After almost 30 years of waiting, the highly-anticipated sequel to the kid-friendly horror film Hocus Pocus finally debuted. Much to viewers’ surprise, Hocus Pocus 2 was not given a theatrical release like the original, but, instead, was released on Disney+. Per Forbes, release topped Disney+’s records when it broke the highest opening weekend for a feature film on the streamer. This record has many fans wondering why the film ultiamtely did not get a theatrical release.
Hocus Pocus 2 picks up in modern-day Salem after two girls accidentally awaken the Sanderson sisters. The film adapted for its older audience who previously enjoyed the first film, but still included many beloved aspects of the original. Thankfully, the actresses who played the original Sanderson Sisters all reprised their roles from the original film. Sarah Jessica Parker plays Sarah, Bette Midler plays Winifred, and Kathy Najimy plays Mary. The actresses will forever be known for their roles in Hocus Pocus despite having huge careers outside of their roles in the film. Their following plus the overall anticipation of Hocus Pocus 2 should have been enough to score a cinema debut.
With many great features working for Hocus Pocus 2, why wasn’t it enough for the studio to release the film in theaters? Did Disney make a mistake by not releasing the film in theaters? Let’s take a closer look at some of the many reasons why the film would have been successful had it been granted a theatrical release.
Minimal Box Office Competition During Opening Weekend
Disney+
Hocus Pocus 2 hit Disney+ on September 30, 2022. If they had been granted a theatrical release on the same day, the film would have been in contention with three additional new movies: Smile, Bros, and The Good House. Smile is a horror film, Bros a gay rom-com, and The Good House, a comedy. To date, all three movies received decent ratings, but none of them really inspired high ticket sales. In fact, Bros was considered a box-office flop. According to Box Office Mojo, Smile grossed the highest amount over the weekend coming in at $22.6 million in sales.
How does this compare to what Hocus Pocus 2 did on Disney+? As already stated, the cult-classic sequel broke Disney+’s streaming record over that weekend (September 30-October 2). While the exact streaming hours have yet to be released, one can guess that if viewers flocked to Disney+, then they might have also gone to the theaters. True, streaming from home is more convenient, but let’s think about the target age range for this film. The original film came out in the 90s when Millennials were the dominant age range of viewers. Today’s Millennials are in their 30s to 40s, a demographic who grew up going to the movie theaters on the weekends. They remember the excitement of watching a film on the big screen, something that a movie they have waited almost 30 years for would have been worth a trip to the theater.
It is a Film Suited For All Ages
Disney Platform Distribution
Speaking of Millennials, let’s broaden that age range to really dive into the ages that can enjoy the Hocus Pocus films. The original film was given a PG-rating as was the sequel. This PG-rating means it is suitable for almost all ages. Having a film that both parents and kids can enjoy also helps boost theatrical sales as there is a larger pool of customers to draw from. Those who loved the original film can share a new memory with their children or grandchildren, and those without kids can still enjoy the film as well!
As previously stated, Millennials were arguably the reason the first film, which was considered a box-office flop, became cult-classic over the last 30 years. True, the first movie wasn’t popular right away, but now it can be found on multiple TV stations and even can be streamed whenever. According to their website, Freeform plans on airing the original Hocus Pocus no less than 14 times during their “31 Nights of Halloween”. Taking this into account, Hocus Pocus 2 should have been granted a theatrical release as the franchise has largely increased value already from being a sequel to an already established theatrical cult favorite.
It’s the Perfect Season For a Halloween Movie
Perhaps the most obvious reason for giving Hocus Pocus 2 a theatrical release was that fact that it is a Halloween movie that was released during Halloween time. True, Halloween technically isn’t celebrated until October 31, but many can agree that once the first day of fall hits in September, it is acceptable to start at least getting into the spirir of the Halloween season.
The main plot of Hocus Pocus 2 is around the Sanderson Sisters aka witches. When you think witches, you think Halloween — it’s a natural connection. Another thing you think of during Halloween is all things scary. While Hocus Pocus 2 may not be scary per se, it’s still a Halloween film that has spooky aspects like witches, zombies, and costumes. Then again, when you think about the fact that the Sanderson Sisters sought immortality by sucking the souls out of children, that could make an argument for a spooky theme.
Regardless of the lack of jump scares or even gore, not all Halloween movies need to be scary to be successful. Many iconic Halloween films, in fact, are not spooky, but nonetheless embody elements of the beloved holiday. For those who like Halloween, but do not like to be scared, a great activity is watching these non-spooky Halloween movies. A great fall activity is going to the movies, an activity that Hocus Pocus 2 could have provided had it been given its much deserved theaterical release. Thanks to the huge success of the sequel, fans have already flocked to the internet entertaining an idea of a third film. With having one film released in theaters and the other released directly to streaming, it’s curious to see how a possible third would be released.
