The sisters returned after a 29-year absence. The new sequel to the original Hocus Pocus film, Hocus Pocus 2, brings moviegoers to Disney+. Hocus Pocus 2 serves as both a prequel and a sequel, beginning in 1653 Salem with the origin story of the Sanderson sisters and how they obtained the spell book that led to the first film’s Halloween hijinks.

In the film’s plot, Hocus Pocus 2 follows two present-day teenagers, Becca and Izzy (Whitney Peak and Belissa Escobedo), who accidently light the virgin candle on Becca’s birthday. Both girls race to stop the witches from kidnapping the town’s mayor (Tony Hale) and casting an immortality spell that would make them all-powerful, while also making amends with their former friend, the mayor’s daughter, Cassie (Lilia Buckingham).

The three original witches Winnie (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) shared their input about the making of the movie. “When it came out, it laid a tiny little bit of an egg, so we didn’t expect much,” wrote Bette Midler on Reddit. “And now look at it! October is Hocus Pocus month.”

Kathy Najimy, brushed off any fears about whether or not the movie will measure up to fans expectations. “I personally don’t have any pressure because you do a lot of projects and then you leave and you go on to the next one,” the actress says.

“It really is in the hands of the people if they like it or not. When it hits, you’re happy and when it’s not, you move on to the next one. It can’t really rock your world in this business.” Parker explains that she is still in shock about making the prequel to Hocus Pocus. “To be completely honest, for the past 28 years, I didn’t think much about a sequel and when I found out it was going to happen, I was in shock and still am to this day,” Parker explains.

Many CHS students have their own input on the new movie, Hocus Pocus 2. Sophomore Elise Judd explains, “The new movie wanted me to have high expectations but that didn’t happen for me. It was very different since there were many new characters that had been brought into the timeline.”

Freshman Alexis McClellan said, “Having the directors show how the movie had begun in the beginning of the movie to the sisters realizing that they needed each other gave me a heartfelt moment.”

Another student, sophomore Mercedes Levesque states, “I liked how the movie started off when it showed the past of how the sisters were made to become witches. Also, when the new characters had made the same mistake as Dani, Allison and Max from the first Hocus Pocus movie.”

The conclusion of Hocus Pocus 2 features the new characters Becca, Izzy, and Cassie as they embark on a new adventure with book (the spell book). However, when viewers observe a second black candle in an ancient wooden box in the credit scenes, it may signal the beginning of a new chapter for the cast.