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 in the 1990s. Its blend of comedy, light horror, and practical effects work reflects the particular sensibility Disney brought to family genre filmmaking in that era, and its cultural footprint has only grown in the decades since.

This cell captures Winifred Sanderson across three frames from what appears to be a dimly lit sequence in the film. The outer frames present the image as a dark negative, with reflective costume and set elements catching what little light is present, while the central frame renders the same moment as a positive, bringing Winifred's signature wild hair and elaborate costume into clearer relief. Together the three frames offer a layered look at a single passage of the original 35mm photography.