Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash is a television special that aired on Freeform on October 20, 2018, as part of the network's "31 Nights of Halloween" programming block. The special celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 1993 comedy horror film Hocus Pocus, which has become a cult classic and a Halloween staple.
Background[]
The special was filmed at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where fans, cast members, and celebrities gathered to commemorate the film and its long-lasting impact. The special featured interviews with members of the original cast, including Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, who played the three witch sisters known as the Sandersons. The special also featured appearances by other actors from the film, such as Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Doug Jones, Sean Murray, Amanda Shepherd, Tobias Jelinek, and Larry Bagby. The film's director Kenny Ortega also participated in the special.
The special was hosted by Vanessa Hudgens and Jordan Fisher, who also performed a musical number inspired by the film. Other musical performances included Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, and Jordin Sparks singing "I Put a Spell on You", Prettymuch singing "Never Enough", and Junior New System dancing to "Magic". The special also included a costume contest hosted by Sharon and Kelly Osbourne, where fans dressed up as characters from the film competed for prizes. The judges for the contest were Margaret Cho, Kelly Osbourne, and Sharon Osbourne.
Reception[]
The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash was well received by fans and critics alike, who praised the nostalgia factor and the fun atmosphere of the special. The special was also a ratings success for Freeform, attracting 1.3 million viewers and becoming the network's most-watched telecast of 2018. The special was later released on Disney+ in September 2022.
