Hocus Pocus 2 Surpasses Disney+ Streaming Record During Opening Weekend

Hocus Pocus 2 is a 2022 American fantasy comedy film written and directed by Anne Fletcher and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and Doug Jones reprise their roles in this sequel to the 1993 film Hocus Pocus, with Sam Richardson, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Tony Hale, and Hannah Waddingham joining the cast in new roles.

Screen Rant reports, Hocus Pocus 2, the long-awaited sequel to a classic Halloween movie, debuts as Disney+’s #1 movie of all time, breaking a streaming record in its first weekend. Hocus Pocus was released by Disney in 1993 to mixed reviews, but it has since become a seasonal mainstay with a large and passionate fanbase. For years, rumors of a Hocus Pocus sequel swirled, with the original cast expressing interest, but development didn’t begin until late 2019.

After a year, the original Sanderson Sisters (Better Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) agreed to join the Disney+ project. Anne Fletcher took over as director from Adam Shankman in April 2021, filming a screenplay by Jen D’Angelo. The original storyline revolves around a new trio of young witchcraft practitioners who inadvertently resurrect the Sanderson Sisters, excluding Hocus Pocus protagonists Max, Dani, and Allison.

Hocus Pocus 2 shows the Sandersons running amok in 21st century Salem, trying to take revenge on the descendant of the family that banished them while also attaining true power. Despite certain fan-favorite elements missing from the sequel, audiences heavily anticipated the Hocus Pocus 2 premiere. During its opening weekend, Hocus Pocus 2 officially set a Disney+ streaming record.

The news comes from a Disney press release and relates to the number of hours spent watching the film on Disney+ domestically over three days. The record set by Hocus Pocus 2 makes it the most popular film premiere on the streaming platform to date. Despite varied critical and audience reviews that range from praising the Sanderson Sisters and humor to criticizing the plot and CGI, viewer interest in Hocus Pocus 2 is empirically high, according to the groundbreaking data.

The lengthy period between the original movie and its sequel, the family-focused atmosphere, the return of Midler, Parker, and Najimy, and the nostalgic allure of Hocus Pocus as a Halloween season favorite all contribute to the sequel’s popularity. As a result, despite any problems, the first film’s revered status likely drew a large segment of Hocus Pocus fans interested in a modern take on the Sanderson Sisters’ story, as well as new viewers, resulting in the sequel’s #1 status.

Now that Hocus Pocus 2 has shown to have widespread appeal as the most-watched Disney+ premiere of all time, Disney can capitalize on that ending tease and the film’s new cast by going forward with a third picture they are confident will likewise draw large audiences. To get the latest updates, keep an eye on Thirsty.

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