Hocus Pocus (franchise)
American media franchise about the Sanderson sisters.
Hocus Pocus is an American media franchise that includes two movies, a novelization of the sequel, and various Disney products and merchandise. David Kirschner and Mick Garris created the series. The story revolves around the Sanderson sisters, three witches from Salem, Massachusetts. They were executed by hanging in 1693, but they return on Halloween night whenever someone lights a black candle.
The first film, released in 1993, begins in Salem three hundred years earlier. A boy named Thackery Binx tries to stop the witches from harming his sister Emily. The sisters turn him into an immortal black cat, and Emily is taken. Before the sisters are hanged, the oldest, Winifred, casts a spell that they will return when a virgin lights a black candle in their house. In 1993, a new kid from Los Angeles named Max is bullied at school and has a crush on a classmate named Allison. On Halloween, his parents make him take his sister Dani trick-or-treating while they go to a party. Max and Dani end up at Allison’s house, then go to the Sanderson sisters’ house. Max lights a black candle there, bringing back Winifred and her sisters Sarah and Mary. The witches have one night to suck the life force from Salem’s children to survive past sunrise. Max, Allison, and Dani team up with the immortal cat (Thackery) and Winifred’s former lover, Billy Butcherson, to stop them.
The second film, *Hocus Pocus 2*, came out in 2022. It shows the teenage Winifred being banished from Salem in 1653 by Reverend Traske after she refuses to marry John Pritchett. She and her sisters run into a forbidden forest, where the Mother Witch gives Winifred a magic spell book. In the present day, twenty-nine years after the first movie, a sixteen-year-old aspiring witch named Becca celebrates her birthday with her friend Izzy. A magic shop owner named Gilbert gives Becca a black candle. She goes to the forest with Izzy and their friend Cassie, and they accidentally summon the Sanderson sisters again. The witches seek children to eat and plan revenge on Reverend Traske’s descendants. The trio must stop them from causing chaos.
A third film is in development. In October 2022, executive producer Adam Shankman said the storyline with Becca could lead to future projects, including spin-offs. By February 2023, Bette Midler said she was open to returning, though nothing was official. Kathy Najimy, Sarah Je
- created_by
- David Kirschner and Mick Garris
- first_film_release
- 1993
- second_film_release
- 2022
- third_film_status
- in development (as of May 2026)
- genre
- fantasy comedy horror
- notable_cast
- Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
Lore & Background
The franchise began with the 1993 film Hocus Pocus, set in Salem, Massachusetts. In 1693, the Sanderson sisters—Winifred, Sarah, and Mary—are hanged after a boy named Thackery Binx tries to stop them and is turned into an immortal black cat. Before dying, Winifred casts a spell that they will return when a virgin lights a black candle in their house. In 1993, newcomer Max lights the candle and brings the witches back. They team up with a cat and Billy Butcherson to stop the witches from sucking the essence of children.
A sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, was released in 2022. It shows the sisters' teenage origin in 1653, when Winifred is banned from the village and receives a magic spell book from the Mother Witch. In 2022, a girl named Becca accidentally summons the sisters, who seek revenge against descendants of Reverend Traske. A third film was confirmed in development as of May 2026, with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy set to reprise their roles.
Reader's Guide
The Hocus Pocus franchise has become a Halloween staple, particularly through annual broadcasts on Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween lineup. The first film's viewership grew significantly over time, from 2.5 million in 2009 to 8.2 million in 2018 during its 25th anniversary. The sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, was Disney+'s most-viewed film premiere in the United States based on hours streamed in its first three days. The franchise has expanded into a 25th anniversary special, a short film titled Hocus Pocus: As Told By Chibi, and potential spin-off series ideas. Events such as a 2013 D23 screening and a 2020 virtual reunion benefit have kept the franchise in public consciousness. Its legacy lies in its enduring popularity as a family-friendly Halloween classic.
Did You Know?
- The franchise was created by David Kirschner and Mick Garris.
- In 2022, Hocus Pocus 2 was Disney+'s most-viewed film premiere in the United States.
- A third film was officially announced in May 2026, with Midler, Parker, and Najimy confirmed to return.
- In 2018, the first week of Hocus Pocus viewings during Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween garnered 8.2 million viewers.
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