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, eventually becoming one of the most beloved seasonal comedies of its generation. It represents a particular strand of early-1990s family filmmaking — practical effects, theatrical performances, and a willingness to lean into genuine menace beneath the comedy.

This cell captures Winifred and Mary Sanderson in close-up, their faces emerging from a dark background as they gaze upward with shared intensity. The three consecutive frames show almost no movement between them, preserving a rare stillness from what was clearly a charged moment in the shot. Together they document the sisters' dynamic presence as a unit, caught in a single sustained expression.