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 during its theatrical run, the film found an enduring second life through cable television and home video, becoming a genuine seasonal touchstone for audiences who grew up with it in the 1990s. Its blend of comedy, light horror, and practical effects work has kept it in continuous cultural circulation, and it remains one of the more recognizable titles in the Disney live-action catalog of that decade.

This cell captures Mary Sanderson across three closely sequential frames, each showing Kathy Najimy mid-smile against a dark interior background. The moments appear drawn from a single continuous beat of performance, offering an intimate look at the character's broadly comic energy frozen in silver.