National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Hocus Pocus was released by Walt Disney Pictures in July 1993, directed by Kenny Ortega. Though it performed modestly at the box office, the film found its true audience through cable and home video, becoming a seasonal staple that has only grown in cultural standing over the decades. It represents a particular strand of early-1990s family fantasy filmmaking, one willing to lean into genuine menace alongside its comedy.

This cell captures Winifred Sanderson mid-performance, her characteristic forward lean and theatrical scowl fully committed to frame. The pearl necklace and dark costuming are immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with the character. A third frame in the sequence flags as Mary Sanderson, placing this cell at a moment shared between the two sisters — a pairing that defines much of the film's comedic and dramatic energy.