National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Hocus Pocus was released by Walt Disney Pictures in July 1993, directed by Kenny Ortega from a screenplay by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert. Though it performed modestly at the box office, the film found a devoted second life through cable television and home video, becoming a genuine seasonal touchstone for an entire generation of viewers. Its blend of dark comedy and practical effects placed it squarely within the early nineties tradition of family-oriented Halloween entertainment.

This cell, titled Winifred and Mary Sanderson, captures the two sisters in a dimly lit interior setting, their faces turned toward camera across three consecutive frames. The tight composition and low lighting reflect the film's theatrical visual style, and the subtle movement between frames gives the strip a quiet sense of life. It is a straightforward and honest piece of 35mm from a film that has only grown in cultural affection over the decades.