FILM · 2022 · USA
Hocus Pocus 2
47 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (47)
- #001
On Michael Rosenbaum's podcast Inside of You (2018), Doug Jones said that the wig he wore as Billy Butcherson in this film is the same wig he wore in the first film.
- #002
In the original film, Mary's mouth is crooked to the right; this time it is on the left. Kathy Najimy explained that this was because doing it on the original side had become difficult for her. The film accounts for the change by having Winifred slap Mary and move her mouth to the other side.
- #003
In the scene where the mayor loses his seat, the couple sitting on the bench takes the form of the devil and an old woman in hair curlers. This is a callback to the roles of Garry Marshall and Penny Marshall in the original, as the unsuspecting married couple who host the sisters for an evening.
- #004
When Winifred casts the Magicae Maxima spell, her eyes glow purple. At the beginning of the film, the Witch Mother's eyes glow the same color, implying that she too is casting a spell.
- #005
In the cursed "flash mob," many dancers can be seen wearing costumes that imitate outfits or costumes seen in the first film, including Billy Butcherson's costume, Mrs. Dennison's Madonna costume, Mr. Dennison's Dracula costume, Dani's witch costume, the Sanderson Sisters costumes, and the costumes worn by the band playing "I Put A Spell On You."
- #006
While looking through the window, Winifred notices a couple watching television. The actors in the Hocus Pocus (1993) film they are watching are Garry Marshall and Penny Marshall, both of whom have passed away. The scene is intended to honor them.
- #007
The spiders that attack the Salem villagers in the opening are golden silk orb-weavers, as shown by their tan bodies with white spots and stripes as well as their very long black and yellow legs. Despite being frighteningly large (their bodies alone can be 3 inches long), these spiders are completely harmless to humans. They are not venomous, and their bites cannot even pierce human skin.
- #008
Principal photography took place between October 18, 2021 and January 26, 2022 in the Rhode Island cities of Providence, Lincoln and Newport. After two test screenings showed that the film's ending was the weakest part, reshoots took place in early June 2022 on the streets of Astoria, New York and at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York.
- #009
Cassie wears a batik shirt similar to Max's in the first film and a tan sweater similar to Allison's in the first film.
- #010
Although this film was mostly shot in Rhode Island, Cassie's house bears a striking resemblance to Allison's mansion in the original Hocus Pocus (1993). Also known as the Ropes Mansion, this house is actually located in Salem, MA, and invites tourists to visit its botanical surroundings year-round.
- #011
When the Witch Mother sang "Come, Little Children" in 1653, she briefly enchanted Sarah. After gaining her own magic, Sarah would use this song to lure Emily Binx and other children to their deaths.
- #012
The opening scene takes place in 1653 on Winifred's 16th birthday, meaning Winifred was born in 1637 and was 56 years old when she was hanged in the opening scene of Hocus Pocus (1993). Bette Midler was 47 when the first film was shot.
- #013
The ages of the original cast in the first and second films: Bette Midler: 47 and 76. Kathy Najimy: 36 and 65. Sarah Jessica Parker: 28 and 57. Doug Jones: 33 and 62.
- #014
After the end credits sequence, there is a scene implying a way back for the sisters.
- #015
Because the film was not shot in Salem this time, local Salem businesses were contacted and allowed their logos to be used on set. For example, the sign of Salem Herb Witch can be seen hanging above a store's front door in the film.
- #016
The cast of Hocus Pocus (1993) reunited for a virtual reunion special hosted by Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) in October 2020 to benefit the New York Restoration Project. The one-time event was available only to fans who bought tickets to watch it that night. Along with Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Doug Jones and other stars of the film, special guests included Jamie Lee Curtis, Meryl Streep, John Stamos, Glenn Close, Billy Crystal and Adam Lambert.
- #017
On the large billboard behind Cassie's head about Mayor Traske's re-election, you can see the Dennisons' house from the original film.
- #018
The Sanderson Sisters have a special walk they do while on a mission: they pull up their skirts and walk in step with each other, greatly exaggerating each step in every direction. Fans often mistakenly refer to this as "hag tracks." However, during shooting of the original film, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy came up with its proper name, "slurking," so called because they describe it as a mix of slinking and lurking.
- #019
The stitches Winifred puts in Billy Butcherson's mouth can be read as "Kiss."
- #020
The location of the Sanderson House shows how Salem grew over time: it was initially deep in the woods, later just outside the main part of town, and eventually was absorbed into a fully busy street and turned into Gilbert's shop.
- #021
In 2018, A. W. Jantha wrote a sequel novel following Max and Allison's daughter, Poppy.
- #022
Larry Bagby, who played Ernie "Ice" in the original film, wanted to reprise the same role in the sequel. His manager submitted him for a cameo as the owner of the Salem Magic Shoppe, but Bagby was never contacted to audition.
- #023
Before the sequel was greenlit, a made-for-TV remake of the original film was announced for Freeform without the involvement of the original cast. When Hocus Pocus 2 entered development, the production was scrapped.
- #024
The Mother Witch's color scheme resembles Dani's witch costume in the first film. Costume designer Salvador Perez stated that this was not intentional, but that he embraced it after noticing the similarities.
- #025
Trailers for Hocus Pocus 2 show the Book's blue eye. This is incorrect, since the same Book's eye was green in the original film. For the sequel's actual release, the Book's eye was changed from blue to green.
- #026
Unlike the original, most of this film was shot in Rhode Island, including cities such as Lincoln, Newport and East Providence, with reshoots filmed in Astoria and Queens, New York. The original was shot in Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts, with several scenes also filmed in Hollywood, California.
- #027
As of October 2022, Hocus Pocus 2 was Disney+'s number one film premiere in the United States to date, based on hours watched in its first three days domestically.
- #028
The film premiered on September 30, during the Halloween season (unlike the original film, which premiered on July 16 despite being a Halloween movie).
- #029
In April 2021, it was reported that Hocus Pocus 2 was moving forward with a new director. Previously, Adam Shankman had been reported to be attached to direct Disney+'s long-awaited sequel using a script written by Jen D'Angelo. A new report from The DisInsider revealed that Anne Fletcher had replaced Shankman. Shankman had also been chosen by Disney to direct Disenchanted (2022). Shankman would remain as an executive producer. Oddly, before the project was shelved in the mid-2010s, Fletcher had been set to direct Disenchanted.
- #030
After the girls escape the witches at Walgreens, Winifred seizes the only broom on display. Sarah finds a Swiffer Wet Jet, and Mary enchants two Roombas, allowing her to ride them like a flying board. In the joy of watching Mary try to surf on her brooms, it is easy to miss it, but Sarah's swaying leaves a trail of bubbles in the air.
- #031
The other four main cast members of the original Hocus Pocus — Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Jason Marsden and Omri Katz — said at a 2023 reunion in Connecticut that they were never contacted or considered for the sequel. They said talks about a sequel to the original had been going on for many years and that there was a chance their characters would be included in the script, but that while at the studio things eventually went in a different direction.
- #032
As of October 2022, Hocus Pocus 2 had been watched for 2.7 billion minutes since its September 30 premiere, taking the top spot on Nielsen's list for biggest film opening weekend to date.
- #033
Mick Garris, one of the writers of the first film, was initially working on the script for this film, and it had the potential to be a Disney Channel Original Movie. The project was later announced to be restarted, but that plan would ultimately be scrapped in favor of a sequel suitable for Disney+.
- #034
Kenny Ortega, director of Hocus Pocus (1993), said he was not approached to direct this film or the upcoming Hocus Pocus 3.
- #035
The Sanderson Sisters' shopping trip to Walgreens may be a reference to a scene cut from the original in which the sisters went to buy ingredients to make crow candy.
- #036
According to Disney, the film received 26 million views in the five days after it premiered on Disney+, the platform's biggest film premiere. Elemental (2023) surpassed it with 26.4 million views.
- #037
Both the original 1966-71 supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows and its 1991 revival featured a character named Reverend Trask, without an "e" at the end of the name, a fanatical witch hunter from Salem.
- #038
At the Halloween carnival, Winifred and Mary encounter a woman dressed as an old witch that recalls the Evil Queen's old witch form. Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson) played the Evil Queen in Descendants (2015).
- #039
Hocus Pocus 2 was produced in a 2.20:1 aspect ratio, unlike the original film, which was produced in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
- #040
Gilbert tells his customers that the Book was sealed to prevent it from escaping, but the first thing the book does when it awakens is free him, implying that he never actually believed it was dangerous.
- #041
Tony Hale, who plays Reverend Traske and Mayor Jefry Traske, was born on September 30, 1970. The film's premiere was held on his 52nd birthday.
- #042
Whitney Peak appeared as the daughter of the lawyer (Idris Elba) in Molly's Game (2017). In this film, Peak's character reads Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible," which deals with the Salem witch trials.
- #043
The character Reverend Trask shares his name with the villain Reverend Trask from the classic series Dark Shadows (1967).
- #044
The mayor's car is a Ford Fusion.
- #045
Rocio Banquells was considered for the role of Cassie.
- #046
There is a hidden Mickey on Winifred's costume.
- #047
It is the 283rd live-action film produced by Disney.
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