Hocus Pocus 2 is a 2022 American fantasy comedy film directed by Anne Fletcher, written by Jen D'Angelo and produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

There, they meet with Mother Witch, who gives Winifred a magic, human-skin-bound book, with a living eyeball embedded in the cover, for her birthday; she also explicitly warns the trio against ever casting the Magicae Maxima spell, which makes the user 'all-powerful'.

The girls outwit the sisters in a local Walgreens and flee to the magic shop, where they find that Gilbert tricked them into reviving the witches, having seen them on Halloween in 1993 and having read how to make the candle in the spell book.

In July 2014, it was announced that The Walt Disney Company was developing a supernatural-themed film about witches, and that Tina Fey was on board as a producer and star.

[11] In June 2016, actor Doug Jones mentioned that Disney had been considering a sequel, and behind the scenes discussions were in place to possibly continue the series.

[18] In February 2018, Jones revealed that there had been talks to do a sequel set twenty years after the original film and that he was approached to be involved on it, though he admitted that he was still interested on reprising his role as Billy Butcherson.

The sequel focuses on Max and Allison's daughter, Poppy, who grew up hearing the family story of the original film and parents who avoid Halloween as much as possible.

[22] On November 1, 2019, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy expressed interest in reprising their roles as the Sanderson sisters in the sequel.

[31] In the summer of that year, it was then announced that Sean Murray, Larry Bagby, Tobias Jelinek, Omri Katz, and Vinessa Shaw would also not be reprising their roles as Thackery Binx, Ice, Jay, Max, and Allison, respectively.

[37] In April 2021, Anne Fletcher replaced Shankman as the director due to his directing duties with Disenchanted, although he did remain as an executive producer on the film.

The website's critics consensus reads, "Hocus Pocus 2 is basically a boiling cauldron of nostalgia, but that's more than enough for this belated sequel to cast a reasonably effective spell.

[71] Ani Bundel of NBC News stated that the film is a joyful experience, appealing to both young children just discovering Halloween and teenagers who still enjoy family movies.

However, Bundel emphasized that the film is primarily aimed at viewers aged 25 and older, whom Disney has spent the last two decades cultivating to appreciate a new installment of this emerging cult classic franchise.

[72] Claire Shaffer of The New York Times noted that, despite the film being a clear effort by Disney to bolster its Disney+ platform, it successfully captures the nostalgic charm of the original while also offering a creative update to its humor.

[73] Jennifer Green of Common Sense Media awarded the movie four out of five stars, praising its positive messages, role models, and diverse character representations.

"[74] Amelia Emberwing of IGN rated the film 7 out of 10, noting that while the returning Sanderson sisters capture the magic of the original Hocus Pocus, and new characters provide fresh appeal, Hannah Waddingham's role was underutilized.

[75] Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter observed that the Sanderson sisters maintain their sharp wit and humor as they navigate modern-day Salem on Halloween, making playful remarks about contemporary life.

However, Gyarkye noted that while they still embody a thirst for evil and a disdain for children, their edge is softened by the film's approach to toning down their villainous nature.

Minow noted that the sequel honors the original while incorporating modern updates and welcome diversity, reducing violence and adding a slightly sweeter tone.

[77] Jude Dry of IndieWire gave the sequel a "B-" score and described it as a "totally satisfactory" return for the Sanderson sisters, though the plot largely mirrors the original, with updated jokes.

The review also pointed out that the script introduces a saccharine tone and an overt teen feminist message, suggesting that some elements might have been better left in the past.

Lee remarked that while Bette Midler returns alongside her child-killing sisters, the follow-up falls flat, largely due to its excessive efforts to soften the villains.

[81][82] In October 2022, executive producer Adam Shankman stated that the storyline involving Becca allows for future projects, including potential spin-offs.

[93][94] Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham as well as original film stars Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, and Jason Marsden each expressed interest in returning for a third installment.

[95][96][97] In June 2023, Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, confirmed that a third film is in development, and planned for a release on Disney+.