Hocus Pocus 3 Casts a Spell on Theaters as Disney Confirms Big-Screen Return

Yeah, Hocus Pocus didn’t exactly set the world on fire when it first hit theaters back in 1993—unless you were watching it with your 10-year-old cousin, in which case, it was probably the highlight of their year. Honestly, most people slept on this bizarre, slightly morbid kids' movie, leaving it stranded somewhere south of $50 million at the global box office. And the critics? A brutal 42% on Rotten Tomatoes. Not exactly the stuff Disney dreams are made of.

Here’s the twist, though: Over the years, Hocus Pocus pulled a total magic trick, transforming from notorious flop to must-watch October tradition. In fact, try to make it through a single Halloween season without someone blaring 'I Put a Spell On You' at a party. Good luck.

The big draw, then and now, is the Sanderson sisters—a trio played with maniacal energy by Bette Midler (Winifred), Kathy Najimy (Mary), and Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah). They basically turned cackling into an art form. Fast-forward to 2022 and Disney rolled out Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+. The sequel landed straight on streaming, skipping a theatrical run, and not surprisingly, restarted all the 'will-they-won't-they' chatter about doing Hocus Pocus 3.

In classic witchy fashion, it’s been a bit of a saga: Development rumors, delays, the usual 'when are we getting back on the broomstick' comments from the main cast. Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker have both publicly groaned about the long wait. It’s been a game of supernatural ping-pong for months.

The Sandersons Are Back—And This Time, They're Headed to Theaters

• Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker are all officially returning for Hocus Pocus 3.
• Disney is steering this witchy threequel back toward a full theatrical release, unlike the streaming-only approach for the last movie.
• No timeline yet—production and premiere dates are still under wraps, so don't bother carving it into your pumpkin calendar just yet.

If you’re wondering why this is a big deal, here’s the quick explanation: Hocus Pocus 2 dropping exclusively on Disney+ was a choice—let’s call it a pandemic-era experiment that didn't quite feel like the event a Sanderson comeback deserved. Now, Disney’s planning to send the sisters (and their mayhem) back onto the big screen, just like in the '90s. That’s a notable upgrade, especially considering how rare it is for streaming sequels to get a proper theatrical follow-up.

'We're still waiting for all the details, but every time we get close, someone moves the cauldron,' Midler joked not too long ago. Basically, the wait's almost as endless as their obsession with youth potions.

In the end, after years of false starts, the Sandersons are flying back—and this time, you’ll actually be able to buy a bucket of popcorn for it. We'll update as soon as Disney drops a release date or any new hexes.