses who use their platforms to make the world a better place. Kirschner joined Peterpaul to discuss the kindness of making the cult classic, along with what to expect from the upcoming sequel.
- 9/19/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products released each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Halloween III Mini Masks from Fright-Rags
Have a happy, happy Halloween with Fright-Rags’ Halloween III: Season of the Witch mini masks based on the iconic skull, pumpkin, and witch masks from the film, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
Designed by John Tatarelli Jr., each vacuform plastic mask is approximately 6” tall and comes in its own window box with art by Kyle Crawford. Sold as a set for 60, they’re limited to 2,000.
Gigan Apron & Glove Set from Toho
Are you a monster in the kitchen? In honor of Godzilla vs. Gigan’s 50th anniversary, Toho made a Gigan apron and glove set based on the fan-favorite kaiju. It’s ¥6,600 — approximately 46 — straight from Japan, but international shipping is available.
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Halloween III Mini Masks from Fright-Rags
Have a happy, happy Halloween with Fright-Rags’ Halloween III: Season of the Witch mini masks based on the iconic skull, pumpkin, and witch masks from the film, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
Designed by John Tatarelli Jr., each vacuform plastic mask is approximately 6” tall and comes in its own window box with art by Kyle Crawford. Sold as a set for 60, they’re limited to 2,000.
Gigan Apron & Glove Set from Toho
Are you a monster in the kitchen? In honor of Godzilla vs. Gigan’s 50th anniversary, Toho made a Gigan apron and glove set based on the fan-favorite kaiju. It’s ¥6,600 — approximately 46 — straight from Japan, but international shipping is available.
- 9/16/2022
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Sanderson Sisters are back in Hocus Pocus 2, set to debut on Disney+ on September 30, 2022, and the streaming service has released the first official clip from the movie today.
In the clip, the sisters find some rather unique “brooms” at Walgreens…
The film is being billed as “the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic,” with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy all back as the beloved Sanderson Sisters.
Doug Jones will also be returning as Billy Butcherson!
“It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to figure out how to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before midnight on All Hallow’s Eve.”
Anne Fletcher (The Guilt Trip) directed Hocus Pocus 2...
In the clip, the sisters find some rather unique “brooms” at Walgreens…
The film is being billed as “the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic,” with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy all back as the beloved Sanderson Sisters.
Doug Jones will also be returning as Billy Butcherson!
“It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to figure out how to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before midnight on All Hallow’s Eve.”
Anne Fletcher (The Guilt Trip) directed Hocus Pocus 2...
- 9/14/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Grab a warm blanket and relight the Black Flame Candle. Spooky season is officially upon us! What's more, as if the return of colorful leaves, chilly air, and pumpkin spice lattes wasn't enough to suit all of your autumnal needs, the coziest time of the year also comes with the long-awaited resurrection of three supernatural sisters who no doubt played a huge part in the childhoods of '90s kids worldwide.
That's right. On September 30, 2022, the children of Salem better watch out because the Sanderson sisters, Winnifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) return to this mortal realm after a 29-year absence to continue their quest for eternal youth in director Anne Fletcher's hotly-anticipated nostalgic sequel, "Hocus Pocus 2."
However, if all this talk of witches, ghosts, and things that go bump in the night has got you craving family-friendly frights like some kind of drink-deprived Dracula,...
That's right. On September 30, 2022, the children of Salem better watch out because the Sanderson sisters, Winnifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) return to this mortal realm after a 29-year absence to continue their quest for eternal youth in director Anne Fletcher's hotly-anticipated nostalgic sequel, "Hocus Pocus 2."
However, if all this talk of witches, ghosts, and things that go bump in the night has got you craving family-friendly frights like some kind of drink-deprived Dracula,...
- 9/11/2022
- by Simon Bland
- Slash Film
The popularity of Hocus Pocus has grown with each passing year, paving the way for the long-awaited sequel Hocus Pocus 2 to debut on Disney+ on September 30, 2022.
Fresh out of D23 tonight, watch the brand new Hocus Pocus 2 trailer below!
The film is being billed as “the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic,” with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy all back as the beloved Sanderson Sisters.
Doug Jones will also be returning as Billy Butcherson, seen in this new trailer!
“It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to figure out how to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before midnight on All Hallow’s Eve.”
Anne Fletcher (The Guilt Trip...
Fresh out of D23 tonight, watch the brand new Hocus Pocus 2 trailer below!
The film is being billed as “the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic,” with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy all back as the beloved Sanderson Sisters.
Doug Jones will also be returning as Billy Butcherson, seen in this new trailer!
“It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to figure out how to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before midnight on All Hallow’s Eve.”
Anne Fletcher (The Guilt Trip...
- 9/9/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Disney has released the official trailer for “Hocus Pocus 2,” in which the Sanderson sisters will once again put a spell on you. The new trailer debuted at the D23 Expo with an introduction from Disney Chairman Alan Bergman.
“It is a film that exists thanks to the overwhelming love all of you have here for the Sanderson sisters,” Bergman shared before re-introducing the crowd to a cute produced video hello from the sisters themselves.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy and Doug Jones are reprising their roles from the original 1993 film. Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo and Whitney Peak also star in the sequel, along with “Drag Race” queens Ginger Minj, Kahmora Hall and Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté.
Waddingham’s role was revealed to be the witch who gives young Midler the book of magic, thus revealing a 370 year secret as to how the Sanderson sisters became magical.
“It is a film that exists thanks to the overwhelming love all of you have here for the Sanderson sisters,” Bergman shared before re-introducing the crowd to a cute produced video hello from the sisters themselves.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy and Doug Jones are reprising their roles from the original 1993 film. Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo and Whitney Peak also star in the sequel, along with “Drag Race” queens Ginger Minj, Kahmora Hall and Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté.
Waddingham’s role was revealed to be the witch who gives young Midler the book of magic, thus revealing a 370 year secret as to how the Sanderson sisters became magical.
- 9/9/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Hocus Pocus star Omri Katz is returning to Salem this Halloween! The actor, who played Max Dennison in the perennial favorite, will be in the historic Massachusetts town for a pair of special events on October 22.
Katz will appear at Silver Moon Comics from 1-5pm for a signing followed by a Hocus Pocus screening and Q&a at 7pm at Cinema Salem. Both locations are in the Witch City Mall. Less than 25 tickets are left for the screening before it sells out, so grab one soon for 35. The signing does not require a ticket.
At the age of 17, Katz starred in the 1993 film alongside Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Thora Birch, and Vinessa Shaw. Kenny Ortega directed from a script by Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) and Neil Cuthbert (Mystery Men).
Katz also starred in Eerie, Indiana, Matinee, Dallas, and Adventures in Dinosaur City. His character does...
Katz will appear at Silver Moon Comics from 1-5pm for a signing followed by a Hocus Pocus screening and Q&a at 7pm at Cinema Salem. Both locations are in the Witch City Mall. Less than 25 tickets are left for the screening before it sells out, so grab one soon for 35. The signing does not require a ticket.
At the age of 17, Katz starred in the 1993 film alongside Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Thora Birch, and Vinessa Shaw. Kenny Ortega directed from a script by Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) and Neil Cuthbert (Mystery Men).
Katz also starred in Eerie, Indiana, Matinee, Dallas, and Adventures in Dinosaur City. His character does...
- 9/6/2022
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
The popularity of Hocus Pocus has grown with each passing year, paving the way for the long-awaited sequel Hocus Pocus 2 to debut on Disney+ on September 30, 2022.
The sequel arrives one month from today, and in celebration Disney+ has released a brand new poster today that promises the witches are “more glorious than ever” here in 2022.
Check it out below, and watch the teaser trailer here if you missed it.
The film is being billed as “the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic,” with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy all back as the beloved Sanderson Sisters.
Doug Jones will also be returning as Billy Butcherson!
“It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to figure out how to stop...
The sequel arrives one month from today, and in celebration Disney+ has released a brand new poster today that promises the witches are “more glorious than ever” here in 2022.
Check it out below, and watch the teaser trailer here if you missed it.
The film is being billed as “the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic,” with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy all back as the beloved Sanderson Sisters.
Doug Jones will also be returning as Billy Butcherson!
“It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to figure out how to stop...
- 8/30/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Relighting the Black Flame Candle won’t bring Omri Katz or Vinessa Shaw back for the “Hocus Pocus” sequel.
The highly-anticipated sequel to the 1993 Disney flick sees Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprise their roles as the witchy Sanderson Sisters, but Katz and Shaw – who played the teen protagonists Max and Allison in the original – will not return.
Director Anne Fletcher tells EW they tried to fit Max and Allison back into the story but “it was difficult”.
“We wanted to weave in all of the people that the fans loved, and when you sat back with all the ingredients and story, you’re like, how do we make this work?” Fletcher asks. “It was very difficult to try to have them be a part of it, because we did talk about it — painstakingly.”
Read More: The Sanderson Sisters Return To Terrorize Salem In ‘Hocus Pocus 2...
The highly-anticipated sequel to the 1993 Disney flick sees Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprise their roles as the witchy Sanderson Sisters, but Katz and Shaw – who played the teen protagonists Max and Allison in the original – will not return.
Director Anne Fletcher tells EW they tried to fit Max and Allison back into the story but “it was difficult”.
“We wanted to weave in all of the people that the fans loved, and when you sat back with all the ingredients and story, you’re like, how do we make this work?” Fletcher asks. “It was very difficult to try to have them be a part of it, because we did talk about it — painstakingly.”
Read More: The Sanderson Sisters Return To Terrorize Salem In ‘Hocus Pocus 2...
- 8/29/2022
- by Rachel West
- ET Canada
The witches are back in Hocus Pocus 2 this Halloween, coming to Disney+ on September 30, 2022, and the sisters will be joined by returning character Billy Butcherson!
Doug Jones is back as the undead character, and Entertainment Weekly has just shared our first look at Billy… almost 30 years later!
Jones tells EW in the preview piece linked above, “It is seamless between the first movie and the second, that’s the first thing I felt. It keeps the pureness and nostalgia alive and well for those who grew up with the first movie, and for any new fans we’re gathering now will be excited about modernization for the current time we’re in.
“Billy came back to me immediately, it was frightening how he’s been alive while I’ve been playing other characters all these years, but, Billy’s like, ‘I wanted my chance again.'”
The film is...
Doug Jones is back as the undead character, and Entertainment Weekly has just shared our first look at Billy… almost 30 years later!
Jones tells EW in the preview piece linked above, “It is seamless between the first movie and the second, that’s the first thing I felt. It keeps the pureness and nostalgia alive and well for those who grew up with the first movie, and for any new fans we’re gathering now will be excited about modernization for the current time we’re in.
“Billy came back to me immediately, it was frightening how he’s been alive while I’ve been playing other characters all these years, but, Billy’s like, ‘I wanted my chance again.'”
The film is...
- 8/29/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
The last time the witches of “Hocus Pocus” were revived, it took three centuries. This time around, it’s only been about three decades.
The Sanderson sisters — Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Najimy) — are almost back, and the first teaser trailer for “Hocus Pocus 2” has been released, giving a first taste of the wickedness to come. The sequel premieres on Disney+ on Sept. 30, just in time for the Halloween season.
“Hocus Pocus” premiered in 1993, telling the story of three wicked sisters in Salem, Mass., who spent 300 years asleep before the lighting of the Black Flame Candle, which resurrects them on All Hallow’s Eve with a full moon in the sky. They face off against young Max Dennison (Omri Katz) and sister Dani (Thora Birch), who have to stop the witches from becoming immortal before the sun rises. Kenny Ortega directed the original, while...
The Sanderson sisters — Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Najimy) — are almost back, and the first teaser trailer for “Hocus Pocus 2” has been released, giving a first taste of the wickedness to come. The sequel premieres on Disney+ on Sept. 30, just in time for the Halloween season.
“Hocus Pocus” premiered in 1993, telling the story of three wicked sisters in Salem, Mass., who spent 300 years asleep before the lighting of the Black Flame Candle, which resurrects them on All Hallow’s Eve with a full moon in the sky. They face off against young Max Dennison (Omri Katz) and sister Dani (Thora Birch), who have to stop the witches from becoming immortal before the sun rises. Kenny Ortega directed the original, while...
- 6/28/2022
- by Sasha Urban
- Variety Film + TV
“Hocus Pocus 2” has wrapped filming and will premiere on Disney Plus on Halloween, according to executive producer Adam Shankman.
In an Instagram post on Friday, Shankman wrote, “Sistaaaaahhhhsss! Aaaaand that’s a Wrap!!! #hocuspocus2. Congratulations to the amazing team…and the Whoooollleeee cast and crew!!! Coming to you #halloween #2022 on @disneyplus.”
While the film’s release date has yet to be officially announced, Disney confirmed in a statement to Variety that “Hocus Pocus 2” will debut “at some point during the Halloween season this fall.” Since spooky season programming typically comes out ahead of the holiday, we can probably expect “Hocus Pocus 2” just before Oct. 31.
In the 1993 original, teenager Max Dennison (Omri Katz) accidentally resurrects a coven of evil witches known as the Sanderson Sisters. In the 2022 sequel, three young women accidentally free the witches once again, in modern-day Salem, and must stop the child-hungry Sanderson Sisters from wreaking havoc on the world.
In an Instagram post on Friday, Shankman wrote, “Sistaaaaahhhhsss! Aaaaand that’s a Wrap!!! #hocuspocus2. Congratulations to the amazing team…and the Whoooollleeee cast and crew!!! Coming to you #halloween #2022 on @disneyplus.”
While the film’s release date has yet to be officially announced, Disney confirmed in a statement to Variety that “Hocus Pocus 2” will debut “at some point during the Halloween season this fall.” Since spooky season programming typically comes out ahead of the holiday, we can probably expect “Hocus Pocus 2” just before Oct. 31.
In the 1993 original, teenager Max Dennison (Omri Katz) accidentally resurrects a coven of evil witches known as the Sanderson Sisters. In the 2022 sequel, three young women accidentally free the witches once again, in modern-day Salem, and must stop the child-hungry Sanderson Sisters from wreaking havoc on the world.
- 1/31/2022
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
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