These 5 ‘Hocus Pocus’ Lines Aren’t Quoted Enough

Hocus Pocus quotes are everywhere: on coffee mugs, t-shirts, candles, and when the month of October hits, used as Instagram captions.

There’s no denying the cult classic Halloween movie directed by Kenny Ortega has memorable lines. Although there’s some dialogue from the film that deserves more credit.

1. ‘I suggest we form a calming circle’

Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy) tells her sisters, Winifred “Winnie” Sanderson (Bette Midler) and Sarah Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker), they should take a moment to de-stress.

Standing outside their home Mary says, “Since this promises to be a most dire and stressful evening, I suggest we form a calming circle.” 

Midler’s character, Winifred, responds with the more often quoted line, “I am calm!” They then proceed to stand in a circle with their arms wrapped around each other while listing off “soothing thoughts” of death, scorpion pie, and rabid bats. 

2. ‘Bubble, bubble, I’m in trouble’

Just moments later a bus stops to pick up the Sanderson sisters. Having never seen a bus before they are just as intrigued as they are skeptical. 

Upon seeing Mary, Winifred, and Sarah, the bus driver says, “Bubble, bubble, I’m in trouble.” He then proceeds to let Sarah steer the bus and honk the horn. 

It’s a brief encounter just before a more popular moment in Hocus Pocus when the sisters meet Satan (director Garry Marshall dressed up as the devil).

3. ‘Couldn’t you forget about being a cool teenager just for one night?’

This is another example of a line tucked in with a more popular Hocus Pocus quote. Max Dennison (Omri Katz) refuses to go trick-or-treating with his younger sister, Dani Dennison (Thora Birch).

At one point he says, “It’s a full moon outside! The weirdos are out!” To which Dani replies, “Come on, Max. Couldn’t you forget about being a cool teenager just for one night?” Max’s line is quoted more often than Dani’s but hers is equally as quotable. 

4. ‘Oh, cheese and crust!’

This is Winifred’s response when Max knocks William “Billy” Butcherson’s (Doug Jones) head off with a fallen branch in the cemetery. It’s a fun replacement for other words that might’ve upped Hocus Pocus’ rating from PG to PG-13. 

5. ‘You know, I’ve always wanted a child. And now I think I’ll have one on toast!’

Sad because Dani called her ugly, Winifred cries to her sisters. In between tears and sniffles, she says, “You know, I’ve always wanted a child. And now I think I’ll have one on toast!” Then she prepares to use the last of the potion on Dani.

Stream Hocus Pocus on Disney+ or catch in during Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween.