It was a wonderful opening for Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+. Shortly after the movie's premiere on the streaming platform, it was announced that Hocus Pocus 2 has set the new record with the strongest domestic debut to date. Disney+ revealed that the film pulled in higher viewership than any other premiere based on hours streamed within its first three days of release.
This isn't the biggest surprise in the world given the hype that has been building for the Halloween movie's release. For many years, the original Hocus Pocus has been widely celebrated with annual viewings every spooky holiday season. When it was announced that there would be a sequel with Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker returning as the Sanderson Sisters, the news was met with immense excitement from fans. The film would have probably done quite well had it been released in theaters, but with the sequel only available on Disney+, it had quite the showing with its streaming debut.
There are other fun Easter eggs and references that fans were able to watch out for with the release of Hocus Pocus 2, such as the notable return of Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson. The film also stars Sam Richardson, Tony Hale, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Lilia Buckingham, Froy Gutierrez, and Hannah Waddingham. Anne Fletcher directed the sequel with a screenplay by Jen D'Angelo.
Will This Success Bring About a Third Movie?
With such a strong debut on Disney+, perhaps those in charge at the House of Mouse will want the Sanderson Sisters to return once again to turn Hocus Pocus into a trilogy. There are no active plans for another film at this time, but Sarah Jessica Parker recently teased that she'd be up for coming back again, but only under the one condition that her fellow Sanderson Sisters are alongside her.
"Bette is already starting rumors," Parker told Extra. "I hitch my wagon to her star. If she wants to do a third one… No one says no to the Divine Miss M."
In a separate interview with People, Kathy Najimy joked that it could take another three decades to make part three, noting, "I think if we did it 30 years later again, well, there would be walkers and canes involved. The flying might just be a little one-foot blip off the ground."
Hocus Pocus 2 is now streaming on Disney+. You can check out the official trailer and synopsis for the movie below.
It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.