“30 years on, here’s why Hocus Pocus remains the best Halloween movie ever”

hocus pocus still

Credit: Disney+

Under Her Eye


“30 years on, here’s why Hocus Pocus remains the best Halloween movie ever”

By Kayleigh Dray

2 years ago

6 min read

Back in 1993, Hocus Pocus arrived in the world and changed our Halloween viewing habits forever. Kayleigh Dray explains why, 30 years on, it remains so brilliant. 


What’s your favourite scary movie? Or, rather, what’s your favourite Halloween movie? And why is it Hocus Pocus?

Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, this absolute treat of a movie first flew into cinemas 30 years ago. Which means that, for some three long decades, it’s been bewitching viewers every single All Hallows’ Eve (often when the moon is round but, unlike the Sanderson sisters, we’re not fussy about lunar activity).

Weirdly enough, and like so many other cult movies, it flopped at the box office back in 1993 – although that might have had something to do with the fact they released it in the middle of summer rather than, y’know, scary season. Since then, however, it’s become incredibly popular (even spawning a sequel), and it’s not hard to see why. Because Hocus Pocus is, in this writer’s humble opinion, the best Halloween movie of all time. Ever.

A lot of its magic comes down to the irresistible story: a trio of child-murdering witches, hanged in 1693 for their crimes are, unexpectedly, resurrected in the 90s after a virgin jokingly lights their black flame candle. Fortunately for humankind (and unfortunately for the coven), the magic has major Dreamgirls vibes – by which we mean, of course, that it brings them back for one night only. One night only unless, of course, they can recover their sentient magic book and use it to *checks notes* suck the lives out of the little children of Salem. Phew.

Basically, the stakes in Hocus Pocus are high, and made all the higher by the presence of a shuffling zombie, a talking cat, and an enchantment that renders all of the town’s adults utterly useless. It’s up to the aforementioned virgin, then – alongside his little sister and the girl he’s crushing on, obviously – to bring the witches down before the sun rises on 1 November. Or they’re all toast. All of which means that, unlike so many ‘family friendly’ Halloween movies, this one gets seriously scary at times. And it doesn’t shy away from the darkness, either: throughout its 96-minute runtime, it effortlessly blends catchy songs, witticisms and visual gags aplenty with… well, with dead children, for starters. With dead witches twisting and turning in the breeze as they dangle from the gallows. With gruesome grave walkers, unforgettable incinerator scenes and a tome written in blood and bound in human skin. With, above all else, emotionally charged scenes aplenty – between new kid and bully, brother and sister, talking cat and human child, and more. And they call this a kids film, ha!

It’s the best Halloween film’s 30th anniversary

As if we needed anything more than high stakes, emotional drama and Bette’s iconic performance of I Put A Spell On You to make this film the GOAT, it is also – and get ready to scratch this one off your Bingo card – an absolute triumph when it comes to gifting us strong female characters and subversive feminist messages aplenty. Honestly, we are not worthy! 

For starters, Max (Omri Katz) is the virgin who lights that black flame candle, as opposed to the horror world’s usual offering of a trembling and oh-so-pure girl. And it’s Allison (Vinessa Shaw) and Dani (Thora Birch) – both of whom are still in school, we hasten to add – who prove themselves worthy nemeses to the Sanderson sisters. Think about it: they’re the pragmatic voices of reason who advise against lighting that troublesome candle, they’re the ones who suss out the power that comes with a circle of salt and they’re the ones who come up with the frankly genius idea of using a car’s headlamps to make the witches think dawn (and death) has come. It’s Allison who takes it upon herself to steal The Book and use its powers for herself. It’s Dani, aka Max’s brilliant little sister, who appeals to Winnie, Mary and Sarah’s vanity so that she can keep ’em talking long enough to escape. And it’s these two legends together, basically, who keep Max alive long enough to make his big grand gesture during the finale.

hocus pocus still

Credit: Disney+

Clever women. Clever women who swap their sweeping ballgowns for practical trousers, cardis and flat shoes when they decide to partake in a little nighttime adventure. Clever women who wear leggings under their witch costumes so that a) they don’t get cold and b) they can outrun any of the dark and malevolent forces that rear their head on 31 October. Clever, capable, confident women who know how to plot and plan and scheme. Honestly, how often does that happen in a Halloween movie? Because it’s usually, to quote Scream’s Sidney Prescott, all about “some stupid killer stalking some big-breasted girl who can’t act who is always running up the stairs when she should be running out the front door”.

Which brings us to our next point: the Sanderson sisters are far from stupid. Oh sure, they’re fishes out of water, having found themselves unexpectedly transplanted from life in 1693 to 1993, but they quickly adjust to the trappings of modern life. They suss out that the hobgoblins roaming the streets are, in fact, costumed children on a trick-or-treat quest. They ride buses, suss out the museum’s sprinkler system, cast a mass dance-til-you-die curse and even learn a few words of French. They are formidable foes, in fact, and always seem to be – well, if not one step ahead of Max, Dani and Alison, then at least in step with them. Which, again, raises those aforementioned stakes even higher.

Need another reason (or 50) to watch Hocus Pocus this Halloween? Well, there’s the fact it passes the Bechdel test with flying colours. The fact that any men who commit the sins of sexual harassment and/or objectification are punished – either through ritualistic embarrassment or being locked up in cages for all eternity. The fact that it breaks every single stereotype in its path. The fact that SJP is honestly at her best and most unhinged as Sarah, the sexually free sister with the siren’s voice. The fact that it celebrates the sisterhood. The fact that it made calming circles and breathwork cool long before the mental health renaissance of the 2010s. The fact that every single person in this film delivers their best bloody performance to date. The fact that…

Hey, we could go on and on, forever and ever, but we have our annual viewing of Hocus Pocus to prepare for. So, do us a favour, admit that we’re right, fill up a cauldron with oppressively sweet candy, and join us, why don’t you? It’s the 30th anniversary of the best Halloween film of all time, for goodness sake. Let’s celebrate in style – and let’s allow it to put a spell on us, all over again. 


Images: Disney+

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