Hocus Pocus (PG, 1993)
common sense media says
Rollicking Halloween fun for tweens and up.
parents & educators say
- 57% say there are positive role models
- 57% say there are positive messages
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie involves a plot to suck the life force out of children (and one little girl dies that way). A couple of high school bullies harass a male classmate in a graveyard, asking him for "smokes" and "hash" and finally stealing his shoes. There are mild sexual references, such as a high school boy hugging his pillow and murmuring, "Oh, Allison, you're so soft," as well as some frisky flirting from one of the witches. The main character is teased about being a virgin. The body of an "unfaithful lover" rises from the grave. Main features of the story are a book bound in human skin and a candle made from the fat of a hanged man. A tale is told about the Devil, and there are various gross-out moments. But it's important to note that all of the above is done in the playful, spooky spirit of Halloween.
Positive role models:
Max, Dani and Allison support each other and tackle the witches with intelligence. There are bullies and bad witches but these characters are very clearly in the wrong.
Violence:
The violence is all magical, but there are a couple of gross-out scenes, such as a cat getting run over by a bus and a zombie cutting his mouth open. Some bullying; a child dies onscreen but not violently -- the witches take her life-force while she's in a trance-like state and she quietly slumps over in a chair.
Sex:
References to virginity and an unfaithful lover; some flirting. Boy hugs a pillow and says "Oh, Allison, you're so soft."
Language:
Mild; the only offenders are "damn," "wench," "moron," and "go to hell."
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
References to "hash" and "smokes," but none are smoked by the kids or adults.
More on Hocus Pocus
Review It
Based on 7 parent & educator reviews:
- 57% say there are positive role models
- 57% say there are positive messages
- 43% say sexual content is an issue
- 29% say language is an issue
Most useful reviews by all members
Sierra959
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
I would read a book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This movie is a little scary but very fun and appropreit for kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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book_lover411
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
a great movie
not all that scary a good film 4 kids love a must see
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sarah_emily
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Think Logically
I've been watching this movie since I was seven years old. The movie always made me laugh, and the witches were more silly than evil. If anything, occasional profanity would be the one "iffy" part of it. And the average 7 year old wouldn't understand any of the sexual references.
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JacieDaize
adult
adult
It's not for kids or adults!
VERY sexual in talk. Some of which is talking about nudity and private parts. Loved it growing up but now that I know what it's talking about I was very shocked and had to turn it off! It's not for kids nor for adults either.
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Moviefan101
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Movie full of halloween scares
This movie is a good halloween flick that scared me to death when I was a kid. this movie is perfect for a good halloween scare.
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julster159
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Little kids are scared, but older kids are aware!
Great Movie, good for older children but to scary for small children. Good for a halloween movie marathon. About 3 wicked witches and they are taking children's souls to make them younger. Max, Allison, and Dani try and stop them before the do anything. Awesome for older kids, tweens, and teens.
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petucker2
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
entertaining
i think this movie is great. even though it is a little scary it is way worth watching. it is pretty funny too.
dont worry about bad influence because it didnt phase me or my sister at all.
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Runesong
educator and parent of 9 year old
educator and parent of 9 year old
Good tween Halloween fun, if you can get past some mildly "iffy" content.
This movie is another tween pick with an appropriate amount of scare minus the gore. Based loosely on the Salem witch trials, the story centers around 3 "real" witches that return in the present as a result of a curse they cast on the town when originally sentenced to death in the past. There are a couple of unnecessary words (see main review above) & a few mild sexual references, such as the use of the word "virgin" in reference to spell requirements which result in the use of a young girl to light a candle & Sarah Jessica Parker's sometimes flirtatious, although childish & obviously unstable, character. The children are positive role models that stick together & try to do the right thing as they learn the history of the town & it's famous witches, despite the threat of personal peril. The evil, but bumbling, witches are comical most of the time, never too scary despite being out to get the town's children, & are eventually foiled again. Overall, a playful Halloween adventure for tweens!
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tarmale
parent of 13 year old
parent of 13 year old
Good movie with some risque language
I love this movie! My kids watched it when they were little and it was just fine then. However, since this is a Disney moive I'm surprised about the word "virgin" being used constantly in the movie as in "the candle was lit by a virgin". Now I don't like them watching it as much. They could have easily used the word "child" as it is after all a children's movie
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peace6001
kid, 13 years old
kid, 13 years old
A great Halloween classic!
Its a great Halloween oldie, I think maybe kids that are NOT that sensitive, but I personally thought it was a unique and really bewitching movie.
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smiling
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Great movie with good laughs!
I really enjoyed it.It was interesting to see Sarah Jessica Parker in that character. It was a little unrealistic but,it was a Halloween movie.
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BookGirl1
kid, 13 years old
kid, 13 years old
A witchy movie, perfect for the young witch on Halloween!!
It is quite good and brillant if you want to watch together with your family or just with your friends at a Halloween slumber party, but be warned some aspects of this movie may disturb or even frighten children. Some parts are kinda scary with the witches trying to gain immortality by taking children's souls, when Max stupidly lights a cursed candle and the cottage starts shaking and the part when Max gives his soul to the witches to prevent his sister's soul been taken. Plus there are some religious bits like the witches mistaking some man in a costume as the Devil and getting panicky about the girl dressed as a angel. other that, a great Halloween movie!
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littleone522
parent of 12 year old
parent of 12 year old
Beware of the word "Virgin"
A great movie for the whole family. My only concern is the constant use of the word "virgin" as this may lead to an uncomfortable question from your children. Depending on how easily spooked your kids get, this movie may also contain some frightening scenes for the little ones.
The message in this movie is clear and a possitive one as it shows that family and friends stick together.
There really isnt any bad language in this movie. As I said before my only concern was the use of the word "virgin" so I leave it up to parents to decide if this movie is appropriate for their child.
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FrankieStineMo ...
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
best for 2+ if there not scared. some r. it depends.
common sense, epic fail. my cousinns were 2(i think hard to remember havent seen them in 2 years) and 3. i think austin(2) wached it, but i know tori(3)wached it. the blond one is not so bad. and it is verry good. my cousin(s) werent scared. they loved it. i was8 or 9 when i wached it. no problem there. :)
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dancing girl
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
Pointless, DO NOT SEE MOVIE
I've watched this movie 2 times and I still have the same opinion: it's VERY STUPID. It's very pointless and it was just a waste of time watching it.
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UTMomof4
parent of and 2 , 5 , 6 , 9 year old
parent of and 2 , 5 , 6 , 9 year old
This movie scared me when I was a kid, I was about 8 when I watched it. I think there are more sexual references than people are remembering, the blond witch is really slutty. I won't be letting my 8 year old and younger kids watch it. I'd say wait until they are 11 or 12.
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dramaqueen@hot ...
parent of 11 year old
parent of 11 year old
a fun halloween movie yay!!!
fun halloween movie i think its great for all ages fun halloween movie yay!
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