Hocus Pocus

***Hocus Pocus*** is a 1993 American fantasy comedy horror film.

## Summary

Conjured up by some unsuspecting pranksters, a tricky trio of 300-year-old witches set out to cast a spell on the town and reclaim their youth. But first, they must get their act together and outwit three kids and a talking cat.

## Plot

On October 31, 1693, in Salem, Massachusetts, Thackery Binx witnesses his little sister Emily being whisked away to the woods by the Sanderson sisters, three witches who are named Winifred, Sarah, and Mary. Binx confronts the witches, but he fails to save Emily and her life force is drained, making the witches young again. After that, Binx is transformed into a black cat by the witches, cursed to live forever with his guilt for not saving Emily.
Having been alerted by Binx's friend Elijah, the townsfolk arrest the sisters for the murder of Emily. Before the Sanderson sisters are hanged in the town square while they are denying any knowledge of what happened to Thackery, Winifred casts a curse that will resurrect the sisters during a full moon on All Hallows' Eve if a virgin lights the Black Flame Candle in their cottage. Binx decides to guard the cottage so no one can bring the witches back to life.
Three centuries later, on October 31, 1993, Max Dennison reluctantly takes his younger sister Dani out trick-or-treating where they meet Max's new classmate Allison Watts whom he is attracted to. The three visit the former Sanderson cottage, now an abandoned museum, where Max inadvertently resurrects the witches. The witches attempt to suck the soul of Dani, but Max comes to her rescue.
Escaping, Max steals Winifred's spellbook on advice from the immortal cat Binx. He takes the group to an old cemetery where they are protected from the witches since it is hallowed ground. The witches eventually catch up to them at the cemetery where Winifred raises her former love interest William "Billy" Butcherson from the grave and sends him after the children.
The witches pursue the children across town using Mary's enhanced sense of smell. Winifred reveals that the spell that brought them back only works on Halloween and unless they can suck the life out of at least one child, they will turn to dust when the sun rises. After luring them to the high school, the children trap the witches in a pottery kiln and burn them alive. However, whilst the children are celebrating, the witches' curse revives them again.
Not realizing the witches have survived, Max and Allison open the spellbook, hoping to reverse the spell on Binx. The open spell book reveals the location of the group, and the witches track them down, kidnap Dani and Binx, and recover the spellbook. Sarah uses her singing to lure Salem's children to the Sanderson cottage. Max and Allison free Dani and Binx by tricking the witches into believing that sunrise was an hour early. Thinking that they are done for, the witches panic and pass out, allowing Max, Dani, Allison, and Binx to escape.
Back at the cemetery, Billy catches up to the children, takes Max's knife, cuts his stitched mouth open, and insults Winifred before joining the children against the witches. The witches attack from the air and snatch Dani. Winifred attempts to use the last vial of potion to suck the soul of Dani, but Binx knocks the potion out of her hand which Max catches and promptly drinks, forcing the witches to take him instead of Dani.
The sun starts to rise just as Winifred is about to finish draining Max's life force. In the ensuing struggle, Allison, Dani, and Billy fend off Mary and Sarah. Max and Winifred, struggling in the air, fall onto the hallowed ground in the cemetery, causing Winifred to turn into stone. As the sun finishes rising above the horizon, Mary and Sarah are disintegrated into dust along with Winifred's stone body.
The witches' deaths break Binx's curse, allowing him to finally die and freeing his soul, reuniting him with Emily as they both head off into the afterlife while Billy returns to his grave to sleep. Winifred's spellbook opens its eye once more, revealing that it is still alive, indicating that the witches could possibly return again someday.

## Cast

* Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson
* Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson
* Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson
* Omri Katz as Max Dennison
* Thora Birch as Dani Dennison
* Vinessa Shaw as Allison Watts
* Charles Rocket as Dave Dennison
* Stephanie Faracy as Jenny Dennison
* Larry Bagby as Ernie "Ice"
* Tobias Jelinek as Jay
* Sean Murray as Thackery Binx
	+ Jason Marsden as Thackery Binx (voice)
* Doug Jones as William "Billy" Butcherson
	+ Karyn Malchus as William "Billy" Butcherson (headless)

## Advertising and Marketing

* Posters
* Promotional Videos

Hocus Pocus (1993) Trailer -1 - Movieclips Classic Trailers
## Appearances

**By type**

Characters

* William Butcherson (first appearance)
* Dani Dennison (first appearance)
* Dave Dennison (first appearance)
* Jenny Dennison (first appearance)
* Max Dennison (first appearance)
* Bus driver (first appearance)
* Mary Sanderson (first appearance)
* Sarah Sanderson (first appearance)
* Winifred Sanderson (first appearance)
* Allison Watts (first appearance)

Locations

	+ Massachusetts (first appearance)
		- Salem (first appearance)

Sentient species

## Links and references

### External links

* *Hocus Pocus* at the Internet Movie Database
* *Hocus Pocus* at Wikipedia

 (September 30, 2022)**Characters:**Winifred Sanderson • Sarah Sanderson • Mary Sanderson • Gilbert • William Butcherson • Becca • Cassie Traske • Izzy • Jefry Traske • Mother Witch**Cast:**Bette Midler • Sarah Jessica Parker • Kathy Najimy • Sam Richardson • Doug Jones • Whitney Peak • Lilia Buckingham • Belissa Escobedo • Tony Hale • Hannah Waddingham

 **Books:***Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel* • *Hocus Pocus: The Illustrated Novelization* • *The Hocus Pocus Spell Book* • *Hocus Pocus: The Official Cookbook*

 **Games:***Disney Magic Kingdoms* • *Disney Emoji Blitz!*

 **Specials and Other:***Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash* • *In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover* • *Chibi Tiny Tales* - "*Hocus Pocus*: As Told By Chibi"