Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker shared the screen as two of the Sanderson sisters in the Halloween cult classic Hocus pocusthen they would reunite The First Wives Clubbut the relationship between their characters turns completely around. In Hocus pocusMidler's Winnifred “Winnie” Sanderson is the undisputed leader of the Sanderson sisters' coven and often belittles Parker's flighty Sarah. However, while this created an iconic dynamic between the two, this isn't the only example of their potential on screen.

While Midler and Parker lead the cast of Hocus pocus Playing magical sisters, just three years later they were cast in roles that increased their age difference even further. In The First Wives ClubParker portrays the younger woman Midler's husband leaves her for. The women are rivals, and suddenly Parker's Shelley Stewart is the one who has power over Midler's Brenda Cushman. The result is hilarious – especially when it comes to Midler and Parker Hocus pocus Story.

Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker's roles in First Wives Club hilariously reversed their hocus-pocus dynamic

Winnie and Sarah are sisters, but Winnie rules Hocus pocus'Sharp-tongued, iron-fisted Sanderson clan, and her sisters are there only to obey their orders. Winnifred's best quotes are as biting as they are funny. Winnie takes particular aim at Sarah and says condescendingly: “Do you understand?” when you ask the simplest questions. Winnie even strangles Sarah or punches her in the stomach when she's a willowy nuisance, albeit in a comical manner befitting a children's film. Winnie screams to the sky: “Why was I cursed with such incompetent sisters?“, to which Sarah happily replies: “Just luck, I guess!”

The balance of power between Midler and Parker's characters is completely reversed The First Wives Club. Midler's Brenda is middle-aged and heartbroken when she meets her estranged husband while shopping with his new girlfriend, Parker's Shelley. Shelley snidely suggests that Brenda try on a few outfits in a much larger size, and Brenda has to hold back tears. It's interesting to see Midler and Parker in roles that switch up who has higher status in the relationship than in the relationship Hocus pocuswhich proves the versatility of both artists.

“The First Wives Club” still surpasses the “Hocus Pocus” films and is Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker's highest-grossing film

While the film became a cult classic over time, Hocus pocus was an infamous bomb for Disney, grossing only one and a half times its modest budget. Hocus Pocus 2its old sequel, was a Disney+ original, so box office returns are not available, but it was considered a commercial success, becoming the most-watched film on the platform in its opening weekend. However, The First Wives Club was a resounding commercial and critical success, with roughly the same budget but grossing $181 million compared to Hocus pocus45 million dollars.

The First Wives Club was a surprise success due to several factors contributing to its success. The film was a comedy starring three major female movie stars, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler, each of whom would attract a slightly different demographic. The themes of female empowerment and anger in The First Wives Club was well received by adult audiences in the 90s.

Vice versa, Hocus pocus suffered from an unclear marketing campaign. The unique mix of family-friendly humor, witchcraft and surprisingly dark moments Hocus pocus led to confusion about Hocus Pocus' target audience. Even though it's clearly a Halloween movie, Hocus pocus confusingly premiered in July. This sentence Hocus pocus to compete against major summer blockbusters including Jurassic Park and Sleepless in Seattle. Even though it was disappointing in the cinemas, Hocus pocus gained popularity over time through home videos, television reruns, and annual Halloween broadcasts.

Hocus Pocus tells the story of the Sanderson Sisters, a trio of witches who are accidentally resurrected by a teenager on Halloween. When the witches threaten to take over the town of Salem, Massachusetts, it's up to Max, sister Dani and friend Alison to stop them with the help of Thackery Binx, one of the Sandersons' victims trapped in the immortal body of a black cat.

director

Kenny Ortega

Release date

July 16, 1993

Studio(s)

Disney

writer

David Kirschner, Mick Garris, Neil Cuthbert

Pour

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw

Duration

96 minutes

budget

28 million dollars

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