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 genuine seasonal touchstone for a generation of viewers. Shot on location in Salem, Massachusetts, it blends comedy and light horror in a way that defined a particular strand of family filmmaking in the early 1990s. Its cultural staying power has made original 35mm material increasingly sought after by collectors.

This cell, titled Billy Butcherson, captures the reanimated gravedigger in the film's characteristic nighttime exterior setting. The sequential frames follow Billy through a dark outdoor scene, consistent with his recurring appearances throughout the second half of the picture. As one of the film's more visually distinctive figures, Billy Butcherson represents a memorable piece of the production's practical character work, making this 35mm cell a focused and recognizable artifact from the film.