8 Hocus Pocus Details You Missed…Even If You Watch It Every Halloween
You’ve watched Hocus Pocus every Halloween—but have you really noticed everything hiding in Salem? From a surprisingly familiar fountain to the clues surrounding Allison, these eight details will give you a reason to look closer on your next rewatch.
Welcome to Spooktober on Dial-Up Dayz! Today, we’re revisiting Hocus Pocus (1993), the Halloween classic starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. We’re celebrating the spooky atmosphere, unforgettable characters, and emotional goodbye that made it an October tradition, and exploring the unexpected stories behind the scenes.
Along the way, we separate confirmed production stories from fan theories and revisit what made this strange, funny, sometimes surprisingly dark movie such a beloved part of our childhood.
💬 Which detail was new to you? And do you think Allison was secretly a witch? Share your theory, and your favorite Hocus Pocus memory in the comments!
👍 Like the video and subscribe to Dial-Up Dayz for more stories behind the movies and TV shows we grew up with.
👻 Spooktober continues all month! Tell us which Halloween movies, creepy cartoons, and spooky TV episodes you want us to revisit next.
Keep the lights on, and let’s rewind.
@jwt80
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
I know this is rage bait, but Allison read from the book that a circle of salt would protect her from her enemies. Also, her mother used to work at the museum.
@davinp
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
The reason Hocus Pocus premiered in July and not October is because Disney had another halloween movie in 1993 that they didn't want to compete with – The Nightmare before Christmas
@marisaledesma4068
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
I think Alison was meant to be a witch and a protector. Her family ran the Sanderson Museum, she knew what to do because she had some kind of gene that made her a white witch.
I’ve loved this movie since it came out and I can remember seeing it with my mother and some of my cousins who were way too young to understand the jokes and what happened in the beginning. I was 17 going on 18. I knew Jason Marsden did the voice but I couldn’t help but fall in love with Thackery. I knew Omri looked familiar but we didn’t have as much access to the internet. When I saw Sean Murray as an adult in NCIS I couldn’t stop thinking he looked familiar and I didn’t know why. Then I looked him up and realized he was in this movie.
Hocus Pocus 2 was so much fun. The girls they got to play as the young Sanderson sisters were absolutely amazing.
@TabethaCarr
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
22:16 HOLY CRAP!!! BINX IS DONUT-LORD!!! ❤😂
@TabethaCarr
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
12:37 There's also a scene of the parents stumbling out out of the ballroom after the spell was lifted and the party finally stops. 😘
@TabethaCarr
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
6:07 And fun-fact; it's also the same house from 'American Beauty'. I actually already knew a lot of these easter-eggs already thanks to the FreeForm channel's annual re-airing of their "Pop-up Video" edition of 'Hocus Pocus' that they (presumably) still show to this day. 😘
@TabethaCarr
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
4:07 Just a quick aside; it's actually THACKARY Binx. Just like "Zackery", but with a lisp. 😘
@alitain8135
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
I've loved Hocus Pocus since a kid. Though it didn't become a must watch Oct tradition till I was like…well into my teens? I don't think I actually owned it on VHS, but I would watch it in Oct on Disney Channel. THEN I got the dvd and there hasn't been an Oct that I haven't watched it. Also funny thing, it wasn't until I got the DVD that I actually saw the entire prologue since I had seen it in theaters with friends. And I just didn't remember cause you know…kid. But like I would catch the sisters being hung and and all, but I kid you not, for some reason whenever I caught it on TV I somehow always missed Thackery actually going to save his sister. Silly, I know.
I also maintain for ages now that Disney dropped the ball on this. I mean I know it didn't do well initially, so I mean there was that. But even half a dozen years or a decade later, this movie TOTALLY could've sold an animated series. You have Max, Allison, and Dani post movie now dealing with various supernatural things around Salem. I mean it's freakin Salem, come on. You have Allison eventually start dabbling in white witchcraft, and you touch up plenty of colonial historical events and people. BUT, you do not make the Sanderson sisters the antagonists. You instead wait and have them return in a special, or season finale scenario. Depending on whether you stick with more episodic baddies or have some other over arching villain. But you make the Sanderson's return actually significant like it should be. Sadly no, totally missed opportunity. Which is also kinda silly cause they literally have cartoon designs for the Sanderson sisters and Billy and have slapped those on fabric and merchandise.
Instead we got the totally bad sequel movie and if it's true a third one is being worked on…I really just am not thrilled at the idea. Actually funny enough the book Hocus Pocus the Sequel that came out a couple years before the second movie wasn't entirely bad and really should've been how they did the sequel at least. But whatever, doesn't diminish my love for the original. Though I agree with my friend, out of the entire movie I'm not a fan of the scene where Max is driving and Winifred pulls up asking for his learner's permit. How would she know that's a thing? I really wish they had done a different line there, but again doesn't ruin the movie or anything.
@cruizlee214
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
Saxberry Binx?
@CailínCéilí
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
Please do the original watcher in the woods
@Icehydros
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
I was 8 when this came out, but I’m sure I saw this in theaters.
@jankverneland5043
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
i have that movie on disney dvd.
@lajx12
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
I think I'd rather have stills instead of the same play a few seconds and then freeze frame with zoom in. It's a distracting repetition that doesn't serve a purpose.
@FnRenner
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
SJP was my childhood crush….but only when she was riding a broom lol
@deadzero
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
Spooky is here 🎃🎃🎃🦇🦇🦇 I did see Hocus Pocus at theaters and many times at home with my wife
@carmenbelle6
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
release the grocery store scene!
@AlphonseLynx
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
The back lot with the Friends fountain was also the same area that they used in Christmas Vacation and Vegas Vacation. If you look behind Max during that part when he's talking to Binks you can see the Griswold house from those 2 movies.
@christopherhollington5908
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
hi I love your deep dives. How about a vid on the history of unsolved mysteries?
@averymerrick
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
Max deserves better than what he got in that movie.
It’s like the universe had something against him.
@chloesREALmom
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
Amuck amuck amuck!
@registereduser
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
Some good Hocus Pocus bus tours in Salem if that’s your sort of thing.
@registereduser
October 11, 2026 at 2:56 am
That corset doin’ WORK for SJP.