Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Hocus Pocus 2 is a warm, candy-colored Halloween treat that understands its greatest spell is the Sanderson sisters themselves—Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy return with the kind of musical, bickering chemistry that feels like slipping back into a beloved costume. The movie leans into cozy Salem atmosphere, brisk jokes, and gleefully silly witchcraft, mixing nostalgia with a fresh teen-centered energy that keeps it light on its feet. It’s more playful than scary, with cartoonish peril and a family-friendly vibe that still flirts with spooky imagery and dark fairy-tale ideas. If you want a sharp-edged horror film, this isn’t it—but if you’re craving a funny, magical October hangout with performers clearly having a blast, it’s easy to light this candle and enjoy the ride.

Hocus Pocus 2 is clearly trying to bottle that cozy, spooky-season nostalgia and hand the Sanderson sisters a victory lap for a new generation. The problem is it often feels like a checklist sequel: familiar beats, lots of callbacks, and a story that moves because it has to, not because it’s especially clever or surprising. The humor is hit-or-miss and the emotional moments are pushed hard, so if you’re hoping for the effortless charm of the 1993 film, you may find this one a bit loud and thin. Still, Midler, Parker, and Najimy commit fully and are the main reason to watch—so if you just want a family-friendly Halloween comfort movie and don’t mind the nostalgia doing most of the heavy lifting, it’ll do the job.