In 1993, Disney released a little Halloween movie that was initially a box office bomb. But Hocus Pocus has gone on to become a major cult classic over the years thanks to reruns every season and has somehow become the Disney Halloween movie at the top of everyone's list each year. It doesn't hurt that it's a quality family-friendly option for everyone to watch together. It's even spawned a sequel, as well as a standalone novel, a makeup line, mini backpacks, and just about everything else you can think of. There's no overstating the Hocus Pocus legacy, not by a long shot.
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It's easy to see why, too. There's so much to love about this quintessential Halloween flick, from top to bottom. For the uninitiated, the film follows teenage Max Dennison and his younger sister Dani who move out to Salem, Massachusetts, with their parents from California. The town is buzzing around their favorite season (Halloween, of course) but Max has never heard of the notorious Sanderson sisters he keeps hearing so much about. Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler) were witches who were executed years before during the historic Salem Witch Trials. But as they stood waiting for their death, they cast a spell that could one day bring them back to haunt their old town. All it would take is a virgin lighting the black flame candle on Halloween night.
Poor Max. With the help of Dani, his crush Allison, and a black cat named Thackery Binx, they must stop the evil sisters before it's too late. Along the way, they journey through a variety of interesting and aesthetically pleasing locations that die-hard fans have sussed out the real-life areas of, natch. Each of the places lends its own unique Halloween feel to the flick, and if you've seen it quite a few times, you probably know exactly what we're talking about.
In honor of the season (it's well on its way!), we've rounded up some of the real-life Hocus Pocus filming locations around the historic city of Salem, Massachusetts. If you ever plan on taking a trip out there, you might want to add these locales to your "must-visit" bucket list. Be sure to have those cameras ready for some unforgettable snapshots!
Salem's Pioneer Village
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In the opening scenes of the film, you see a little village where Thackery Binx lives with his family that really looks like you took a trip back in time to the 1600s. Well, this old village in Salem's Forest River Park is actually real, not a movie set. It is America's first living history museum, built back in the 1930s.
Phillips Elementary School
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This former elementary school was the perfect place to film Max and Allison's school. Located in the lovely Salem Common, establishing shots of the high school were made with the beautiful red brick buildings surrounded by the stunning changing leaves that are so bright you'll only find them in New England. You might also remember an attempt at incinerating a witch taking place at the school, but no one there gets up to any of that business in real life. At least we hope.
The Ropes Mansion
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Allison's house was filmed at the Ropes Mansion which is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum. The historic house dates all the way back to the 18th century making it the ideal spot for Max and Dani to stop by to see the fancy Halloween party thrown by Allison's parents. It's a fun, themed party that you probably don't see a lot of in real life these days, and the outside of the house really adds to the spooky fall atmosphere.
Old Town Hall
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One of the best parts in the movie is when Winifred and her sisters hit the stage at the adult Halloween party and sing "I Put A Spell On You," which bewitches all of the adults so that the sisters can go kidnap all of the children in Salem. The Old Town Hall in Derby Square served as this filming location. It is also the location of the Salem Museum and the Cry Innocent Salem Witch Trial reenactments. Interestingly enough, though it looks like the popular song was sung here, not was actually filmed in Los Angeles in the Park Plaza Hotel's ballroom.
Old Burial Hill
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The cemetery scenes took place in nearby Marblehead. It's actually one of the oldest burial plots in the entire area of New England. You'll recognize the setting as the place where Max gets bullied by his new classmates, Jay and Ice. Oddly enough, all of the nighttime scenes in the cemetery were actually shot on a set. So if you recall those moments in the movie the most vividly, you're actually remembering a set!
Salem Common
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If you could capture the beauty of fall in New England in one area, it would be the Salem Common. Many of the outdoor establishing shots took place here. On a typical year, Hocus Pocus is actually displayed on this lawn during the annual "Haunted Happenings" in Salem. It was actually the site of the first muster of the National Guard, all the way back in 1637. And big Hocus Pocus fans will recognize that it's also the site where Max (Omri Katz) ends up phone number-less when he approaches Allison (Vinessa Shaw).
