ScreenRant
Hocus Pocus Rerelease Propels The 1993 Film Close To Box Office Milestone Decades Later
By Hannah Gearan
Oct 23, 2024
Hocus Pocus nears a significant box office milestone years after its release. Hocus Pocus is a Halloween-themed film initially released in 1993. It tells the story of a boy named Max who accidentally revives three evil witches, played by Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker, upon moving to Salem, Massachusetts. In addition to these stars, Hocus Pocus featured a cast including Omri Katz, Thora Birch, and Vinessa Shaw. It was followed up by the sequel film Hocus Pocus 2 nearly 30 years later, in 2022.
As per Collider, the theatrical rerelease of Hocus Pocus pushed it closer to a major milestone. Last weekend, the film earned just under $1 million, totaling $49.9 million. This means the rerelease needs to bring in just $100,000 next weekend to push Hocus Pocus past the $50 million mark. During the near-million weekend, the rerelease outperformed some returning 2024 titles, including Deadpool & Wolverine and The Apprentice.
What This Milestone Means For Hocus Pocus Hocus Pocus’ Legacy Surpasses Its Mixed Reviews
The Hocus Pocus box office is even more impressive because the movie is available at home. Disney+ hosts the film on streaming and is doing well on the platform. As the spooky season continues, Hocus Pocus made it into Disney’s streaming top 10 this week. The rerelease’s box office numbers show that even if viewers also watch it at home, the Halloween classic is timeless enough to warrant a theatrical viewing still.
Hocus Pocus crossing the $50 million mark after all these years would be a massive accomplishment for the film’s legacy. Reviews were not strong when the film was initially released. The Tomatometer for the film stands at just 40% among 63 reviews. That said, Hocus Pocus has proved time and time again that its loyal fan base is much stronger than these mediocre reviews. This new milestone makes the movie’s lasting impact even more visible.
Our Take On Hocus Pocus’ Milestone: This Could Kick Hocus Pocus 3 Into Gear
While the milestone is good enough for the original film on its own, I see this having an even more significant impact on the development of Hocus Pocus 3. Ever since Hocus Pocus 2 was released, fans have urged Disney to make a threequel to continue the story of the Sanderson sisters and their legacy. The film has been confirmed to be on its way, but its development has been slow. The box office success of Hocus Pocus could be what Disney needs to make more headway on the franchise’s third film.
