Even though 2020 has still seen its fair share of new movies and shows, the nature of this less than cromulent year has driven many to the comfort of nostalgia. As such, studios have been bolstering their revenue with official rereleases of classic films and audiences have just been eating them up. However, few have tapped into that warm blanket of familiarity quite like Disney’s spooky nerd lure,Hocus Pocus.
After enjoying its time back in the spotlight for barely 2 weeks,Hocus Pocushas already grossed $3.086 million, shooting it well past other powerhouse 2020 rereleases likeJurassic ParkandThe Empire Strikes Back. The former’s $1.4 million and the latter’s $2.4 million seem almost paltry in comparison, especially consideringJurassic Park’s rerelease came all the way back in June.Empireis a bit more impressive, earning its impressive 2nd place revenue only since late September, though it clearly couldn’t hold a candle to the conveniently-timed Halloween cult classic.
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Hocus Pocuscharmed those who actually saw it when it initially premiered in 1993, though its low audience numbers and sometimes even lower critical reception appeared to seal its fate at the time. Starring a now legendary trio of witches played by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, it’s almost surprising its bizarre star power alone didn’t bring viewers out in droves. Well, perhaps it did, just not right away. Since its original release,Hocus Pocushas gained a substantial and passionate following, to the point that evenDisneyhas begun promoting the film again. High praise from a company that seemingly refuses to acknowledge the existence ofThe Great Mouse Detective.
Featuring a suitably wacky plot set off by a teenage boy accidentally resurrecting the three previously mentioned witches in modern day Salem,Hocus Pocuswears its horror-comedy label with pride. The film boasts enough campiness to fill Yellowstone Park, featuring a talking cat, a zombie ex-boyfriend, and Halloween partygoers cursed to dance themselves to death. It’s as weird as it sounds, and audiences just ate it up once they decided to give it a chance.
Cult classicslikeHocus Pocusare often arguably more successful than other films which enjoy strong box office numbers. Aside from the money they bring in over time from periodic rereleases, there’s also the factor of the fandom. A good film will make a profit and then both the studio and audience will move on. Meanwhile, a cult classic will have trouble gaining a foothold at first, but will eventually build a lasting legacy that will keep fans talking for decades. It’s as if viewers as a whole can somehow sense when real passion is put into a film, and the slow burning reception reflects that. A work of art is rarely churned out in just a weekend, after all.
Hopefully the success story ofHocus Pocusinspires young filmmakers out there to really go for it and make that movie they’ve always wanted. Or, at the very least, maybe it will give Disney the idea to finally start giving some of theirlesser knownfilms another chance in the spotlight. Lord knowsThe Black Cauldroncould use another shot.
