{THINGS WE LOVE} Calling All Children: “Hocus Pocus” Still Magical After All These Years
0Fresh off breaking the exclusive that Tiny Fey will be producing the long-awaited sequel to the seminal Halloween classic “Hocus Pocus,” we thought we’d take a little trip down memory lane to the original.
“Hocus Pocus” came out in 1993. Yeah, that’s right. 21 years ago. Kids who were born when this movie was in theaters can legally drink now. Not a huge hit when it came out (grossing just under $40 million), and getting fairly negative reviews from critics (who apparently have no sense of joy when it comes to this sort delightful cheese), the comedy found its legs on ABC Family’s “13 Days of Halloween” – a block of programming leading up to Fright Night that showed Halloween- and horror-themed movies. Years after it debuted, “Hocus Pocus” found its rightful place alongside “The Addams Family,” “Practical Magic,” and more.
It starred Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and a pre-“Sex In the City” Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson Sisters, a trio of slightly inept 17th-century witches who are accidentally resurrected in present-day by a teenager and his younger sister. He was told not to light the Black Flame Candle… There’s a certain charm to this fun, silly movie. Maybe it’s the way it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Maybe it’s Bette Midler doing what Bette Midler does. Or maybe it’s just the nostalgia of it. Whatever it is, we’re still under its spell.
One of our favorite scenes features SPJ, as the witch Sarah, luring the children of Salem to their doom with a sweet little lullaby.
It’s still a couple months out (and even longer until HOCUS POCUS 2 hits theatres), but we guarantee you’ll be able to catch this movie come October. And if you can’t wait until then, you can grab it off Amazon or Netflix. Or you can also always buy the DVD…