Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Hocus Pocus arrived from Walt Disney Pictures in the summer of 1993, a Halloween comedy released out of season and greeted with mixed notices at the time. Decades later it has become an annual autumn ritual for a generation who first watched it on VHS and cable, elevating its supporting cast and side characters alongside the three witch leads. Its afterlife as a cult perennial has made even minor frames from the production desirable to collectors chasing nostalgia for a specific childhood viewing experience.
This cell centers on Billy and Max, two of the film's key young male characters caught in the same strip of 35mm. Billy, the reanimated ex-boyfriend turned reluctant ally, and Max, the teenage protagonist navigating Salem's supernatural chaos, anchor much of the story's forward motion. A cell pairing them together speaks to a shared scene rather than a solo close-up, appealing to collectors who want narrative moments over isolated portraits, a piece of screen history joining two figures central to the plot's resolution.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Hocus Pocus (1993).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced; punched edges appear clean with no visible tearing or distortion.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual-track variable-area format; Dolby Digital pixel blocks are visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge, indicating a combined analog and digital optical soundtrack.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to quote text reliably.
Base & colour
Base shows a warm golden-amber tint consistent with an acetate or polyester safety base; dye image appears rich with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
No visible splices, cue marks, or heavy scratching are apparent; minor surface texture is present consistent with a projected print.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be from the same continuous shot, and the subject matter is consistent with a fantasy or horror production matching the film on record.
Era check
The combination of a dual variable-area optical track with Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks is consistent with a mid-1990s theatrical release print, matching the 1993 production date of the film on record.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000063348
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
