Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker shared the screen as two of the Sanderson sisters in the Halloween cult classicHocus Pocus, then they would reunite inThe First Wives Club, but the relationship between their characters completely flips. InHocus Pocus, Midler’s Winnifred “Winnie” Sanderson is the unquestioned leader of theSanderson sisters’ witch coven, often belittling Parker’s flighty Sarah. However, while this created an iconic dynamic between the pair, it’s not the only example of their on-screen potential.
While Midler and Parker leadthe cast ofHocus Pocusplaying magical sisters, just three years later they were cast in roles that would further play on their age gap. InThe First Wives Club, Parker portrays the younger woman Midler’s husband leaves her for. The women are rivals, and suddenly, Parker’s Shelley Stewart is the one in the position of power over Midler’s Brenda Cushman. The result is hilarious – especially considering Midler and Parker’sHocus Pocushistory.
Bette Midler & Sarah Jessica Parker’s First Wives Club Roles Hilariously Reversed Their Hocus Pocus Dynamic
Winnie and Sarah are sisters, but Winnie rules overHocus Pocus’ Sanderson clan with a sharp tongue and an iron fist, and her sisters are there merely to do her bidding.Winnifred’s best quotesare as biting as they are funny. Winnie especially targets Sarah, condescendingly saying, “Does thou comprehend?” when asking the simplest questions. Winnie even strangles Sarah or hits her in the stomach when she’s being a willowy nuisance, albeit in a comic way appropriate for a kid’s movie. Winnie screams to the sky: “Why was I cursed with such incompetent sisters?” to which Sarah blithely responds, “Just lucky, I guess!”
The balance of power between Midler’s and Parker’s characters is completely reversed inThe First Wives Club. Midler’s Brenda is middle-aged and heartbroken when she runs into her estranged husband shopping with his new girlfriend, Parker’s Shelley. Shelley snidely suggests Brenda should try on some outfits in a much bigger size, and Brenda is left trying to hold back tears. It’s interesting to see Midler and Parker in roles that invert who holds the higher status in the relationship from what they had inHocus Pocus, proving the versatility of both performers.
The First Wives Club Still Beats The Hocus Pocus Movies For Bette Midler & Sarah Jessica Parker’s Most Successful Movie
Whilethe moviebecame a cult classic over time,Hocus Pocuswas an infamous bombfor Disney, grossing only one and half times its modest budget.Hocus Pocus 2, its legacy sequel, was a Disney+ original, so there is no box office data available, but it was considered a commercial success, becoming the most-watched movie on the platform during its opening weekend. However,The First Wives Clubwas a runaway commercial and critical success, having approximately the same budget but grossing $181m compared toHocus Pocus’ $45m.
Box Office And Critic Score Comparisons Between Hocus Pocus 1 & 2 And The First Wives Club
$45m
n/a
$181m
$28m
$40m
$30m
40%
65%
50%
43/100
56/100
58/100
The First Wives Clubwas a surprise hit driven by several factors contributing to its success. The movie was a comedy starring three major female movie stars in Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn, and Bette Midler, each of whom would attract a slightly different demographic. The themes of female empowerment and rage inThe First Wives Clubresonated with adult audiences of the 90s.
Conversely,Hocus Pocussuffered from an unclear marketing campaign. The unique blend of family-friendly humor, witchcraft, andsurprisingly dark moments inHocus Pocusled to confusion about Hocus Pocus' target audience. Though clearly a Halloween movie,Hocus Pocusconfusingly premiered in July. This putHocus Pocusup against major summer blockbusters, including Jurassic Park and Sleepless in Seattle. Even if it disappointed in theaters,Hocus Pocusgained popularity over time, through home video, TV reruns, and annual Halloween broadcasts.
Hocus Pocus
Cast
Hocus Pocus tells the story of the Sanderson Sisters, a trio of witches who are inadvertently resurrected by a teenage boy 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 black cat.
