The long-awaited sequel to a classic Halloween film, Hocus Pocus 2, premieres on Disney+ as their #1 movie of all time, breaking a streaming record over its opening weekend. Disney released Hocus Pocus in 1993 to mixed reviews, but it has become a seasonal mainstay with a large and passionate fanbase. Rumors of a Hocus Pocus sequel swirled for years, with the original cast expressing interest, but development never took off until late 2019. Finally, a year later, the original Sanderson Sisters (Better Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) signed onto the Disney+ project.
In April 2021, Anne Fletcher took over as director from Adam Shankman, filming a screenplay by Jen D'Angelo. The original story centers on a new trio of young witchcraft practitioners who inadvertently resurrect the Sanderson Sisters, excluding Hocus Pocus protagonists Max, Dani, and Allison. Hocus Pocus 2 sees the Sandersons running amok in 21st century Salem, trying to take revenge on the descendant of the family that banished them from town while simultaneously attaining true power. Despite certain fan-favorite elements missing from the sequel, audiences heavily anticipated the Hocus Pocus 2 premiere.
Hocus Pocus 2 officially set a Disney+ streaming record over its opening weekend. The news comes from a Disney press release and concerns the number of hours spent watching the film on Disney+ domestically over three days. Hocus Pocus 2's record makes it the #1 film premiere on the streaming platform to date.
Is Hocus Pocus 3 More Likely After Hocus Pocus 2's Success?
Despite mixed critical and audience reviews, which range from criticizing the film's plot and CGI to praising the Sanderson Sisters and humor, viewer interest in Hocus Pocus 2 is empirically high, according to the record-breaking data. The anticipation for the sequel is likely due to several factors: the lengthy period between the original movie and its sequel, the family-focused atmosphere, the return of Midler, Parker, and Najimy, and the nostalgic allure of Hocus Pocus as a Halloween season favorite. Therefore, despite any supposed flaws, the first film's revered status likely drew a large segment of Hocus Pocus fans curious about a modern take on the Sanderson Sisters' story alongside new viewers, which translated to the sequel's #1 status.
The success of Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+ over the opening weekend is exciting for audiences looking for more Sanderson Sisters content. It means that people feel a connection to the franchise and will give their time toward a new project. In addition, the sequel's post-credits scene preemptively set up a potential Hocus Pocus 3, meaning that Disney had faith in its performance. Now that Hocus Pocus 2 is proven to have widespread appeal as the most-watched Disney+ premiere of all time, Disney can capitalize on that ending tease and the film's new cast by going forward with a third film they know will also draw big numbers.
Source: Disney