Hocus Pocus 2

Almost 30 years on from the iconic 1993 film, Hocus Pocus 2 brings back the three original Sanderson sisters - played, of course, by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica ...

I was laughing my a** off and the sisters really still have that chemistry together! 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." As well as bringing back the original main cast, Hocus Pocus 2 also picks back up with a follow-up story to the 1993 original. One viewer tweeted, "Just finished watching Hocus Pocus 2. Plus, Winnie, Sarah and Mary look basically *exactly* the same in costume. Almost 30 years on from the iconic 1993 film, Hocus Pocus 2 brings back the three original Sanderson sisters - played, of course, by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimi.

The long-awaited sequel features the three Sanderson witches we've come to know and love, with the movie starring the same iconic actors from the original such ...

Here are the details on how to watch and where you can see Hocus Pocus 2 . At the moment, there is no free trial for the streaming service, so you will need to sign up if you’re not already a member. How to watch Hocus Pocus 2: where to watch the sequel

Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy return as the witchy Sanderson sisters in Disney sequel 'Hocus Pocus 2.'

And after their 1993 rendition of “I Put a Spell on You,” of course the witches are obliged to revive their Vegas-style lounge act here, this time while crashing (what else?) a Sanderson Sisters-themed costume contest — a self-congratulatory wink at how popular the “Hocus Pocus” phenomenon has become. That lengthy gestation speaks to the long, weird shelf life of the first “Hocus Pocus,” received as a campy misfire but reclaimed, over the decades, as a Halloween staple and (oc)cult classic. They’re particularly funny in one sequence in which Becca and her friend, Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), try to distract the witches from their pedicidal rampage by taking them shopping at Walgreens, where they’re duly wowed by the advanced sorcery of beauty products and automatic sliding doors. That’s what happens again in “Hocus Pocus 2,” this time by way of a rather smarter teenager, Becca (Whitney Peak), and a very dumb Salem historian, Gilbert (Sam Richardson), plus some tortuous story logic that brings the evil sisters whooshing back to life. Flash forward to the present day, which happens to be exactly 29 years after the events of the first “Hocus Pocus,” when a virginal high schooler ill-advisedly resurrected the Sanderson Sisters for one Halloween night of literally soul-sucking mayhem. [“Hocus Pocus”](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-16-ca-13536-story.html) (1993), which, like “Avatar,” has now spawned a long-awaited follow-up.

Kellie Tomekowou, 5, landed an extra role as a preschooler during a Halloween festival scene.

"Its brought a lot of fun and confidence into their life," Tomekowou said. I have watched "Hocus Pocus" since I was a little girl," Caroline Tomekowou said. "It was really interesting.

Salem, Massachusetts hasn't changed all that much since Max (Omri Katz) and Dani Dennison (Thora Birch) accidentally resurrected the youth-seeking, ...

Becca and Cassie were definitely at odds with each other at the start of Hocus Pocus 2, mostly thanks to her jerky jock boyfriend who mocked Becca for being a witch, but by the end of the film, the trio is thick as thieves again, having rekindled their friendship in the face of true terror. At the beginning of the film, the Sanderson Sisters are shown as their younger selves in the 1600s, wreaking havoc on Salem, and, in Winnie’s case, actively avoiding being married off to the son of the reverend. In Hocus Pocus, we learned that Billy Butcherson was Winnie’s ex-boyfriend (though Sarah vehemently claimed he was her boyfriend too) who met a tragic end when Winnie decided to poison him in the 17th century, before resurrecting him as a zombie 300 years later. As she slowly turns to colorful sparkles, she seems satisfied with the fact that she’s joining her sisters in whatever afterlife has been afforded to them. In the early flashbacks, Hocus Pocus 2 makes it clear that Winnie’s main motivator throughout her entire life was to keep the three of them together. [Bette Midler](https://collider.com/tag/bette-midler/)), Sarah ( [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://collider.com/tag/sarah-jessica-parker/)), and Mary ( [Kathy Najimy](https://collider.com/tag/kathy-najimy/)) after unwittingly playing into a 30-year plan to summon them from the grave once more.

Female warriors fight for survival in The Woman King, a mob Enforcer turns against the hand that feeds him, adventure calls in Tad, The Lost Explorer And ...

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. The film boasts a cast led by Ana de Armas and featuring Bobby Cannavale, Adrien Brody, Julianne Nicholson, Xavier Samuel and Evan Williams. He was born long before he was known to the general public, and I have spent half my life with him. I saw my Blackness in it. In this animated adventure, Tad’s biggest dream is to be accepted by his archaeology colleagues, but his accident-prone nature gets in his way. “I saw my femininity in it.

Hocus Pocus 2 review round-up: What critics are saying about the new Sanderson Sisters sequel streaming on Disney+. Read more on Boston.com.

The truth about the original “Hocus Pocus” is harder to swallow than a witch’s brew containing “a bit of thine own tongue”: It’s a very bad movie. Never is OG Hocus Pocus director Kenny Ortega’s absence more felt than in the film’s big musical number, which doesn’t hold a (black flame) candle to Midler’s vampy rendition of “I Put a Spell On You” from last time around. The central trio of Midler, Parker, and Najimy fail to recapture the gleeful chaos of the first outing. All in all, it’s twice as good as “Hocus Pocus.” It’s easier to write that if you didn’t like “Hocus Pocus.” Hocus Pocus 2 is stuck, trapped somewhere between different times, audiences and tones, trying to do so much yet, in this instance, achieving so very little. The new sequel, “Hocus Pocus 2,” out on Disney+ 29 years later, is much, much worse. That’s “Hocus Pocus 2.” It manages to tell its story straight, so that’s a huge improvement over the first one. The highlights of the first film are celebrated (there’s a delightful musical number) and there are some very funny moments, including a Sanderson sisters costume competition. Though it’s been nearly 30 years, all three bring the same verve to their performances, gamely swooning and shrieking around the screen, and leaning into the film’s “Three Stooges”-style slapstick with aplomb. [64 percent freshness rating](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hocus_pocus_2) at the time of this article’s publication. Thankfully, with a cast rounded out by Doug Jones, Hannah Waddingham and Sam Richardson, the brew-haha’s aren’t solely concentrated in the three leads. This time around, two best friends named Becca and Izzy (Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo) celebrate Becca’s 16th birthday in Salem’s Forbidden Woods, where they are unwittingly tricked into lighting the Black Flame Candle that summons the Winnifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, respectively) once more.

The long-awaited sequel to the Halloween favorite is now streaming on Disney+.

We’re a very decisive group which goes also goes to show that women can be decisive.” Whatever it is that our mission is, there’s not a lot of second-guessing which I don’t think you see a lot.” And we talked a lot about leaning on each other and counting on each other and loyalty to each other. She has a core friend group and no matter what happens, she eventually gets to [make] sure that she has her sisters behind her the entire time.” I think she is a very good example of misstepping and not being able to figure it out until she communicates with her best friends. “You know, as a fan of the movie itself, this was directed right at me. It wasn’t like you were just a lackey. “I think I just admire that she just has this, like, blind loyalty to these girls, [and] will do anything for them, no questions asked—totally would go against three evil witches.” “And I think it’s amazing that, you have one end of horror, and then you have this end of camp. “He kind of matches the energy and the floppiness and the fun and the overdone characters of the sisters. Advertisement io9 recently participated in the press conference for the film with the cast and creative team to discuss the making of the movie and why it t00k 29 years to get here.

Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker fly (again). Disney Plus. If you've been waiting three centuries like the Sanderson sisters ( ...

[See all photos](/pictures/movies-coming-in-2022-from-marvel-netflix-dc-and-more/) [review of Hocus Pocus 2](/culture/entertainment/hocus-pocus-2-review-bewitching-bette-midler-recreates-the-old-magic-on-disney-plus/), and stream it on [Disney Plus](https://www.disneyplus.com/) now. [Disney Plus](/deals/disney-plus-review/) at midnight PT/ 3 a.m.

Find out who else will be joining Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in the long-awaited sequel Hocus Pocus 2.

As a best friend is expected to do, Izzy is ready to give Becca a helping hand in detaining the sisters. The Sanderson sisters aren't the only characters from the original film that will reappear in the sequel. Despite the limited information given about the character, the trailer hints that she was the one who gave the Sanderson sisters the power to cast devious spells and fly on their brooms. Doug Jones, who played the character in Hocus Pocus, is also back for the sequel. Also, a new addition to the story, Izzy is one of Becca's best friends and was there for the birthday ritual that resuscitated the witches. Sarah Jessica Parker not only plays Sarah in Hocus Pocus 2, but she is also responsible for incorporating Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO hit series Sex and the City. This is also a way for her to contribute in the search for children to cook for the maleficent potion. Becca is one of the new characters introduced in the sequel and according to the trailer, her birthday ritual might've been linked to the Sanderson sisters' return. The fairest Sanderson sister, Sarah is the youngest and the most naive in the group. In between evil laughter and spells, the beloved witches are transported to the present in the upcoming film and are committed to taking revenge on Salem for executing them in the past. Considered the most clever of the bunch, Winnifred (or "Winni") is the eldest sister and normally leads the witches in every intrigue that they are involved in. As the middle sibling, Mary Sanderson always tries to appease the drama by demonstrating that she is a reliable partner-in-crime.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy return as the Sanderson sisters in "Hocus Pocus 2" but this may not be their final hurrah.

This suggests that the magic shop owner, Gilbert, made a second Black Flame Candle, which could be used in the future to bring back the sisters. Parker also said: "Kathy [Najimy] had a good idea that the third one should be animated. This indicates that the witches and their magic have been fully removed from the Earth forever. During their journey, they discover that Becca is also a witch and her powers grow over the course of the film. We stick together through hell and high water, but we do cause mayhem, and not many women cause that much mayhem!" Winifred (Midler), the lead sister, loses her sisters, who both slowly disappear into thin air.

Kathy Najimy, from left, Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker star in a scene from the film “Hocus Pocus.” Andrew Cooper, Disney Enterprises Inc.

The film traces their interaction with a new group of teenagers and also gives their origin story. - “Hocus Pocus 2” explains the origin story of the Sanderson sisters, who appeared in the 1993 movie “Hocus Pocus.” The 1993 “Hocus Pocus” was popular and still persists as a classic Halloween movie. Reviews of “Hocus Pocus 2” are already out from The Sanderson sisters are hitting the screen again in “Hocus Pocus 2” — the sequel to “Hocus Pocus.” Released Friday on Disney+, this Halloween movie is generating buzz because the first “Hocus Pocus” was such a widely - “Hocus Pocus 2” is rated PG for action, macabre humor and some language, according to

As the credits roll for Hocus Pocus 2, the three Sanderson sisters do what they do best - reinvent a beloved song for themselves!

Waddingham sings along to a reprised version of Sarah Sanderson’s haunting melody “Garden of Magic” composed by James Horner for the original film, which Parker also sings along to at one point. The original film made Annie Lennox’s “I Put a Spell on You” synonymous with Halloween for an entire generation, and Hocus Pocus 2 follows a similar pattern by tapping into some old-school classics to expose a new audience to them. “The Witches Are Back” isn’t just some peppy tune they pulled together for Hocus Pocus 2. And of course, the film found a way to pay homage to their return with a catchy end credits track entitled “The Witches Are Back.” While it is extremely exciting to see these four return to Salem, Hocus Pocus 2 also introduces audiences to a new cast of characters including The Witch Mother ( [Bette Midler](https://collider.com/tag/bette-midler/), [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://collider.com/tag/sarah-jessica-parker/), and [Kathy Najimy](https://collider.com/tag/kathy-najimy/) have been summoned back to Salem, Massachusetts to cause a little witchy mayhem in their continued pursuit of eternal youth and immortality.

She credited the sequel happening to her co-star, Bette Midler, who plays Winnie Sanderson. “To be completely honest, for the past 28 years, I didn't think much ...

[Extra](https://extratv.com/2022/09/27/sarah-jessica-parker-would-do-a-third-hocus-pocus-if-bette-midler-is-on-board/) in September 2022 that she would do a third Hocus Pocus movie is Bette Midler, who plays Winnie Sanderson, also returned. Here’s [how to subscribe for free](https://stylecaster.com/disney-plus-free-trial/). Will there be a Hocus Pocus 3? Kathy Najimy, who plays Mary Sanderson, for her part, told People in September 2022 about what it would take for her to come back for a third Hocus Pocus movie. [Entertainment Weekly](https://ew.com/movies/hocus-pocus-2-cast-interview-resurrecting-sanderson-sisters/) in September 2022, Bette Midler, who plays Winnie Sanderson, revealed that she proposed the idea of a Hocus Pocus sequel 10 years after the original movie’s premiere in 1993 but saw “no interest.” “Even when it became a phenomenon, [a sequel] wasn’t considered. My friend suggested that I go online, so I looked, and I was shocked because I’d never seen so much Hocus Pocus merch.” She continued, “I bought the costume, and I came as Winnie here and there, for this benefit or that benefit, and I realized there was something going on. See the full Hocus Pocus 2 cast below. (Disney Plus costs $7.99 per month, Hulu starts at $6.99 per month and ESPN Plus costs $6.99 per month for a total of $21.97 compared to [The Disney Bundle’s $13.99 per month](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=t1ZX7*4ybQA&mid=42392&u1=SC-&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Fstart) price.) Disney Plus and ESPN Plus also come free with [Hulu+ With Live TV](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=t1ZX7*4ybQA&mid=42392&u1=SC-&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Flive-tv), which costs [$69.99 per month](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=t1ZX7*4ybQA&mid=42392&u1=SC-&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Flive-tv). Get More Unlimited, Play More Unlimited, Verizon Plan Unlimited, Go Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited.) If you have one of these plans, you can sign-up for a free six-month Disney+ subscription (which saves you about $42.) [Click here for Verizon’s FAQ](https://www.verizon.com/support/disney-bundle-faqs/) on how to sign up for its free Disney+ subscription. “And the amount of Hocus Pocus costumes and merchandise I saw was shocking. So there you have it—a way to watch Disney Plus for free. Hocus Pocus 2 sees the Sanderson sisters accidentally become resurrected again by two teenagers, Becca and Izzy, as they celebrate Halloween and Becca’s 16th birthday.

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Claudia Puig review this weekend's new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

It stars Viola Davis and is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood of ‘Love & Basketball,’ ‘The Secret Life of Bees,’ and ‘The Old Guard.’ In addition to strong reviews and word-of-mouth, ‘The Woman King’ has done quite well at the box office. [“](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9731598/) [Bros](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9731598/) [,”](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9731598/)Wide Release - “ The new film, ‘The Woman King’ is a rarity in Hollywood with a Black female studio head, a Black female director, and an overwhelmingly Black cast.

After the 'alchemy' of 'I Put a Spell on You,' Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker cover a Blondie hit in the Disney+ sequel.

Walk to the left!’” “He and I went to town on any song under the sun that had the word witch, moon, cat, evil, you name it. “Will it take another 30 years?” he asks with a laugh. “There’s a part that’s not in the movie where Bette and I totally went insane: ‘We’re gonna slay ya/ then probably fillet ya/ it might upset ya/ but we’ll getcha.’ We worked really hard on it, and even when I think it’s good, there will always be that phone call at night from Bette saying, ‘We gotta fix this part.’ She’s endlessly striving for perfection.” “We had to work quickly, and since Bette is a consummate live performer, you don’t need to do more than a few takes with her and Kathy and Sarah, and you’ve got it in the bag,” says Ortega. Though critics panned the movie and the audio still has yet to be released, the sequence has developed a cultlike popularity over the last three decades as the film has become a Halloween-season staple. And that began with Bette: She had a great sense of humor about the work and her character that she would often crack herself up. She just couldn’t believe some of the places that Winifred Sanderson enabled her to go, and I just had to tell her, ‘Keep going!’” “At the time, I just couldn’t imagine getting all the way through this movie without taking advantage of her musical talent.” The original “Hocus Pocus” sees Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as sibling witches desperate to extract children’s souls in order to maintain their own youth. Composer Marc Shaiman, who regularly collaborated with Midler on her musical performances onscreen and onstage, rearranged the track into a family-friendly showstopper that highlighted her soaring vocals and animated acting choices. [“Hocus Pocus 2,”](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-09-30/hocus-pocus-2-review-bette-midler-disney) Bette Midler shouts off a set of direct commands.

The end credits scene of Hocus Pocus 2 suggests that this isn't the last time we'll see the new cast of characters.

While very little was revealed about the glamorous witch that the young Sanderson Sisters encountered in the woods outside of Salem in the 17th century, that leaves the door open for bringing her back in a future installment and exploring yet another motivated witch. Box 2567, with an additional label indicating that within the box is “B.F Candle #2.” There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that “B.F.” means Black Flame candle and that the box contains a second Black Flame candle. While Binx isn’t in Hocus Pocus 2, Cobweb certainly filled the void left behind by the adorable black cat, and it seems fitting that the feline should be the one to close out the film and tease what might be on the horizon for the newly minted franchise. But, of course, she doesn’t want to be separated from her sisters and in the end, she relinquishes control and lets herself be turned to shimmery dust so she can join her sisters in whatever afterlife has been afforded to them. You can’t have Hocus Pocus and the Sanderson Sisters without some casual, garden-variety child sacrifices. While the original Hocus Pocus felt like the end of the story, there was still plenty of room for Disney to revisit the sisters and their story and Hocus Pocus 2 proves that you can smartly lean into nostalgia with a legacy sequel, without sacrificing quality—though there definitely are sacrifices!

The live-action comedy follows the wonderfully wicked Sanderson sisters—Winifred (Disney Legend Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary (Kathy ...

“The original rings on her bodice were simply decorative, but I wanted them to have a meaning, so we made them out of hammered brass and had the Wiccan words for earth, fire, wind, and water carved into them.” “The original sleeves were made from a mesh fabric, which wasn’t a period detail, but Anne Fletcher liked the spider idea, so we decided to make the sleeves out of individually crocheted spider webs that were joined together to make up the sleeves,” he says. Winifred’s boots in the original film were off the rack, and a pointed toe was applied later on—but Perez wanted to push that look further in the sequel. “Then I found a French Chantilly lace that had the same pattern as the original skirt front, and the rest of the skirt is made from layers of dyed chiffon and organza.” Perez and his team wanted to study the original costumes and conduct a detailed assessment of each outfit before they could reimagine and update them for the sequel. “I incorporated the eye to reference the Book of Spells, and the ravens on the coals are inspired by the Witch [Hannah Waddingham] who first appears as a raven,” Perez says.

Hocus Pocus 2's director, Bette Midler, & Kathy Najimy shared how the sequel was a dream come true, changing the costumes, and the musical numbers.

She’s just one of the best people, one of the best directors and one of the best artists, ever in the world. In the 1600s, that version of witchcraft was tethered to the earth, the ocean, and the stars, all tied together. MIDLER: We talked a lot about sisterhood, and we talked a lot about leaning on each other and counting on each other and having loyalty to each other. NAJIMY: And there’s very little hesitation in our ideas and the things that we’re gonna do. In any situation where women are together, a bond of friendship and sisterhood is really, really important. And I think these three characters are really, in a strange and odd way, quite positive for women. They did the arrangement and the lyrics. And he said, “Because I love Hocus Pocus.” I was like, “All right. FLETCHER: The mission, in general, is the story, honoring the first movie, carrying that into the sequel, making sure that I’m honoring these characters for the fans, and bringing it into a new generation. I didn’t feel like I could compete with “I Put a Spell on You,” which Bette and Marc Shaiman wrote. When a teenager lights the Black Flame Candle, the 17th-century troublemakers are resurrected to run amok and continue wreaking havoc all over Salem before the end of All Hallow’s Eve, leaving a trail of mayhem in their renewed quest for immortality. After I realized it was actually a phenomenon, I started asking people around my age, “Don’t you think they would be interested in a sequel?” This was a long time ago.

'Hocus Pocus 2' features plenty of references to the beloved original film — TVLine breaks down 13 of the Disney+ sequel's Easter eggs.

The Disney movie includes locations in Lincoln, Providence, East Providence and Newport, as well as sound stages in North Kingstown and Providence.

While the stage was used for interior and exterior shots, some street scenes outside the shop were filmed in Newport. The Sanderson sisters fly here. Rumors were rampant that the village would be burned to the ground to film a climactic final scene. But would she have done it for free? [Catholic high school](https://www.lasalle-academy.org/) doubles as the halls and classrooms of the Salem high school. The Forbidden Woods, which plays a central role in the plot, were built in a sound stage in the armory. The [Ivy League campus](https://www.brown.edu/) doubles as the campus for the Salem high school. We found out](https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/15/conjuring-house-tours-burrillville-rhode-island-promote-radio-contact-ghosts-bill-brock/7888077001/) What you need to know now that the movie is out](https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/regional/2022/09/20/hocus-pocus-2-classic-movie-coming-disney-sequel-bette-midler/8032561001/) [cast as an extra](https://www.providencejournal.com/story/entertainment/2021/09/08/hocus-pocus-2-extras-sought-ri-area/5769276001/), make it into the final movie? Witches are expected.](https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/09/14/1670-s-village-rises-lincoln-park-filming-disneys-hocus-pocus-2/8334019002/)

Disney published a spinoff book based on "Hocus Pocus" four years ago. The sequel movie, available on Disney+, has a different ending.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth warns Isabella that witches can never truly die and there is a chance the Sanderson sisters can return. This time, the witches want to gain immortality and resurrect every witch in hell, swapping their bodies with the people in Salem. Their battle against the Sanderson sisters has become urban legend until a new girl, Isabella comes to town and starts inquiring about the witches. They are thwarted by the children and their ally, Thackery Binx, a black cat with the soul of a peasant the witches wronged in 1693. After saving the day, Thackery is able to reunite as a ghost with his sister Emily, who the witches killed in 1693. As an act of mercy, Becca and her friends decide to use one more spell to reunite the sisters, turning Winifred into dust along with Billy Butcherson.

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy premiered their highly anticipated Disney+ sequel in New York on Tuesday, along with newcomers Sam ...

Other panels featured the Father of the Bride cast and creative team, Valderrama on building his own enterprise, and Dwayne Johnson’s business partners Dany and Hiram Garcia. 23, co-founder and president of Cinémoi USA Daphna Edwards Ziman officially launched Justice For Women — an effort created to eradicate emotional, economic and physical violence against women — and the Every Girl’s City initiative at a gala event during the UN General Assembly in New York City. The New York City Ballet hosted its 10th annual Fall Fashion Gala on Wednesday, which raised $3.4 million for the ballet and honored board vice chair Sarah Jessica Parker for her decade of leadership. Barack Obama, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Wilmer Valderrama, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Luis Guzmán and Oscar De La Hoya are just a few of the names that made the trek to San Diego for the conference, which featured panel discussions, networking and a black-tie gala. The night included special performances by Chaka Khan and Doug E. The star-studded guest list included Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Oscar Isaac, John Krasinski, Dua Lipa, Drew Barrymore, Ethan Hawke, Gemma Chan, Tracee Ellis Ross and Julianna Marguiles. Employees from Endeavor companies including WME, UFC, IMG, Frieze and more volunteered 30,000 working hours to support 300 organizations across 100 cities worldwide. Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, Jessica Williams, Ty Dolla $ign, Laura Harrier and Teyana Taylor were in attendance along with executive producers Kenya Barris, Fletcher Moules, Maurice Williams, Ian Edelman, Karina Manashil and Dennis Cummings. On Wednesday, Netflix hosted a brunch and evening premiere for new series Entergalactic, the latter at the The Paris Theater in New York City. George and Amal Clooney and their Clooney Foundation chaired the inaugural Albie Awards in NYC on Thursday, honoring courageous defenders of justice who are at great risk for what they do. Kate Hudson and director Ana Lily Amirpour attended a special screening in Los Angeles on Wednesday night for their film Mona Lisa and The Blood Moon. [Hocus Pocus 2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/hocus-pocus-2/), [A Friend of the Family](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/a-friend-of-the-family/), Entergalactic and the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s Albie Awards.

So of course Disney made a sequel. Hocus Pocus 2, which started streaming on Disney+ yesterday, revives the reviled Sanderson sisters—Winifred, Mary, and Sarah ...

Despite how much they want to eat children, they exude a defiance and obstinacy that can resonate with young audiences also caught in the turmoil of having to grow up. It also reminded me of what I enjoyed most about Hocus Pocus as a kid, even when I caught scenes in snippets: the leads’ commitment to making the Sanderson sisters not just odd, but naively so. Not much about Hocus Pocus is realistic, except the trio’s anxiety about stepping into a world they don’t know how to navigate. It strips the plot to its bare bones, largely ignoring the events that came before in favor of sequences that allow the actors to chew as much scenery as possible. Hocus Pocus 2 understands that Hocus Pocus has a lot that doesn’t work, including an overstuffed plot, hokey dialogue, and chintzy effects. The plot, about a coven of witches who seek to eat children, involves a talking cat, a boy who despises trick-or-treating, and far too many mentions of virgins lighting candles.