Hocus Pocus (1993) is one of the most exemplary Halloween movies of the season, and the fantasy film is now arguably as strongly associated with the holiday as carving pumpkins and apple bobbing. Initially a box-office flop, Hocus Pocus grew to global popularity through TV syndication, catching viewers’ attention from its charming performances, captivating storytelling, and its ability to capture cozy autumnal vibes at their very best.
If you’re looking to introduce some youngsters to the cult favorite film, here’s what you need to know before pressing play.
Hocus Pocus age rating
When Hocus Pocus was first released in 1993, it was given a PG (Parental Guidance) rating. Typically, a PG rating means a film is suitable for children, but perhaps unsuitable for younger children, recommending that parents of young children watch alongside their children on their first watch.
However, PG ratings have been given to virtually every children’s film in recent years, and a 1990s PG is different from a 2020s PG. A G (General Audiences) rating is almost non-existent these days, so modern PG is closer to a traditional G.
With that in mind, Hocus Pocus is probably a modern PG-13. Older children should have little to no issue with the content of the movie, but younger viewers may be frightened by certain scenes. Parents and guardians may also object to some of the more adult jokes in the film, which will be discussed in detail in the parents’ guide below.
Hocus Pocus parents’ guide
Hocus Pocus is perhaps a little more violent and macabre than the average modern kids’ film. A little girl dies in the opening scenes of the movie, as a result of the witches’ scheme to drain the life force out of children to preserve themselves, something that is the main motivation for the movie’s antagonists throughout the rest of the film.
Another child dies at the end, but the two deceased children, from the era of the Salem Witch Trials, are reunited in the afterlife in the modern-day segment of the film. Deaths of children very rarely occur in kids’ movies in the 21st century, especially Disney films, but on-screen violence is kept to a minimum, and there is a happy ending for the characters.
There is a lot of visual representation and discussion of witchcraft, sacrifices, and devils throughout the film. This is not too dark a representation, but certain children, especially younger children, may find this frightening. There is also a lot of moderate peril regarding these themes in Hocus Pocus’ climax.
What may be most troublesome for parents is the frequent sexual references made throughout the film – something that would certainly never happen in a 21st century children’s film. There is a running joke throughout the film about the witches finding a virgin sacrifice for their spell, and many of such jokes are directed at a young boy, even by his peers. Hocus Pocus’ 2022 sequel jokingly pointed out that this trope is a little too sexualized for a family film, especially aimed at a kid, and hasn’t aged so well. There are also brief references to soft recreational drugs, but small children are unlikely to pick up on this.