Feel like watching a good Halloween movie without the lasting effects of nightmares? “Hocus Pocus” is the film for you. 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the comedy-horror classic, making now the perfect time to settle in and enjoy it.

“Hocus Pocus” follows Max Dennison along with his friend Allison and little sister Danny on Halloween night as they accidentally resurrect the infamous Sanderson sisters, Winnifred, Sarah, and Mary; three witches who have been dead for 300 years.

Kenny Ortega’s “Hocus Pocus” had a mediocre reception upon its release, but it has since become a cult classic film. Over the years, through DVD sales and TV-screenings, the film became more and more popular with viewers both young and old.

Media outlets such as Freeform’s 13 Nights of Halloween have carried out and confirmed this movie’s legacy throughout the years. Disney even revisited this movie as a part of their Not-so-scary Halloween Party in 2015. They dedicated a portion of the celebration to “Hocus Pocus” by incorporating the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular into their seasonal event.

“Hocus Pocus” is fun family-friendly film. It’s a great movie to watch if you love the Halloween season but aren’t into scary movies. Love for this film extends beyond the fans. Bette Midler, who plays Winifred Sanderson, has stated that “Hocus Pocus” is one of her favorite movies that she has ever been in.

“The most fun I ever had on a film was Hocus Pocus.” said Midler. On the 20th anniversary of the film, multiple cast members reunited at the official Disney fan-club, D23. Among the reunited cast was producer David Kirschner.

Kirschner gives praise to “Hocus Pocus” and how it used animation and computer-generated imagery (CGI) as no other film had before it.

“Chris Bailey, who did a lot of the animation things we hadn’t seen before,” Kirschner said. “And there actually was some CGI, which was the eyes of the cat and mouth, people had never done that before. In any form.” 

This movie has all the markings of a cult classic. From its yearly screenings around Halloween, to the set-based tourist attractions scattered around Salem, Massachusetts, the fan-base for this movie does nothing but grow every year.

Select theaters across the nation are releasing “Hocus Pocus” for a limited time including the Johnston AMC 16 and AMC Classic Southridge 12 in Iowa. If you feel like watching this classic film from the comfort of your own home, it can be streamed through YouTube Movies, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Vudu.