The film was released in North America on July 16, 1993, by Walt Disney Pictures. Upon its original release, it received mixed reviews from critics and was initially a box-office bomb, possibly losing Disney around $16.5 million during its theatrical run.
In October 2022, Disney+ reported Hocus Pocus 2 was the service's most-viewed film premiere in the United States, based on number of hours streamed in the first three days of its release. Disney later reported that Hocus Pocus 2 was the service's most-viewed film.
Not bad but super lackluster compared to the original! It lacked sincerity and feeling. In fact, I didn't feel much of anything throughout except frustration.
The straight-to-Disney+ sequel to the 1993 movie — a theatrical flop ($45 million global on a $28 million budget) that later became a beloved cult phenomenon — debuted on the weekend of Sept.
Exploring Hocus Pocus - From Box Office Flop to Halloween Favorite
Was Hocus Pocus 2 successful?
Hocus Pocus 2 is not only the most-watched movie ever on Disney+, but has broken a Nielsen record for a streaming movie in its debut weekend with 2.7 billion minutes views.
Gooch first warned parents about the film on social and then joined CBS' local Texas affiliate Kwtx for a now-viral interview. “A worst case scenario is: you unleash hell on your kids and in your home,” Gooch said. “The whole movie is based on witches harvesting children for blood sacrifices.”
The somber moment is the film's greatest lesson. Winifred asks Becca and her "coven" to do a spell to reunite her with Mary and Sarah. Becca, Izzy and Cassie succeed but sadly, it just means Winifred dies to join her sisters. Winifred lets out one last, "Sisters!" before vanquishing.
The original movie actor explained why he and several other stars did not return for Hocus Pocus 2, citing the sequel's need to simply move onto a new story involving the Sanderson Sisters. In Murray's case, Thackery Binx also died at the end of the first movie.
Disney boss Sean Bailey confirmed that Hocus Pocus 3 was in the works in June 2023, following the long-awaited sequel being a hit on the streaming service. Hocus Pocus 2's director, Anne Fletcher, is returning for the new movie, according to TheWrap.
Parents need to know that Hocus Pocus 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to Disney's hugely popular 1990s fantasy comedy Hocus Pocus. Like the original, the witchy sequel is family-friendly overall but does have magical violence, name-calling, and gross-out scenes, mostly involving a decapitated zombie.
Audiences reportedly watched 2.73 billion minutes of the Anne Fletcher–directed film, which given its 103-minute runtime is the equivalent to it being viewed in full around 26 million times over its first three days of release.
This is a cute Halloween flick without too much gore. The issue is that the PG rating is too low for what the movie contains. It views more like a PG-13. While the Halloween violence is minimal, there are numerous sexual innuendos in this movie that are shocking for a movie that seems to be aimed for kids.
Why did Leonardo DiCaprio turned down Hocus Pocus?
DiCaprio has said he was offered a large sum to be in Hocus Pocus. Nevertheless, he went with his gut and decided to decline the offer, as he was determined to get Arnie Grape's part (in What's Eating Gilbert Grape).
Here's Why Leonardo DiCaprio Turned Down the Starring Role in Hocus Pocus. Before Omri Katz was cast as Max Dennison, Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the role, but he turned it down.
Hocus Pocus 2 is essentially the same movie. They couldn't even be bothered to have fun with the potential It-like premise of child-killing evil returning after 29 years. It has the same meandering, do-nothing/go-nowhere plot.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly Kathy Najimy explained she switched the side of the smile to the left as it was getting too difficult to do it on the right side. She said: "It's on the other side mainly because it's so hard for me to do it on the side I did it on 30 years ago.
“The whole movie is based on witches harvesting children for blood sacrifices.” “Do not watch this film,” she continued. “Everybody thinks it's fake and innocent, but they could be casting any type of spell that they want to, anything could be coming through that TV screen into your home.”
Although Birch wasn't included in the sequel, she says “there were three options we had for how to bring Dani back, all of which I was excited by.” However, “by the time they got around to filming, I was already on something else,” she continues, explaining that she was working on another project.
CNN reported that the Sanderson sisters are fictional characters. There were not three sisters named Winifred, Sarah and Mary who were executed for practicing witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.
Arriving nearly 30 years after the original, Hocus Pocus 2 has a slightly better (but still Rotten) review score in Rotten Tomatoes. The original film received bad reviews and was a box office flop, but became a cult classic over the years thanks to numerous seasonal replays on the Disney Channel and home media.
Billy greatly despises Winifred, but he did have a relationship with her when he was alive because they shared one kiss. He put up with it until he is fed up with her obsession and fell in love with her youngest sister Sarah.
