Bette Midler & Sarah Jessica Parker reunited 26 years before Hocus Pocus 2 in this $181 million comedy and it perfectly reversed their horror roles

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Bette Midler & Sarah Jessica Parker reunited 26 years before Hocus Pocus 2 in this 1 million comedy and it perfectly reversed their horror roles

Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker shared the screen as two of the Sanderson sisters in the Halloween cult classic Hocus PocusThen they used to enter together The First Wives ClubBut the relationship between their characters completely flips. in Hocus PocusMidler’s Winifred “Winnie” Sanderson is the unquestioned leader of the Sanderson sisters’ witch coven, often biting Parker’s flying Sarah. However, while this created an iconic dynamic between the pair, it wasn’t the only example of their on-screen potential.

While Midler and Parker lead the cast of Hocus Pocus With Magical Sister, just three years later they were cast in roles that would further play on their age gap. in The First Wives ClubParker portrays the younger Mrs. Midler’s husband leaving her. 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’s Hocus Pocus History.

Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker’s first Wives Club roles hilariously reverse their hocus pocus dynamic


Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler in a store at First Wives Club

Winnie and Sarah are sisters, but Winnie dominates Hocus PocusSanderson runs with a sharp tongue and an iron fist, and her sisters are only there to do her bidding. Winnifred’s best quotes are as biting as they are funny. Winnie especially targets Sarah, condescendingly saying, “Do you understand?” When you ask the simplest questions. Winnie even chokes Sarah or punches her in the stomach when she’s making a violent noise, although in a comical way that is suitable for a children’s movie. Winnie shouts to the sky: “Why am I cursed with such incompetent sisters?“To which Sarah happily responds, “Just lucky, I guess!

The power balance between Midler and Parker’s character is completely opposite The 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 Shelly. Shelly slyly suggests Brenda 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 reverse who holds the higher status in the relationship than they did in Hocus PocusProving 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


The Sanderson sisters discover a bus in Hocus Pocus

While The movie Became a cult classic over time, Hocus Pocus was an infamous bomb for Disney, which only had one and a half times its modest budget. Hocus Pocus 2Its 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 Club was a runaway commercial and critical success, with roughly the same budget but grossing $181m compared to Hocus Pocus$45 million.

Box office and critical score comparisons between Hocus Pocus 1 and 2 and The First Wives Club

Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus 2

The First Wives Club

Box Office

$45 million

n/a

$181 million

Budget

$28 million

$40 million

$30 million

Rotten Tomato Rating

40%

65%

50%

Metacritic score

43/100

56/100

58/100

The First Wives Club was a surprise hit driven by several factors contributing to its success. The movie was a comedy with three main 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 in The First Wives Club Resonated with mature audiences of the 90s.

on the contrary, Hocus Pocus Suffered from a lackluster marketing campaign. The unique blend of family-friendly humor, witchcraft and surprisingly dark moments in Hocus Pocus leading to confusion about Hocus Pocus’ target audience. Although clearly a Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus Confusingly premiered in July. This set Hocus Pocus Against major summer blockbusters, including Jurassic Park and Sleepless in Seattle. Even if it disappoints in theaters, Hocus Pocus Gained popularity over time, through home video, TV reruns and annual Halloween broadcasts.

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