Bootleg Betty
Hocus Pocus Marks Its 33rd Anniversary Today
By Mister D
July 16, 2026
Premiere date: July 16, 1993
Overview
Hocus Pocus is a 1993 American fantasy?comedy directed by Kenny Ortega and starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters — a chaotic, campy trio of witches accidentally resurrected in modern?day Salem by a teenage boy on Halloween night. Initially a box?office disappointment, the film later became a cult classic, thanks to annual October airings and surging home?media sales. Its legacy has since expanded into a full franchise, including a sequel released in 2022 and a third film in development.
Awards & Nominations
Hocus Pocus earned 2 wins and 11 nominations, including:
Saturn Awards (1994)
Winner: Best Costumes — Mary E. Vogt
Nominees: Best Fantasy Film, Best Actress (Bette Midler), Best Supporting Actress (Kathy Najimy), Best Special Effects
Young Artist Awards (1994)
Winner: Best Youth Actress Leading Role — Thora Birch (tied with Christina Vidal)
Nominees: Vinessa Shaw, Omri Katz, Sean Murray, Jason Marsden (voiceover)
Awards Circuit Community Awards (1993)
Nominees: Best Costume Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling
Trivia
A few fun nuggets from the film’s long pop?culture afterlife:
The movie is set in Salem, Massachusetts, tying directly into the town’s witch?trial history.
Max attends Jacob Bailey High School, which features a full?sized kiln used in one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
Bette Midler’s role as Winifred Sanderson sits alongside her iconic turns in The Rose, Beaches, For the Boys, and Gypsy.
The film’s cult status grew after its theatrical run — annual TV airings transformed it into a Halloween staple.
