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 home video and cable television, becoming a genuine seasonal touchstone for audiences who grew up with it. Its blend of comedy, light horror, and practical effects captured something particular about early-1990s family filmmaking, and its reputation has only grown in the decades since.

This cell, titled Sarah Flirting, captures Sarah Sanderson, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, leaning over the reclining figure of Master, played by Garry Marshall, in a warmly lit interior setting. The three consecutive frames preserve a single sustained moment from the shot, offering a rare look at the physical staging and period production design that defined the film's distinctive visual atmosphere.