Hocus Pocus 2 Review: 4 Ups & 6 Downs
The Sanderson sisters are back for a low-effort legacy sequel.
Though it wasn't a critical or commercial success upon release in 1993, Hocus Pocus has nevertheless endured as a seasonal cult classic that enjoys a ton of airplay close to Halloween.
A sequel has been talked about for years, and finally, almost three decades later, Hocus Pocus 2 is out now on Disney+.
With leads Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy crucially all reuniting to play the Sanderson sisters once again, fans were hopeful that it wouldn't be another wretched, belated comedy sequel.
And in the very least, Hocus Pocus 2 isn't a terrible follow-up, but it is a bit of a disappointment: an unimaginative second film which does exactly what we all expect from a years-later sequel to a beloved Disney property.
Few are likely to get angry about its existence, but anyone hoping for a sequel that fully recaptures the giddy magic of the 1993 film will likely be left wanting more.
Despite the firm efforts of the returning lead actresses, this is an uneven and predictably calculated follow-up that just doesn't bring enough new ideas to the table.
And so, here's what it gets wrong...