Sep 26: social data not in yet

Q: What are people saying about “Hocus Pocus season is back”?

The mood is nostalgia. Fans treat the film as an annual ritual, saying 'my season is here' and 'forever' while praising costumes that honour the original.

Q: How can brands use the “Hocus Pocus season is back” trend?

Three-colour 'Sanderson sisters' sip-along. Three friends in capes each lift a different coloured drink and say 'Amok, amok, amok'. Format: 15-second cape-to-cheers reveal with three drinks.

Hocus Pocus season is back. Friends' Sanderson sisters costumes and Salem trips exploded on social in early October; search interest doubled.

13.5Msocial views↑ 769%

312creators↑ 74%

+385%Google search growth

The spike

Social got to it first: views peaked on Oct 3; Google searches followed on Oct 10.Verified: the top posts on the social peak day were hand-checked and are about this trend.

Social views each day

Google searches each day · “hocus pocus”

Why it’s trending

Hocus Pocus is the comfort ritual that says spooky season has started, and it feels better done with friends.

NostalgiaFans treat the film as an annual ritual, saying 'my season is here' and 'forever' while praising costumes that honour the original.

What’s happening

It is October and fans are bringing Hocus Pocus back. Friends dress as the Sanderson sisters, visit Salem filming spots, and build themed movie nights with snacks and drinks. The costume reveals drew the most views on social, and Google searches for the film doubled.

What content is working

#1Haeven Ennen82.2K105754.1K playsOct 4Trio cape-to-cosplay revealThree friends in plain capes cut to full Sanderson sisters looks, one each as Winifred, Sarah and Mary, with quick-cut edits.Why it works: Friends splitting the three roles feels easy to copy.#2Instagram9.2K50132.3K playsOct 7Funniest-scene movie clipA clip of the sisters meeting trick-or-treaters, with on-screen text calling Hocus Pocus the funniest movie ever because of this scene.Why it works: Fans love quoting a scene they know by heart.#3rachel ❤️‍🔥2.1K2627KOct 4Salem spellbook souvenirHands-only close-up of a leather Hocus Pocus spellbook journal, with a direct tip to buy one when visiting Salem.Why it works: A pocket-sized keepsake gives fans a reason to travel.#4Instagram7603412.4K playsOct 5Villain glow-up costumeA creator in red declares her youth and beauty, then switches to a green velvet dress and purple shawl as Winifred.Why it works: The before and after turn is satisfying to watch.#5Ash ✩ Cozy Horror Lifestyle812298.5K playsOct 6Ghost cookies movie nightPortable DVD player plays Hocus Pocus while ghost-shaped cookie dough is laid out on a tray for the first movie of the season.Why it works: Easy snacks plus a favourite film equals cosy ritual.#6Camila23053.7KOct 5Salem filming-locations tourA creator walks through Hocus Pocus sites in Salem, naming the Ropes Mansion, the school and the Max and Dani house.Why it works: Real places let fans step into the film.#7odalisshalloween38663.4KOct 6Daily Halloween outfit quoteA living-room outfit video opens with a Hocus Pocus quote, then shows an orange tee with the Sanderson sisters and 'Drop Dead Moron'.Why it works: A familiar movie line makes a simple outfit feel fun.#8AbbyintheGalley19171.8KOct 3Hocus Pocus dinner and movieA chef reveals a Dinner & a Movie menu card, then makes butternut squash and white bean soup, sourdough and apple crisp for a Hocus Pocus night.Why it works: Cosy recipes turn a favourite film into an event.

Trending hashtags

The tags people used most on posts about this trend, ranked by number of posts. Generic tags like #fyp and #viral are left out.

#hocuspocus 204 posts
#halloween 78 posts
#sandersonsisters 91 posts
#spookyseason 46 posts
#salem 37 posts
#movienight 12 posts
#salemmassachusetts 22 posts
#october 11 posts
#salemma 14 posts
#halloweenmovie 9 posts

Sentiment

Posts70% positive · 29% neutral · 1% negative

Comments64% positive · 23% neutral · 13% negative

Automatic sentiment labels across 368 posts and 400 comments.

The other side · what’s negative

Some grumbling

Mostly positive. Small grumbles come from commenters on paid Hocus Pocus events (a ticket refund complaint, pricing), costume critiques, and a few saying the film is not for kids.

What brands should do

Safe to join with costumes, food and drinks. Keep prices fair, deliver on event promises, and avoid kid-targeted framing since some parents call the film unsuitable.

What people are saying in comments

😄

It makes me so happy when my season is here.

Joy

💬

I love that this trend is back

Delight

💬

wow. you guys are such a peak homage to the original. well done ladies.

Admiration

😍

Yall are so so beloved by the fans! You need to keep this going every year so that I can join one day!

Love

💬

Sanderson Brothers were not on my bingo card... gonna check it off anyways.

Amusement

😍

Hocus pocus is my fave!! Such a fun way to do anything movie night

Love

😄

We love hocus pocus season

Joy

💬

I probably watch the Addams Family or Hocus Pocus every day in October

Ritual

💬

Oh, sisters. I'm very confused. I smell children, but I don't see children. I've lost my power!

Amusement

💬

Hocus Pocus is such a cult classic

Loyalty

💬

One of us was here strictly for the movie nostalgia, the other was here for the food sync! Whos who?

Nostalgia

😂

Fought a hurricane or conjured one?

Playful

💬

This Halloween pop up looks wickedly fun!

Excitement

💬

This is a scam!!! I bought tickets, back in November 2025, then they cancelled the show & offered a refund.

Anger

😞

Horrible. Winifred and Sarah need to be more animated like Mary she did better than the rest.

Disappointed

💬

Yeah its not a movie for kids

Concern

The content strategy we observed

Top videos are friends in Sanderson costumes plus short relatable movie moments, all vertical and quick-cut, aimed at fans who already know the film.

Opening hook

Costume videos open with a plain cape or a bold line: friends in capes, or a creator declaring her beauty and youth, before the full Sanderson look appears.#1 #3 #6

Storytelling

The pattern is a before and after: everyday look to full costume. The gender-swap trio adds a joke, asking who lit the black flame candle.#1 #3 #6

Format & length

#1: Three friends in plain capes cut to full Sanderson sisters looks, one each as Winifred, Sarah and Mary, with quick-cut edits. #5: Portable DVD player plays Hocus Pocus while ghost-shaped cookie dough is laid out on a tray for the first movie of the season.#1 #5

Tone & voice

#1: Three friends in plain capes cut to full Sanderson sisters looks, one each as Winifred, Sarah and Mary, with quick-cut edits.#1

Timing

The top videos went up between Oct 3 and Oct 7: all 8 before Google searches peaked on Oct 10. Social views peaked on Oct 3.#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8

If you make one video

Make a short friends-in-capes reveal with a twist, such as a gender swap or a quoted line, and post it early in October.

What can brands do?

Best fit: Beverages

Three-colour 'Sanderson sisters' sip-along

“Three friends in capes each lift a different coloured drink and say 'Amok, amok, amok'.”

Format: 15-second cape-to-cheers reveal with three drinks
Platform: TikTok and Instagram Reels
Who posts: Drink brand with creators and friend groups
Caption: Pick your sister, pour your spell. Who is Winifred this year?
When to post: Now until Halloween, peak late October
Watch out: Avoid Disney logos and film clips; use original costumes and a generic witch theme.

BeveragesMakeupHair CareFoodSkin Care

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