It is 1993. A movie about three child-hungry witches from the 17th century lands in theaters in the middle of July. Yes, July. Disney released a Halloween movie during the peak of summer blockbusters, and honestly, it tanked. Critics like Roger Ebert hated it, calling it a "confusing" mess. But decades later, the cast from Hocus Pocus has achieved a level of cult immortality that most Oscar winners would kill for.
Every October, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy take over our screens. It’s unavoidable. But the road to that chemistry was weird. It wasn't just a simple casting call. Leonardo DiCaprio was actually offered the role of Max Dennison. He turned it down for What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and while he got an Oscar nod, he missed out on being the guy who lit the Black Flame Candle.
The Sanderson Sisters: Power, Camp, and Dental Prosthetics
Bette Midler is the glue. Before she signed on as Winifred Sanderson, she was already a massive star with Grammys and Oscar nominations. She has gone on record multiple times saying Hocus Pocus is her favorite film she’s ever made. That’s a huge statement from the woman who did The Rose and Beaches. Her performance is high-octane drag, essentially. She controlled the rhythm of every scene.
Then you have Sarah Jessica Parker. Long before Sex and the City made her a fashion icon, she was Sarah Sanderson. There is a strange, dark bit of trivia here: while researching her family history for the show Who Do You Think You Are?, Parker discovered her 10th great-grandmother was actually accused of being a witch during the Salem Witch Trials. Life imitates art. Her "come little children" siren song wasn't just a studio recording; she brought a legitimate Broadway background to that ethereal, creepy vocal.
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Kathy Najimy rounded out the trio as Mary. She came straight from the success of Sister Act. The signature crooked mouth she uses as Mary? That wasn't in the script. Kathy just started doing it during rehearsals to find the character's "dog-like" subservience to Winifred. She had to keep track of which side of her face she was twisting for the entire shoot to maintain continuity.
The Kids Who Survived the Black Flame Candle
The cast from Hocus Pocus wouldn't work without the "mortals." Omri Katz played Max. He was the quintessential 90s teen with the floppy hair and the tie-dye shirt. After the film, Katz didn't stick with acting forever. He eventually transitioned out of the industry and opened a cannabis company called Mary Jane’s Roses. It's a far cry from Salem, but he still shows up for the occasional fan convention.
Thora Birch, who played Dani, was already a pro by age 11. She was the emotional heart of the movie. While many child stars fade out, Birch went on to do American Beauty and Ghost World, proving she was one of the most capable actors of her generation. She was notably absent from the 2022 sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, due to scheduling conflicts, which bummed out a lot of hardcore fans.
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Then there’s Vinessa Shaw (Allison). She provided the grounded, skeptical foil to Max’s California bravado. Shaw has maintained a very steady career in indie films and television, appearing in things like Ray Donovan. She often talks about how the set felt like a playground, mostly because the Sanderson sisters were constantly ad-libbing and staying in character between takes.
The Voice and the Body: Doug Jones and Jason Marsden
We have to talk about Billy Butcherson. Doug Jones is the man under the makeup. He is the master of physical acting, the same guy who played the creature in The Shape of Water and the Faun in Pan’s Labyrinth. In 1993, he had to have his mouth literally sewn shut with prosthetics. He actually had real moths in his mouth for that iconic scene where he finally cuts the stitches and yells at Winifred. He used a dental dam to keep them from sliding down his throat.
Thackery Binx is a more complicated case of the cast from Hocus Pocus being a "team effort." Sean Murray (who you know from NCIS) played the human version of Binx. But when Binx was a cat, he was voiced by Jason Marsden. The producers felt Murray’s voice sounded too contemporary for a boy from the 1600s, so they brought in Marsden to provide that rhythmic, archaic cadence.
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Why the Chemistry Actually Worked
The secret sauce wasn't the special effects—which, let’s be real, look a bit crunchy today. It was the fact that the three lead actresses genuinely liked each other. They spent hours in hair and makeup together every morning. They flew on wires together. That level of physical comedy requires immense trust. If you watch the "I Put a Spell on You" sequence, you can see the synchronization. It wasn't just choreographed; it was lived in.
The 2022 Revival and Legacy
When the sequel finally happened on Disney+, it broke streaming records. Seeing the original trio back in the capes was a massive nostalgia hit. While the sequel introduced a new generation—Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham—it leaned heavily on the foundation built by the 1993 crew.
The fans are the ones who saved this movie. It wasn't the studio. It was the kids who watched the VHS tape until it wore out. It became a rite of passage.
Moving Forward with the Fandom
If you are looking to engage with the legacy of the cast from Hocus Pocus, there are a few concrete things you can do beyond just re-watching the movie for the thousandth time:
- Visit Salem, Massachusetts: While much of the movie was filmed on soundstages in California, many exterior shots—like Allison’s house (The Ropes Mansion) and the Old Town Hall—are real locations you can walk past.
- Follow the "Modern" Binx: Sean Murray is still a staple on network TV. If you want to see how the "human" Binx aged, NCIS is the place to go.
- Check out Doug Jones’ other work: If you appreciate the physicality of Billy Butcherson, watch Star Trek: Discovery or any Guillermo del Toro film to see a master of the craft.
- Look for the 30th Anniversary Specials: Disney frequently releases behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast that explain the technical difficulties of the flying rigs and the makeup applications.
The lasting power of this group proves that you don't need a box office hit to make a classic. You just need a bit of salt, a vacuum cleaner, and a cast that is willing to go absolutely over the top.