10 Harsh Realities of Rewatching ‘Hocus Pocus’ Over 30 Years Later

First released in 1993, Hocus Pocus wasn’t a hit in theaters initially. However, over the past 30 years, it’s become a hugely popular Halloween favorite for people of all ages. What started as a somewhat overlooked Disney film has turned into a yearly tradition for many. For millennials, watching Hocus Pocus was as essential to Halloween as costumes and trick-or-treating, and its popularity has continued with younger generations thanks to annual showings on channels like Freeform and Disney Channel.

Looking back at the film as an adult, it doesn’t quite live up to the fond memories. It’s actually a bit darker and stranger than we remembered, and there are a lot of things we didn’t understand as kids – some jokes were genuinely creepy, and certain parts were surprisingly sad. The movie also feels a little rough around the edges, with noticeable mistakes and inconsistencies. While it still holds a nostalgic charm, it’s hard to ignore its flaws.

Here are 10 harsh realities of rewatching Hocus Pocus over 30 years after it came out.

There Are a Lot of Historical Inaccuracies

It’s well known that Hocus Pocus wasn’t meant to be historically accurate, but looking back as an adult, the movie’s mistakes are pretty noticeable. For example, the Sanderson sisters are shown being hanged in 1693, even though the Salem Witch Trials had actually ended in May 1692 when the governor’s wife was accused. Also, the sisters mention margarine, which didn’t even exist until the 1800s.

One of the most noticeable inaccuracies in the movie is that it depicts Halloween falling on a school day in 1993. However, Halloween actually fell on a Sunday that year. The movie also features a full moon on Halloween night, which didn’t happen in reality. The last time a full moon occurred on October 31st was in 1974, and it wouldn’t happen again until 2020. While the film is definitely in the spirit of Halloween, these details are hard to miss looking back.

The Obsession With Virginity Is Weird

The story of Hocus Pocus revolves around the Black Flame Candle being lit by someone who has never been intimate. This is the central element of the plot – only a virgin can light the candle and resurrect the Sanderson sisters. Looking back as an adult, the focus on virginity feels awkward. While it could be dismissed as simply part of the movie’s magical world, the film repeatedly points out that Max is a virgin.

The movie repeatedly jokes about the main character’s inexperience with sex, which is strange and unnecessary for a children’s film. Even his young sister makes comments about it. This constant focus on his virginity feels inappropriate and uncomfortable, especially considering the movie is aimed at kids, and the joke hasn’t held up well over time.

The Movie Has Many Goofs and Mistakes

Beyond the historical inaccuracies, Hocus Pocus is full of noticeable production mistakes. As a kid watching on VHS or Disney Channel, you probably didn’t catch them, but they’re hard to miss now. For example, after Emily is defeated, you can see her still moving in her chair. Sarah Sanderson’s hair changes from curly to straight throughout the film. Mrs. Dennison’s wedding ring vanishes and reappears during the party, and Winifred Sanderson quotes a line Max says after she’s already dead!

If you watch closely, you can see the camera crew reflected in the kitchen scenes at the Dennison house. During the flying scenes with the Sanderson sisters, you might notice the wires used to lift the actresses. There’s a continuity error when Max gets wet with the sprinklers in the museum – he’s suddenly dry when they arrive at the cemetery. Also, the note Max gives Allison changes slightly when she returns it. And keep an eye on the clock when the witches arrive at the school – it jumps between 3:00 a.m., midnight, and back again. There are likely many other small mistakes viewers haven’t spotted.

The Bus Driver Is a Predator

It’s shocking how a scene that was once considered playful now feels deeply inappropriate and sleazy. In the movie, when the Sanderson sisters are searching for their spellbook, they encounter a bus. The driver immediately starts making suggestive comments when he opens the door for them. After Winifred asks about the vehicle, he responds with a line about taking beautiful people to fulfill their “forbidden desires.” When she clarifies that their desire is children, he shockingly misinterprets it as a sexual proposition, responding with a crude and disturbing comment.

Honestly, the humor in that scene just doesn’t land at all, and it really makes me uncomfortable. The guy comes across as seriously predatory, and looking back now, the whole thing feels…wrong. It’s way creepier than just a slightly awkward uncle at a family gathering – it’s genuinely disturbing. I can’t believe Disney even allowed it to happen. Even if it was meant to go over kids’ heads, there’s just nothing funny about it, and it feels pretty awful.

Max Is a Jerk

For many who grew up watching Hocus Pocus every Halloween, Max probably seemed like a charming character. He was designed to be a typical ’90s teen – a bit of a rebel who had to get used to a new place. However, looking back, Max is actually quite unpleasant. He complains about moving, makes fun of Salem’s Halloween celebrations, and isn’t very nice to his sister. He’s especially thoughtless, using her as a way to impress a girl after reluctantly taking her trick-or-treating.

Max often seems overly confident and arrogant, like when he confidently gives Allison his number even after she strongly disagrees with him in class. His attempt to impress her with this show of confidence is actually what kicks off the events that bring the witches back to life. As an adult rewatching the movie, it’s also frustrating to see him leave two teenagers potentially in danger at the Sanderson house. While they were unkind, they didn’t deserve to be put in such a risky situation.

Sarah Sanderson Is a Creepy Character

While many remember Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) as the attractive and somewhat silly Sanderson sister, a closer look reveals a surprisingly unsettling character. After rejuvenating herself by stealing life force, she prioritizes her appearance, excitedly declaring, “I am beautiful! Boys will love me!” Immediately after, she displays a disturbing attraction to the teenage Thackery, even touching his face. Her subsequent suggestion to Winifred – “Hang him on a hook and let me play with him” – is particularly creepy and inappropriate.

The character is shown kissing a teenager at one point, and her method of luring children to their deaths with a creepy lullaby is deeply disturbing. While intended as comedic, her combination of taking children and engaging in suggestive behavior creates a much more unsettling impression than the movie likely intended. Looking back now, she comes across less like a silly witch and more like a dangerous and troubling predator.

The Female Characters Are Mostly One-Dimensional

Revisiting Hocus Pocus after three decades reveals how simple the female characters are. While the Sanderson sisters are undeniably memorable, they lack depth. Winifred is portrayed as the standard villain – power-hungry, mean, and quick to anger. Mary is simply the clumsy follower, and Sarah, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, is reduced to being the attractive, ditzy one – a character who doesn’t get enough screen time and is largely defined by her looks and sex appeal.

The movie’s female characters aren’t well-developed. Allison, despite being the most sensible character, mainly exists as a love interest and an encyclopedia of Salem history. Dani, while energetic, primarily serves as a source of brotherly frustration and a character who constantly needs rescuing. Despite a magical setting and vibrant personalities, the women and girls lack real independence and depth. The film would have benefited from giving its female leads more complex stories and opportunities for growth.

It’s Surprisingly Dark for a Kid’s Movie

The movie Hocus Pocus starts with surprisingly dark scenes for a family film, beginning with a child’s death and a public execution. The death of young Emily Binx, as the witches steal her life force, is quite unsettling – a far cry from the lighthearted scares many remember. The moment feels rushed, quickly followed by attempts at humor. Shortly after, the Sanderson sisters are executed by hanging, a disturbing scene showing them with nooses around their necks and dangling feet.

The story doesn’t shy away from truly sad elements. Emily’s brother, Thackery, suffers a particularly harsh fate – being cursed to live as a cat indefinitely. It’s heartbreaking to imagine watching loved ones live and pass away, unable to reveal yourself and then facing eternal loneliness. The show also touches on the serious topic of Satan worship. While these darker themes are often presented with a playful, over-the-top style, they become more impactful as viewers mature and recognize the weight of these concepts.

Winifred’s Abuse Towards Her Sisters Isn’t So Funny Now

Winifred’s defining characteristic is her cruel and controlling behavior. As children, her sisters were often the target of her insults and physical abuse, which was played for laughs. However, rewatching the movie now reveals a more disturbing truth: Winifred is emotionally abusive. What once seemed like exaggerated, comedic moments are now uncomfortable to watch. It’s clear that Mary and Sarah live in fear of upsetting her, constantly trying to earn her approval despite being put down and mistreated.

Looking back, Winifred’s behavior – the constant insults, hitting, yelling, and generally putting others down – clearly resembles emotional and verbal abuse. What seemed like harmless, funny sibling rivalry when we were children now appears much different, especially with a greater understanding of controlling behavior. While the show aims for over-the-top comedy, it’s hard to ignore the toxic elements when watching it today.

Nostalgia Does a Lot of the Heavy Lifting

While Hocus Pocus is a well-loved and iconic Halloween movie, it’s probably not a cinematic masterpiece. If you look at it objectively, the film is actually quite flawed. It suffers from a messy plot, underdeveloped characters, and noticeable inconsistencies. The story can feel slow at times, some of the jokes haven’t aged well, and it relies heavily on clichés from the 1990s.

Much of the appeal of movies comes from the feelings they evoke, and that’s exactly what makes Hocus Pocus so special. It’s a comforting, nostalgic film that people revisit every October, hoping to recapture a simpler, more hopeful time. This strong sense of nostalgia often makes it easy to forgive the movie’s flaws. Even the messy or questionable parts feel cozy and familiar, wrapped in the warm feeling of autumn. That’s why audiences continue to enjoy it year after year, even while playfully cringing at certain scenes.

2025-10-25 05:08