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Hocus Pocus VS. Hocus Pocus 2

Hocus Pocus VS. Hocus Pocus 2
VOICE OVER: Emily Brayton WRITTEN BY: Nick Spake
"Hocus Pocus" vs. "Hocus Pocus 2"... The 1993 original is a Halloween classic and its legacy sequel has been a hit for Disney+, but which put the most enchanting spell on audiences? Our verses includes production values, comedy, heart, and more!

Hocus Pocus vs. Hocus Pocus 2


Welcome to MsMojo, and in this installment of verses, we’re pitting “Hocus Pocus” against “Hocus Pocus 2.”

The 1993 original is a Halloween classic and its legacy sequel has been a hit for Disney+, but which put the most enchanting spell on audiences? Let us know which film you prefer in the comments, but keep in mind that there are a few spoilers.

We fly… to the first round!

Round 1: Production Values


The original “Hocus Pocus” engulfs itself in everything Halloween, from witches, to full moons, to black cats. Director Kenny Ortega delivered a spellbinding mix of early digital effects and practical magic that hold up surprisingly well almost three decades later. The film was even shortlisted for Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards. The now-defunct Rhythm and Hues Studios provided the CGI for Binx the cat. Nowadays, giving a cat realistic mouth movements might not seem like a big deal, but keep in mind that this was two years before Rhythm and Hues’ Oscar-winning work on “Babe.” “Hocus Pocus” was a massive step forward, having a bigger impact on talking animals in cinema than some may realize.

Being 29 years apart, you’d think the production values in “Hocus Pocus 2” would see an upgrade in every department. Director Anne Fletcher maintains the first film’s autumn aesthetic with colorful costumes, spooky sets, and macabre makeup. Where the first film mixed things up with CGI, animatronics, and puppets, the sequel relies more heavily on digital effects. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the green screen backdrops. Being a Disney+ exclusive produced in 2022, we suppose this is to be expected, but it does suck out some of the magic. For all the green screens, though, there’s still some room for the wire rigging and practical environments that made the first film stand out.

“Hocus Pocus” was not only a visual embodiment of Halloween, but a notable stepping stone in the effects realm. Visually, the sequel is faithful to the original, but it doesn’t push the industry forward. Thus, we grant our first round to the OG.

“Hocus Pocus” 1 / “Hocus Pocus 2” 0

Round 2: Comedy


For a Disney film released in the 90s, “Hocus Pocus” got away with a fair deal of risque comedy involving Madonna and the v-card. The humor wasn’t afraid to go dark either with jokes about severed body parts, roadkill, and sucking the lives out of little children. Rewatching the film every year as we grew up, there was always a new joke that we suddenly got. Looking back as an adult, it’s funny to think how much of this went over our heads. No matter how old you are, the performances from Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker never fail to make us smile. Even when a line isn’t masterfully written, their expressions, delivery, and dynamic elevate every moment they’re on screen.

For all the jokes “Hocus Pocus 2” revisits, it puts a fresh spin on most of them. Instead of just having Mary fly another vacuum, she takes to the sky on Roombas. The joke doesn’t end there either, as the Roombas return in a clever callback. Midler, Najimy, and Parker don’t miss a beat, but they’re not alone. Now that Billy Butcherson’s mouth isn’t sewn, Doug Jones brings more dialogue to his physical comedy. He also gets a welcomed screen partner in Sam Richardson’s Gilbert. We’d gladly watch a spinoff about those two. Same goes for the actresses playing the young Sanderson sisters. Jen D’Angelo’s screenplay can be surprisingly smart as well, arguably working in some clever commentary on the beauty industry consuming young souls.

While the sequel owes a fair deal to the first film, we think the writing may be a little wittier, and new dynamics are introduced to the equation. That’s a point for “Hocus Pocus 2.”

“Hocus Pocus” 1 / “Hocus Pocus 2” 1

Round 3: The Kids


Outside of the witches, “Hocus Pocus” revolves around Omri Katz’s Max, Thora Birch’s Dani, and Vinessa Shaw’s Allison. While the Sandersons are the ones we look forward to seeing the most, the kids help to make the story more relatable. Through Max, the film explores the hardships of moving to a new town and the awkward hurdles of being a teenager. The age difference between him and Dani provides two perspectives with one being at the ripe trick-or-treating age and the other wanting to grow out of it. Although they feud, there’s still a believable sibling bond between them. Allison serves as the trio’s middle ground, being closer to Max’s age but still possessing Dani’s Halloween spirit.

The sequel shifts the focus to Whitney Peak’s Becca, Belissa Escobedo’s Izzy, and Lilia Buckingham’s Cassie, three high school friends. Fascinated by magic, Becca and Izzy grow distant from Cassie, who’s fallen in with a cooler crowd. As a result, our trio can feel more like a duo for much of the film. Becca and Izzy not only play off each other well, but the Sandersons too. However, we wish the film dedicated more time to Cassie, who isn’t given much development until the third act. Nevertheless, the resolution between the three leaves us with a nice message about sisterhood, cleverly paralleling the Sandersons’ arc. A twist involving Becca also offers potential if “Hocus Pocus 3” is in the cards.

The kids in both films bring a grounded center to the fantasy, but Max, Dani, and Allison feel better defined as individuals and as a group. Winner, “Hocus Pocus.”

“Hocus Pocus” 2 / “Hocus Pocus 2” 1

Round 4: Heart


On the surface, “Hocus Pocus” is a silly comedy about witches running amuck. Underneath, it’s about a brother who fails to save his sister from premature death and spends the next 300 years riddled with guilt, searching for redemption. Wow, that took a deep turn fast. Thackery Binx is at the movie’s heart, guiding our heroes to stop the Sandersons. Binx can’t bring his sister Emily back, but he can finally find some closure by saving his new friends. As Binx mourns his sister, Max learns to be a better brother. This culminates with him making a sacrifice for Dani, but Max thankfully lives to see another day when the sun rises. As Thackery’s soul reunites with Emily’s, the story wraps on a satisfying note.

We always liked the Sandersons, but we didn’t expect to ever empathize with them. We mean, they suck out children’s souls. Yet, “Hocus Pocus 2” brings another layer to the relationship that provides the movie’s heart. In a flashback, we see how the town nearly separated the sisters, but magic ensured they’d continue to make mischief together. This comes full circle in the end when Winnie inadvertently turns her sisters to dust. Enemies thus form an alliance, allowing the Sandersons to reunite in Hell’s recording studio. This resolution could’ve been too sentimental, but like “Cruella,” the Sandersons come off as surprisingly sympathetic without betraying the fact that they’re still villains who delight in stirring trouble. It’s like having your children and eating them too.

Both films work in their own ways, but we give the sequel extra credit for building upon the central relationship and conjuring heart in unexpected places. That’s double, double toil, and trouble for #2!

“Hocus Pocus” 2 / “Hocus Pocus 2” 2

Round 5: Music


When you have one of the nuns from “Sister Act,” the best friend from “Footloose,” and Mama Rose, you’d better believe that there are going to be some spectacular musical numbers. Originally, James Horner was going to compose “Hocus Pocus,” but a scheduling conflict paved the way for John Debney’s wicked score. Horner would still contribute to “Sarah’s Theme” with lyricist Brock Walsh, turning in an alluring yet haunting siren song that calls out to Salem’s little children. Of course, the showstopper is “Put a Spell on You,” which Screamin’ Jay Hawkins originally wrote and recorded in the 50s. With Midler taking center stage, the blues ballad becomes faster, feistier, and more fun. It’s an intoxicating number that puts a spell on us every Halloween.

The Sandersons don’t waste any time upon returning, jumping right into song. They draw inspiration from Elton John and Bernie Taupin, but since this is a PG Disney movie, some of the lyrics are naturally changed. The witches aren’t the only ones back, as “Sarah’s Theme” can also be heard. Instead of “I Put a Spell On You,” the big production number is a rendition of “One Way or Another.” We might not have associated the punk rock song with Halloween before, but the updated lyrics tie in perfectly with the Sandersons’ pursuit of young souls. It’s another hypnotizing tune that honors the original while standing on its own. We’re still not sure how the Sandersons know all these modern songs, however.

Each of these soundtracks have replay value, but the first put a spell on us that hasn’t worn off even 29 years later. One way or another, “Hocus Pocus” gets this round for the win with a score of 3 to 2. Now to go watch both. Sistahhhhh!

“Hocus Pocus” 3 / “Hocus Pocus 2” 2
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