Movies
‘Hocus Pocus’ Just Made Nearly $2 Million in Theatrical Re-Release for 30th Anniversary
The story of Hocus Pocus is a wild one, as the 1993 film wasn’t a critical or financial success at the time of its release. Now considered a Halloween classic, so much so that it just spawned a hugely successful straight-to-streaming sequel last year (Hocus Pocus 2), the film was originally released in the summer of 1993, and actually lost money for Disney at the time.
Thirty years later and Hocus Pocus has become a merchandising powerhouse, considered by many to be one of the very best family-friendly horror movies ever made. Go figure!
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures made the smart decision to bring Hocus Pocus back to theaters for its 30th anniversary this past weekend, and the movie managed to scare up enough money that it found itself in the #10 slot on the weekend’s domestic box office charts!
Decades after its original release, Hocus Pocus just made $1,609,874 in just 1,430 theaters here in the United States, proving audiences can’t get enough of the Sanderson sisters.
Disney has also proven without a shadow of a doubt that Hocus Pocus 2 would’ve made a killing in theaters if it had been given a theatrical run last Halloween season, instead of going direct-to-Disney+. Perhaps Disney won’t make the same mistake when Hocus Pocus 3 comes around. Anne Fletcher is returning to direct the second sequel, we recently learned.
Bee Delores just celebrated 30 years of Hocus Pocus here on BD over the summer, writing: “It’s still an extraordinarily fun picture 30 years later.” Bee’s article continues…
“There’s no better way to relive your childhood than watching a favorite over and over again. From the spellbook bound in human flesh to the witches’ sinister playfulness, Hocus Pocus remains one of the greatest children’s horror movies of all time.
“It’s still so damn magical – and practically perfect in every way.”
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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