FILM 2334: HOCUS POCUS (1993)

TRIVIA: The animatronic cat would later be used in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996).

During a February 10, 2008, interview on the BBC show "Breakfast", Bette Midler stated that this was her favorite of all of her films. Her other favorite film role, according to her autobiography "Bette Midler: Still Divine," was voicing the poodle Georgette in Oliver & Company (1988).

During a 20th anniversary screening of this film, Doug Jones revealed the moths that come out of his mouth at the end are real, not CGI.

Sarah Jessica Parker has said that she found being in the flying broom harness so comfortable that, instead of being lowered back to the ground during the extended downtime between certain takes, she would stash a copy of The New York Times on her person to read while remaining suspended in the air.

Sarah Jessica Parker plays a witch who was executed during the Salem Witch Trials. While researching her family history for the show Who Do You Think You Are? (2004), Parker was shocked to discover that her 10th great-grandmother, Esther Elwell, was arrested in Salem, MA in the late 1600s for committing "sundry acts of witchcraft" and choking a neighbor to death. Esther's case never went to court, she escaped with her life and the accusation ended the Salem Witch Trials. Parker said, "It has changed everything about who I thought I was."

The role of Max Dennison was originally offered to Leonardo DiCaprio. He turned it down to appear in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993).

Brother and sister Garry Marshall and Penny Marshall play husband and wife. He's the one dressed as Satan.

The fountain featured in the opening credits of Friends (1994) is the same fountain seen when Max and his friends celebrate after burning the witches in the school kiln.

When Bette Midler takes the stage at the town Halloween Party, she says "Hello Salem, my name is Winifred. What's yours?". This is a take-off of the famous line, "Hello everybody, my name is Rose, what's yours?" spoken by Madam Rose in the musical "Gypsy". Midler played Madam Rose in the television version, Gypsy (1993), the same year this film was released.

Rhythm and Hues, who created the CGI Thackery Binx, went to great lengths to ensure that his facial features were those of an actual cat. The studio found it too realistic, notably the fangs and teeth, and felt that he might be too scary and sinister. To make him appear friendlier, Rhythm and Hues made his fangs smaller and less pointed.

Disney Easter egg: a child is dressed up as Mrs. Potts trick or treating when the sisters get off the bus

Early in the film, Mary says to Winifred, "Winifred, thou art divine!" Bette Midler is known for her nickname, "The Divine Miss M."

Jennifer Lopez auditioned for the role of Sarah Sanderson.

In 2018 toy makers Funko produced a set of their popular Pop vinyl figures based on the film. The series includes all 3 Sanderson sisters and were sold exclusively through Spirit Halloween stores.