Thirty-three years after the original Hocus Pocus became a Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus 3 (2026) returns with another magical adventure filled with chaos, nostalgia, dark comedy, and spooky fun. While the sequel occasionally leans too heavily on fan service, it ultimately succeeds by embracing the playful charm and theatrical energy that made the Sanderson sisters iconic in the first place.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy once again steal every scene as Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson. Their chemistry remains absolutely irresistible. The movie clearly understands that audiences are returning primarily for the witches themselves — their exaggerated personalities, ridiculous arguments, musical chaos, and bizarre magic continue to be the soul of the franchise.
This time, the story follows a new generation of teenagers in Salem who accidentally awaken an ancient magical force tied to the origins of the Sanderson sisters’ powers. Unlike the previous film, which focused heavily on nostalgia, Hocus Pocus 3 attempts to expand the mythology surrounding witchcraft in Salem while still preserving the franchise’s family-friendly Halloween tone.
The film’s greatest strength is its atmosphere. Autumn festivals, glowing jack-o’-lanterns, candlelit forests, haunted graveyards, old spell books, and fog-covered streets create the perfect Halloween aesthetic. Visually, the movie feels like a giant celebration of spooky season. Every scene looks designed to make audiences want to rewatch the film every October.
Bette Midler once again dominates the movie as Winifred Sanderson. Her performance is wonderfully theatrical, balancing comedy, menace, and absurdity effortlessly. Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy provide excellent support, with Sarah remaining delightfully chaotic and Mary delivering much of the film’s funniest physical comedy. Together, the trio still feels timeless.
One of the sequel’s smartest decisions is allowing the witches to become slightly more emotionally layered without losing their comedic identity. Beneath all the spells and chaos, the film explores themes of sisterhood, loneliness, and fear of being forgotten. These emotional moments surprisingly add depth to characters who could easily have remained simple cartoon villains.
The younger cast also performs well, though naturally they are overshadowed whenever the Sanderson sisters appear. The movie tries to modernize the story with themes involving social media, online fame, and Salem’s commercialization of witch culture. Some of these ideas work well, especially when used for satire, though a few modern references feel forced and quickly dated.
The musical sequences remain one of the franchise’s highlights. Like the famous “I Put a Spell on You” scene from the original film, Hocus Pocus 3 includes several energetic musical moments filled with humor and theatrical spectacle. While none quite reach the iconic status of the original, they still add plenty of entertainment value.
Visually, the special effects are far stronger than in previous films. Magic spells, supernatural creatures, enchanted forests, and ghostly transformations all look vibrant without losing the playful fantasy style that defines the series. The movie wisely avoids becoming too dark or horror-focused, keeping the tone accessible for family audiences.
However, the film does struggle with pacing during the middle section. Certain subplots involving Salem’s townspeople and younger characters feel underdeveloped, and some jokes rely too heavily on nostalgia rather than fresh comedy. The central villain introduced beyond the Sanderson sisters also lacks the charisma needed to become memorable.
Still, Hocus Pocus 3 succeeds because it fully embraces what fans love about the franchise: spooky fun, theatrical performances, Halloween atmosphere, and magical chaos. It never tries to reinvent itself into a serious fantasy epic or darker reboot. Instead, it proudly remains a playful supernatural comedy designed to entertain audiences of all ages.
Most importantly, the movie understands that Hocus Pocus has always been less about plot and more about mood. Watching the Sanderson sisters fly across Salem during Halloween simply feels comforting, nostalgic, and endlessly entertaining.
Rating: 8/10
