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1993's "Hocus Pocus" remains a Halloween classic that reliably graces the screens of audiences worldwide every spooky season. In fact, for '90s kids who grew up on the movie, there's a strong case to be made for "Hocus Pocus" being the greatest Halloween movie ever, even for adults.

The Sanderson Sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, were the stars of the film, introducing kids everywhere to witchcraft and making the whole thing look undeniably cool even as the trio embarked on a mission to devour children. But the kids who appear in the film were audiences' gateway into the world. Omri Katz's Max Dennison not only had one of the finest examples of that '90s curtain haircut, he was, like all of us '90s kids going into the movie, a fish very much out of water. Having moved from Los Angeles to Salem,...

The Peacock Holiday 2024 lineup includes over 300 titles! Catch classics like Miracle on 34th Street, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and A Christmas Carol, as well as hits like Christmas at Dollywood and Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.

Peacock has the whole family covered with festive titles, like Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Peacock Original film Genie, and The Legend of Frosty the Snowman. Chilling thrillers like Krampus and Black Christmas are also available.

Stream into the spirit of the season with a wide array of holiday specials from familiar favorites like Parks and Recreation, New Girl, The Office and more to have you feeling merry and bright all month long. Peacock has an exclusive gift for fans of The Office when The Office Superfan Episodes Season 8 arrives on December 12.

Stuff your stocking with laughs before the New Year with a hilarious year-end recap when 2024 Back That...

Thanksgiving—a time for gratitude, cherished family gatherings, football, and praying five pounds of over-indulgence miraculously provides nourishment for our bodies. But beneath the surface of this warm and festive holiday lies a darker, more sinister side. Today, we delve into the macabre as we carve into some of the best the holiday has to offer. Whether you crave campy thrills, gory chills, or dark humor, this list offers a feast of frights to satisfy every horror fan. Let’s dig in.

10. Home Sweet Home (1981)

We start our countdown with Home Sweet Home, a low-budget slasher from the early ‘80s that exemplifies the chaotic energy of the genre’s heyday. The film revolves around an escaped mental patient named Jay Jones, a hulking psychopath who injects himself with Pcp and goes on a killing spree. His path of destruction leads him to the Bradley family’s secluded home, where they...

There are few actors more synonymous with wonderful performances beneath layers of prosthetics and makeup than Doug Jones. Having appeared as Abe Sapian in the Guillermo Del Toro Hellboy films, the Creature in The Shape of Water, and even Billy Butcherson in Hocus Pocus, Jones has had a career that most actors simply dream of.

Doug can be seen in the recently released Nosferatu: Symphony of Horror, where he plays the title character; a role that Jones has wanted to play for decades. We spoke about the process of filming using elements from the original 1922 film as green screen backdrops, and how wonderful Max Schreck’s performance in the first film was. Doug is also starring in the final season of What We Do In The Shadows as The Baron, a role which has been an absolute highlight over the series’ 6 season run (and it was originally just supposed to be a one-episode cameo) Finally,...

Note: The following story contains spoilers from “Yellowstone” Season 5, Episode 1.

“Yellowstone” viewers were treated to a familiar face on Sunday night. If you’re wondering who played the medical examiner in “Three Fifty-Three,” you’re not alone. Here’s what you need to know about Vinessa Shaw and her connection to “Hocus Pocus.”

Who plays the medical examiner on “Yellowstone?”

That would be Vinessa Shaw, who is best known for starring as teenager Allison Watts in the 1993 cult hit “Hocus Pocus.” Allison is one of the protagonists of the Halloween comedy-fantasy film and is the crush and eventual girlfriend of Max Dennison.

The second half of Season 5 started with John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) apparent suicide, an event that has left his children with questions and doubts. In reality, John Dutton was murdered by a team of team of black ops mercenaries who come close to getting away with it...

Note: This story contains spoilers from “Yellowstone” Season 5, Episode 11.

Historically, “Yellowstone” has been at its most interesting, most explosive when the Duttons have had their backs up against the wall. Someone threatened their land or their livelihood, so they got a posse together and drove the attackers back.

In recent seasons though, that’s been easier said than done not just because they’ve been rustling with the evil Market Equities, but also because they’re trying to go up against the faceless enormity of the U.S. Government. It’s why John Dutton (Kevin Costner) became governor, and probably somewhat true to the experience of an actual rancher. But as a viewer, there’s just something kind of “meh” element to the Duttons trying to muddle their way through easements, eminent domain claims and estate tax issues.

That’s where we are in “Yellowstone” Season 5, Episode 11, titled “Three Fifty-Three” though,...

Something Wicked this way comes in this week’s film quiz, with 30 all-new film-related questions, some of them about witchy business…

A movie version of Wicked has been a long time coming down the yellow brick road and this week’s new release still only covers the first half of the smash-hit Broadway musical. Meanwhile, this week’s film quiz is themed around witches but there are also questions about werewolf and vampire movies, slasher-movie villains, found-footage horror… heck, it’s looking more like a Halloween quiz than some of our Halloween ones.

Once you’ve completed all three rounds of movie-related questions, you’ll find a link to a separate post with the correct answers at the bottom of this post. As always, this is just for fun, but please let us know how you did in the comments (scores out of 31 this week!) and give us any other lovely feedback.

Streaming viewers in the week of Oct. 21-27 made the following decision: We have to go back.

Viewing of Lost on Hulu and Netflix hit a high that week, finishing first among all acquired series with 1.03 billion minutes of viewing time in the United States, according to Nielsen. The former ABC series, which marked the 20th anniversary of its premiere in September, ranked second among all titles.

In first place was The Lincoln Lawyer, which spent a second week in the top overall spot and got over the 2 billion-minute mark (2.03 billion) for the first time in its three seasons. The drama based on Michael Connelly’s novels improved by about 24 percent week to week.

Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black was the top newcomer, scoring 740 million minutes of watch time for its opening week (it premiered Oct. 24). That was good for third place among original series behind The Lincoln Lawyer...

Having such a long career in the entertainment industry, Sarah Jessica Parker has seen many phases during her Hollywood journey. She started out as a child actor on Broadway and went on to make her mark on the screen by playing memorable characters such as Carrie Bradshaw in HBO’s Sex and the City.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City | Credit: HBO

However, despite her long-standing career in the industry, the actress has been open about feeling insecure and nervous when it comes to taking on a new role. And she had similar jitters while starring alongside the James Bond star Pierce Brosnan in the 2011 comedy film, I Don’t Know How She Does It.

When Sarah Jessica Parker Got Overwhelmed While Starring Alongside Pierce Brosnan

The 2011 comedy film I Don’t Know How She Does It follows Sarah Jessica Parker in the role of an overworked mother of two...

Although plenty of sketches get cut for time from Saturday Night Live, none were so cutting as Charli Xcx‘s digital short with Please Don’t Destroy.

In ‘Mean Cute‘, the 9x Grammy nominee goes toe-to-toe with the comedy trio, roasting each other in the lobby of 30 Rockefeller after bumping into them during a series of romantic-comedy style encounters.

After running into Marshall in the hallway and connecting over their favorite book, Charli says, “Hey, this might be crazy but would you ever wanna… watch where the f— you’re going? You just charged into me like a rhino, you dead-eyed ginger.”

“I’m sorry, I guess I’m just confused,” quipped Marshall. “It’s November. Weren’t you supposed to get put away with the rest of the Halloween decorations?”

The celeb host/musical guest then bumped into Higgins, whom she called a “dumb,...

Love is Blind enchanted its way to the top of the Nielsen streaming charts from October 7 to 13, but Outer Banks came in closely behind, with both titles racking up about 1.2B minutes viewed.

For Love is Blind, that was a 16% increase over the viewership from the week prior, when Season 7 debuted — probably because three new episodes were made available during this interval. Overall, Nielsen says 94% of Love is Blind viewing this week came from the new season.

As for Outer Banks, the title returned with the first half of Season 4, on October 10, meaning those five new episodes drove quite a huge surge in viewing for the series in just a few days. It’s safe to say the series will remain on the Nielsen charts for several weeks as audiences continue to engage with the show and more episodes launch.

According to Nielsen, 17% of Outer Banks viewers were in the 12-17 age range,...

The season four premiere of Outer Banks brought the Netflix show back onto the streaming charts — but with only half a season released this time, it fell well short of its last premiere.

The YA drama delivered 1.19 billion minutes of viewing for the week of Oct. 7-13 (season four debuted Oct. 10), good for second place overall in Nielsen’s streaming rankings. By comparison, season three’s opening week in February 2023 — which featured the entire season released at once — drew 3.15 billion minutes of watch time.

The half-season release (part two premiered Thursday) for Outer Banks undoubtedly played a part in the lower viewing time total. Season four of Emily in Paris similarly had a sizable decline with a half-season premiere in August (but season three of Bridgerton in May did not).

Netflix’s dating show Love Is Blind led the Oct. 7-13 charts with 1.23 billion minutes of viewing; no other show crossed the 1 billion mark.

Marvel’s Agatha All Along series came to a close on Disney+ last week, and despite speculation that Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) might appear (or be resurrected), it didn’t happen. While speaking with THR, showrunner Jac Schaeffer explained how close they actually got to including Wanda in the series.

“It wasn’t really a for-real conversation, and to speak plainly, it’s a larger conversation of casting, logistics, availability, and budget,” Schaeffer said. “Also, to me, on a creative level, it didn’t feel fair to the character of Agatha. This is her story, and the idea of bringing Wanda back felt like it would upend that in a way. I love Wanda desperately, and I feel she is a part of the show in that the repercussions of her actions ripple throughout this chapter. Of course, we also have her son, and we positioned him to have big...

Election night can feel like a roller coaster of emotions, with news updates bombarding you at every turn.

If you’d rather skip the stress, why not indulge in the ultimate comfort movie marathon?

This list is packed with heartwarming classics, feel-good comedies, nostalgic favorites, and a few inspiring underdog tales to keep things light and fun.

(Universal Pictures/Screenshot)

Whether you want a dose of nostalgia, a sing-along session, or just a laugh, these movies will take your mind off the chaos.

So, grab your snacks, settle in, and let these comfort films bring a little peace to election night.

Classic Comfort & Nostalgia

Sometimes, all you need is a classic to bring a sense of calm and ease.

These nostalgic gems transport you to simpler times and offer timeless stories that never fail to comfort you.

The Princess Bride (1987) (20th Century Fox/Screenshot)

From sword fights to true love,...

Halloween is here, which means it’s time to get going on watching classic Halloween movies. If you’re crunched for time and need a cheat-sheet as to where to stream the best of the best, we’ve got you. Below we’ve rounded up a list of where to stream 15 classic Halloween movies right now. This includes true icons like the original “Halloween” and “Scream,” family friendly fare like “Halloweentown” and “Nightmare Before Christmas” and unforgettable ‘80s slashers that’ll have you hiding under your blanket.

Check out our list below, if you dare.

Compass International Pictures/Aquarius Releasing “Halloween” (1978)

Streaming on AMC+ and Fubo

The Og. The classic. The icon. John Carpenter’s “Halloween” was a small-budget indie that spawned a franchise as slow-moving serial killer Michael Myers tormented the sleepy town of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween night. Jamie Lee Curtis achieved “scream queen” status with her turn...

It’s Halloween evening and your kiddos are more than ready to go trick-or-treating. But it’s a school night, so you don’t want to be out too late. How about a movie and popcorn? You can’t go wrong with that combo! That is unless your little one is not a big fan of scary movies. And if that’s the case, we’re here to help!

If you’re a fan of horror, but also a parent, I understand you all too well. I have been trying to get my kids into scary movies for the longest, but it’s tough to know where to start. I’ve been doing a lot of rewatching, going through some movies from back in the day to make sure there’s nothing that will send the kids with nightmares to bed.

Below, I share 5 great movies and shows available on...

Get ready for a spooky – and funny – Halloween. Special holiday episodes are a tradition for CBS’s Ghosts, and 2024 is no exception. This year’s spooktacular episode will air on Oct. 31, and we have all the details you need to know about when and how to watch and what to expect.

‘Ghosts’ 2024 Halloween episode airs Oct. 31

The fourth Ghosts Halloween special, “Halloween 4: The Witch,” airs Thursday, Oct. 31 at 8:30 p.m. Et/Pt on CBS.

In the episode, the ghosts are looking for some excitement after Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) cancel Halloween because of past holiday disasters. When uptight ghost Patience (Mary Holland) becomes convinced that Sam can summon the dead, she convinces the other ghosts to try her as a witch.

Sam isn’t concerned about her upcoming trial, but Jay is worried.

“Patience is not to be trifled with,” he says in a...

If you’ve visited Salem, Massachusetts, in the last decade or so, you’re probably well aware that the Disney movie Hocus Pocus was shot there. During spooky season, which now starts in the middle of August and runs through Halloween, the historic coastal city known for being the site of the 1692 witch trials is inundated by fans of the 1993 family film, which stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as 17th-century sister witches who are accidentally resurrected by a Grateful Dead-loving high schooler and, lest we forget,...

As seen from the yearly tradition of re-releasing perennial Halloween favorites The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus, Disney fans and movie fans keep flocking to these horror favorites to liven the season. And as seen from the box office, audiences are surely turning up.

However, the studio has a lot more in their library that can make for great Halloween traditions in the cinema. Imagine these hidden gems and cult classics getting a second life on the big screen, with seats being filled by fans and first-timers.

With that, here are five potential Disney movies that make for great re-releases for every Halloween season:

Frankenweenie (2012)

Tim Burton always knows that his comfort zone is in stories with horror undertones and paying tribute to his horror idols. So, he went for the chance to do both with adapting his 1984 short film and turning it into a black-and-white stop-motion flick.

But...

As the final stretch of October sets in, there is still plenty of time to catch favorite flicks, spooky, witchy, scary or cozy in the season of pumpkins, monsters and more. Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween has several classic films airing all month long such as Casper (1995), Arachnophobia, Goosebumps, Edward Scissorhands, etc.

More recent films like 2021’s Ghostbustesr: Afterlife, 2022’s Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) and Haunted Mansion (2023) will also be available. Disney+ is the home of several of the movies in the below list, as is Max. Follow along below for your favorite titles as well as what is available by streamer and network.

Movies:

While Bram Stoker’s Dracula directed by Francis Ford Coppola is streaming on MGM+, several other vampire movies like Interview with the Vampire are available on Max. Peacock also boasts a couple newer fanged flicks like Renfield (2023) and Abigail (2024). Twilight is not streaming anywhere currently, but...

Disney+ has launched a Top 10 list to let users know what content is most streamed on the platform.

The feature highlights popular movies and TV shows from the streamer. Subscribers will see different rankings depending on their subscription and parental control settings.

Disney+’s Top 10 is composed by taking “several factors into account, including total views at the episode and movie level within a day and the growing popularity of new titles released during that time frame.” The ranking also combines movie and TV show titles.

When Deadline looked at its Top 10 list for Wednesday, October 30, the content was mostly Halloween-themed.

At the top of our list was 1993’s Hocus Pocus, the Kenny Ortega-created film that starred Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Agatha All Along, which airs its season finale at 6 p.m. Pt / 9 p.m. Et on Wednesday night, took the second spot.

Hocus Pocus 2 was ranked third,...

Disney is adding a new feature to Disney+ that will be familiar to subscribers of Netflix.

The entertainment giant is adding a Top 10 list to Disney+, which will highlight popular movies and TV series on the streaming platform. Notably, the list will be different for different subscribers, with the parental control settings impacting what is displayed, as well as the inclusion of Hulu titles for Disney Bundle subscribers.

Similarly, users in different countries may have slightly different lists depending on the availability of content.

Disney says that it will determine what cracks the list based on total views at the episode and movie level, as well as other factors like the growing popularity of new titles.

When The Hollywood Reporter looked at its Top 10 list today, it was stacked with Halloween-themed fare like Hocus Pocus and a Simpsons Treehouse of Horror special.

Discoverability has become one of the defining product issues with streaming,...

Nearly five years after Netflix first bowed its Top 10 lists worldwide, Disney+ is following suit.

Disney’s flagship streaming service on Wednesday launched “Top 10 Today,” a daily list showcasing popular movies and series on the platform. The goal — as it has been with Netflix, which pioneered the feature — is to drive engagement on Disney+ and give subscribers another way to find a new title to stream.

Disney+’s Top 10 Today list will vary for individual subscriber, depending on various factors. Those include the user profile’s content rating, subscription plan and location (the list is different for each country as title availability varies by market). At launch, the Disney+ Top 10 Today list will not be available to Junior Mode (i.e. kids) profiles.

Disney says the Disney+ Top 10 Today is not simply a ranking of the “most watched” titles in a given territory. Rather, the list “takes several factors into account,...

Just in time for Halloween movie nights, Netflix released the new teen horror movie Time Cut on Oct. 30. It's the perfect addition to a spooky movie night that includes the fan-favorite Netflix original Fear Street trilogy and Don't Move, another recent horror release on the streamer that's shot straight to the peak of the top 10 most popular movies.

Certified Netflix stars Madison Bailey (Kiara in Outer Banks) and Antonia Gentry (Ginny in Ginny & Georgia) lead the teen slasher movie as sisters Lucy and Summer. But Summer doesn't know Lucy exists because she was born 20 years after she was killed by the Sweetly Slasher. Unexpectedly, Lucy goes back in time to 2003 to save her sister from being murdered.

The new movie full of early aughts throwbacks and chilling jump scares will definitely become a new annual staple to watch around Halloween and on any Friday the 13th movie nights. But who is the movie appropriate for,...

The first episode of Marvel’s Agatha All Along starts from an unexpected place. Picking up her broom and flying into another freewheelin’ genre parody that made WandaVision an early delight, Agatha navigates an episode of Mindhunter as creator-director Jac Schaeffer wades into a genre Marvel has successfully dipped its toe in before: horror.

Sundays are perfect for family movie night, and a couple of networks have our attention tonight, Sunday, Oct. 27. Tonight is also the night for sports on TV!

There is something for the entire family tonight. It doesn’t matter if you want a family-friendly movie to mark the Halloween season, or if you’re in the mood for some drama. Broadcast networks have us covered, and we’re taking a look at what you’ll want to watch live and what you’ll want to record.

Hocus Pocus 2, Goosebumps, and more

Last Sunday, ABC brought us the first Hocus Pocus movie. This week, it’s all about the second one. This movie picks up years later, with a new group of teens bringing the Sanderson sisters back for another attempt at immortal life. They think they’re smarter, but will technology prove to be their downfall again?

If the...

This Halloween season, you may turn to the classics like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” or even “Hocus Pocus.”

But if your desire is to be scared, startled or completely spooked out, we present some horror anime options. Anime can take thrills, twists and gore to a level that live-action can’t.

Adding to all the witches, ghosts, killer pumpkins and vampires — yes, this list includes vampires — there’s also kid-sized crimefighting detectives, demon slayers and some man-eating giants.

Here’s a list of 13 anime series and films you should check out this spooky season.

1. “Tokyo Ghoul” (2014) “Tokyo Ghoul” (Photo credit: Studio Pierrot)

“Tokyo Ghoul” will take you into a dark, shadowy, gloomy world that illuminates its creepy characters with crisp artwork and vibrant colors. Beware, there’s lots of gore and unsettling storylines, but that all works for the Halloween season, right?

What’s it’s about:

“Tokyo Ghoul” blends sci-fi,...

Every year, Halloween brings about the resurrection of the Sanderson Sisters for another season of merriment and Hocus Pocus.

Disney’s 1993 movie has become the classic choice for Halloween over the years, so much so that it got a long-awaited sequel in 2022 and talk of a third movie continues into 2024.

The story is appropriately eerie and beguiling, and the cast, centered around the three witches Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, is fantastic.

Of course, the franchise stars had iconic careers when they joined the movie, but the rest of the cast is equally talented. Over the years, they have amassed impressive fortunes while starring in Hollywood pictures.

In honor of the first of two Halloween weekends this year, we did some digging to see how much each of the movie’s stars are worth in 2024! The top earners have estimated fortunes over $200 million, and there’s a...

Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week, Lady Gaga is back to claim her crown as the queen of dark pop, Tyler, the Creator shares a first glimpse of his seventh album, and Halsey gets brutally honest about her chronic illnesses. Plus, new music from Sade, Megan thee Stallion, Kelsea Ballerini, and Addison Rae.

Lady Gaga, “Disease” (YouTube)

Tyler, the Creator, “Noid” (YouTube)

Halsey, “Panic Attack” (YouTube)

Sade, “Young Lion” (YouTube)

Megan thee Stallion,...

Watch the Short Film Barry Gettin' Married: "Barry, a charismatic YouTube influencer, sets out to create his most viral video yet by planning an elaborate surprise for his girlfriend, Callie. With his best friend Alonso in tow, they journey to a secluded western destination, where Barry hopes the grand reveal will not only win Callie’s heart but also skyrocket his channel to new heights. However, in the pursuit of online fame, the trio soon discovers that not everything goes as planned in the wild west.

Project backstory : Barry Gettin' Married was born out of the 48 Hour Film Project, a whirlwind competition where we had just 48 hours to create a movie from scratch. With no idea what kind of film we’d be making, we received our prompts the night before production began. Armed with a dedicated crew and a few talented actors, we didn’t land on the...

Halloween is the time of year when horror appeals to all ages and backgrounds, but especially so for the young and young at heart. Luckily, there’s no shortage of family-friendly frights on streaming or network TV. If you’ve already grown tired of the familiar staples that include enduring favorites like Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Casper, Coraline, Don’t Look Under the Bed, Beetlejuice, and more, here’s the list for you.

This streaming guide is almost entirely dedicated to gateway horror titles released within the last decade, save for one deep-cut gem that’s finally found its way on streaming. Many of them are set on or around Halloween, ensuring proper spooky season viewing.

For those looking for brand new family frights to sink their fangs into this Halloween season, don’t miss these movies and shows.

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting – Netflix

Set around Halloween, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting...

On October 28, 2000, kids all across America tuned into the Nickelodeon Snick programming block to watch a new horror movie called "Cry Baby Lane." As bowls of microwaved popcorn flowed over, living room lights went down, and children gathered in front of the television, no one could have predicted that everyone watching would become a part of history. Directed by Peter Lauer, "Cry Baby Lane" is about two brothers — the feeble Andrew (Jase Blankfort) and massive jerk Carl (Trey Rogers) — who love hearing ghost stories from the undertaker, Mr. Bennett (Frank Langella).

One night, the undertaker tells the story of a local farmer whose wife gave birth to conjoined twins (the movie uses the insensitive term "Siamese twins" because it was the year 2000), with one of the babies being noticeably evil. The farmer kept the twins locked up in an attic and away from the public eye before they eventually got sick and died together.

The cast of Hocus Pocus returned to Salem, Massachusetts for the second annual It’s Just a Buncha Halloween on October 11-13.

Actors Omri Katz (Max), Vinessa Shaw (Allison), Jason Marsden (Binx), Larry Bagby (Ice), and Tobias Jelinek (Jay) helped organize the fan-focused celebration of Disney’s Halloween classic.

Following a Samhain celebration, a meet and greet, a burlesque show, and a trolley tour, the magical weekend concluded with the actors providing live commentary to a screening of the film at The Cabot in nearby Beverly.

Here are 10 things fans learned about Hocus Pocus…

1. The original script was much darker.

The original script that eventually became Hocus Pocus, written by master of horror Mick Garris, was much darker.

“Most people don’t know that this movie was originally written very scary, and then it was later rewritten to be a comedy,” Shaw explained. “I think it’s so much better as a comedy.

In the last two weeks of October, a witchy watch or two are in order with the approach of Halloween and the days after. Luckily, several witch movies are available to stream across the various platforms available.

While Wicked Part 1 won’t hit Peacock for streaming until 2025, the film’s upcoming November release might also put viewers in a magical mood.The Wizard of Oz, Practical Magic, Hocus Pocus and more are included in the list below.

Related: Top 50 Halloween Movies Photo Gallery: Creepy Classics From ‘Psycho,’ ‘The Shining’ To ‘Scream’ & ‘Get Out’...

It wasn’t an exciting weekend overall at the box office, but Sean Baker and his new film “Anora” sparked a fire in limited release with the best platform opening in over a year. Read on for the weekend box office report.

The big release this weekend was Paramount Pictures’ horror sequel “Smile 2,” opening in 3,619 theaters after building up strong reviews with 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. The original “Smile” (2022) was right behind it in terms of reviews, and it opened with $22.6 million, going on to $105.9 million domestic and even more overseas. Because of that huge success, “Smile 2” was expected to do better, but it just barely surpassed the opening of the original.

First, “Smile 2” racked up $2.5 million in Thursday previews, leading to a $9.5 million on Friday, including those previews. It ended up making an estimated $23 million over the three-day weekend, which is only slightly higher than the opening for the first movie.

For theaters still in shock over the historic collapse of “Joker: Folie à Deux” (Warner Bros.), there’s optimism with the “Smile 2” opening of $23 million and Sean Baker’s strong award contender “Anora” (Neon) becoming the year’s best platform debut. (Baker’s also joining IndieWire’s Future of Filmmaking Summit November 2.)

In its third weekend, Todd Phillips’ film grossed under $2.2 million to drop another 69 percent and place sixth. With $56.4 million in, its domestic gross will fall short of $65 million. Bad for the studio and worse for the theaters that counted on another $135 million or so in box office revenue (and accompanying concessions).

With “Smile 2,” Parker Finn’s sequel to his 2022 horror success inched slightly ahead of the original’s opening weekend, which went on to gross $90 million. “Smile 2” will have a hard time replicating that, particularly with “Venom: The Last Dance” (Sony) debuting this Friday.

‘Smile...

Fall TV is almost back completely in order with tonight’s premiere. Here’s everything to watch on Sunday, Oct. 20 across the big five broadcast networks.

Yes, it is all about the premiere of The Equalizer season 5. It’s a premiere we have all been waiting for, as we love to see Queen Latifah back in the action. As much as I’m salty about CBS cancelling one particular show (save NCIS: Hawaii!), I will support these female-led shows like The Equalizer, Matlock, and Elsbeth with everything I have.

More Tracker, Hocus Pocus, and much more

For ABC, Sundays have become about family movies, and this week it’s Hocus Pocus. This is the original movie, which saw NCIS’s Sean Murray as Thackary Binks. Poor Binks! We see three witches who want to be young forever, but that meals stealing the lives of children. Well, in 1693, the townspeople won’t let witches live.

Get ready to scream, laugh, and maybe even hide under your blanket! This Halloween, we’re diving into Disney’s creepiest classics. From spooky stop-motion to haunted adventures, these movies blend nostalgia with genuine scares, making them perfect for a night of family-friendly frights. Whether you’re in for some dark fantasy or sinister villains, here’s our countdown of the top 10 scariest Disney movies that will make your Halloween movie night a memorable one.

10. The Black Cauldron (1985)

Released in 1985, The Black Cauldron is famously one of Disney’s darker entries. It features an undead army led by the skeletal, evil Horned King, whose eerie voice and ominous demeanor can keep even the bravest kids on edge. The movie’s animated imagery was so intense that it became the first Disney film to get a PG rating.

Scariest Scene: The Horned King raising his army of the dead is undeniably chilling.

A new series has joined Prime Video and it may have fallen under the radar that needs to be seen! We’re talking about the quiet addition of The Edge of Sleep, now streaming on Prime Video

Need to know more about it? Here’s why we recommend it as the must-watch series this coming weekend. And don’t worry, there are absolutely no spoilers in this post!

For starters, The Edge of Sleep is coming to us just in time for spooky season. Sure, we may already be halfway through October, but this is when it gets good. We save the best for last right? The scariest movies, biggest thrills, and best parties are always towards the end of October. If you’re looking for a new horror to add to your list, this one is it! The horror series is only six episodes, so it’s a fun and quick watch.

Mere mortals have been fascinated by witchcraft for hundreds of years, and the film industry has taken note, with witch-themed movies going back more than 100 years.

In 1922, the silent partly documentary-style Swedish film “Haxan” sought to understand the roots and misunderstandings of witchcraft, and the mania that surrounded the witch hunts. Controversial at the time, it is now considered one of the most influential of the early horror films. Less than 20 years later, Margaret Hamilton would make the Wicked Witch the standard for evil witches, and help make “The Wizard of Oz” a timeless classic.

SEE25 best TV witches, ranked worst to best

In the decades since, witches have appeared in just about every genre of film. Early romantic comedies “I Married a Witch” and “Bell, Book and Candle” were so popular they inspired the classic 1960s TV series “Bewitched.” But while a witch’s antics on the small screen were amusing audiences,...

Spoopy Season is upon us, dear readers, and any cineaste worth their weight in bone matter is likely scouring the world's many streaming services looking for the best fright flicks available. Most casual horror fans may be content to idly re-watch well-trodden classics like "Halloween," while more enterprising gorehounds will be studiously studying the carefully curated films on Shudder. The jaded, more experienced fright fans, however, will require stronger coffee to get their fear fix, and those brave souls may dive face-first into the overstuffed trough of Night Flight or Eternal Family, looking for oddities that the average soul cannot stand. Are you going to watch a gentle film like "Hocus Pocus" this October, or are you the type to try out "Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell?"

We can say for sure that actor Kevin Bacon, a great actor with impeccable taste, is an aficionado of the genre and likes...

Most moviegoers can’t remember the last time they saw silly, campy fun on the big screen. That’s because not nearly enough of them saw Bottoms.

“Camp” in comedy is hard to define scientifically, and it’s mostly understood through examples. For instance, The Rocky Horror Picture show is considered the quintessential camp flick for its over-the-top performances, garish aesthetic and the inherent silliness of its excess. But, hey, nobody saw that movie in theaters either. In fact, it’s kind of an unspoken rule that campy comedy films can’t make a single dollar at the box office, a standard that the literal camp comedy classic Wet Hot American Summer staunchly upheld upon its release in 2001.

However, and though many of these camp comedies failed to achieve mainstream popularity, they succeeded in influencing the next generation of filmmakers who would carry on the tradition of unashamed, unrestrained playfulness,...

By the time next weekend rolls around, the box office will have suffered a bit of an unfortunate downturn. There's no need to revisit the truly bleak first half of 2024 when theaters were downright desperate for even modest hits but the point is, the industry really doesn't need any more setbacks. Unfortunately, with "Joker: Folie a Deux" bombing badly with no hope of a rebound, the first half of October is on life support. That being the case, Paramount's "Smile 2" can't come soon enough, as the horror sequel figures to give the box office a much-needed jolt of life.

Director Parker Finn's follow-up to 2022's surprise breakout hit "Smile" is currently looking at a debut between $25 and $35 million when it hits theaters next weekend, per Box Office Theory. Even on the low end, that would put it above the original, which opened to $22.6 million in late September 2022. "Smile,...

Steve Howey will be making a pitstop at Happy’s Place.

TVLine can exclusively reveal that the Shameless vet (who got his start on The WB’s Reba as Reba’s son-in-law Van Montgomery) will reunite with McEntire and Melissa Peterman on their new NBC comedy — and you’ll never believe what brings him into the titular tavern.

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“One of the arcs...

From an evil queen pondering “Mirror, mirror on the wall: Who is the fairest of them all?” to Three Weird Sisters chanting “Double, double toil and trouble! Fire burn, and cauldron bubble,” witchcraft has been something of a skeleton key across centuries of storytelling on screen and in print. As old as ghost stories themselves, witches are fabled beings — typically more human than creature, but sometimes vice versa — known for using magic to abuse and manipulate us mere mortals.

Some witches feed on children; see Roald Dahl‘s “The Witches” and its two film adaptations starring Anjelica Huston and Anne Hathaway respectively. Some witches just want to be loved; consider the appropriately-named “The Love Witch” or the middle chunk of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Others crave beauty, youth, power, or something altogether more sinister; think the unending greed examined in Luca Guadagnino’s astounding re-imagining of Dario Argento’s “Suspiria.

Exclusive: 31 Nights of Halloween is brewing up a strong audience on Freeform.

The annual spooky tradition launched last Tuesday, boasting Freeform’s most-watched week of the year, according to Nielsen data. That’s across total viewers and also within several key demos including adults 18-49, women 18-49 and men 18-49.

October to-date, Freeform ranks as No. 1 among cable entertainment networks in primetime among adults 18-34, as well as women 18-34 and women 18-49.

Last week’s lineup featured the world television premiere of Hocus Pocus 2, which was cable’s top movie of the week among adults 18-49.

There’s plenty more to come, as Freeform will be celebrating spooky season the entire month of October.

All the usual favorites like Halloweentown, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, the original Hocus Pocus and more are on the schedule, in addition to some more recent favorites like the 2023 adaptation of Haunted Mansion.

Over the years, Sex and the City has become synonymous with Sarah Jessica Parker, whose portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw became iconic over the show’s six seasons. With the series and films focusing on her girl gang’s closeness and her love life, there were a lot of cameos from many popular actors. However, the one face that everyone expected to see was the 59-year-old’s husband, Matthew Broderick. Unfortunately, that was just a fever dream that never ended up coming true.

Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Although Broderick never made an appearance on the show or in the films, it was not from the producer’s and Parker’s lack of trying. In fact, the 62-year-old recently opened up about a role that was offered to him that he had turned down.

Matthew Broderick reveals why he never starred in Sex and the City...

The first weekend of October has arrived, and for most of us, that means it's finally time to start our annual Halloween movie marathons. It's the season of Hocus Pocus and horror movies and all things witchy and spooky, which accounts for one of the three top Netflix new releases this weekend.

This week, Netflix dropped a ton of new movies and shows, including throwbacks and recent favorites alike. Among the new additions are Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Yellowjackets season 1, Psycho, Halloween, Robin Hood, It Chapter Two, and so many more.

There's something for everyone to watch this weekend, especially if you're still catching up on recently released Netflix originals like Nobody Wants This, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and Unsolved Mysteries volume 5.

But if you're looking to dive into some new releases, should you check out the new horror comedy movie It's What's Inside?...

In 2001, beloved actor Bill Paxton already had classic roles in legendary films like Aliens and Tombstone in his rearview mirror. A man known by audiences as one of the best character actors to ever grace a screen. But also, an actor who could take any situation… no matter how outlandish… and ground it in reality. Because he had the aura of the everyday man. A dude’s dude. Known by some in the plain lands as “The Extreme.” Or by others as the sleazy car salesman who tried to bang Arnold’s wife. It was at this point in his career that Paxton came across a role so nuanced that he knew there was only one way to handle it correctly. He would, for the first time in his career, have to direct the feature film himself. Paxton was about to use that loveable, regular Joe persona and put us all at ease.

Horror movies have made Satanism far more famous than it would be on its own. While some great films focus on this new religious movement, almost none of them have any interest in the actual beliefs of Satanists. Let’s give the devil his due and see what the High Priest of the Church of Satan has to say about his beliefs.

Movies don’t understand that Satanism is not about Satan

Satanism has inspired chilling horror classics like Rosemary’s Baby and The Witch alongside lighter fare such as Hocus Pocus and The Babysitter. These films are very different overall but homogenous in their portrayals of Satanism. According to these films, Satanists worship the devil and engage in supernatural rituals.

For the most part, that’s a lot of hocus pocus. There are two main Satanic groups out there: the Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple. Neither group believes in Satan,...