Earlier this year, Disney announced the studio is greenlighting “Hocus Pocus 3.” The announcement comes on the heels of the success of “Hocus Pocus 2” which was the top streamed original film on Disney+ in 2022, and Bette Midler had expressed a desire to return to the role of Winnifred Sanderson. But the “Hocus Pocus” franchise is far from the only cult classic film produced by Disney. Let’s take a look at the Top Five Disney Cult Classics that deserve a sequel.

1. THE ROCKETEER

Disney actually announced a sequel to “The Rocketeer” entitled “The Rocketeers” was in development way back in 2016. That evolved into “The Return of the Rocketeer” in 2021 before director Joe Johnston announced in 2022 that he was stepping away from the project. This original film struggled at the box office but garnered mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences. In that vein, it’s very similar to “Hocus Pocus” which was a box office failure that found its audience later. Hopefully, this sequel finds its way off the ground.

2. HOLES

A popular film from 2003, “Holes” tells the story of a kid wrongfully convicted of a crime and sentenced to a juvenile detention camp. Along the way, he is able to make up for a mistake by his ancestors and lift a curse that was put on his family years ago in Latvia before they immigrated to the United States. “Holes” was a moderate financial success but has become critically acclaimed in the years since it’s release. There are two other films in the book series that inspired the film. It would be nice to see “Stanley Yelnats’s Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake” and “Small Steps” made into films as well.

3. JOHN CARTER

This may be a controversial inclusion due to how much money Disney lost on the original, but a smaller budget could lead to a better received sequel. The film has mostly positive reviews from the audiences but nothing as high as “Hocus Pocus” or “Holes.” The critical response for “John Carter” may not be spectacular, but there is potential for a less costly sequel to succeed.

THE PARENT TRAP

The film that launched Lindsay Lohan to stardom was actually a remake of a 1960s Disney film starring Hayley Mills. Mills would return for a series of made-for-television sequels in the 1980s where she was now an adult in a similar situation to when she as a kid in the original. This an interesting idea for Disney to revisit for its popular 1998 remake. Lindsay Lohan could now return as a mother whose child or children is trying to get her in a parent trap. This could work as a straight-to-Disney+ series.

5. THE BLACK CAULDRON

In 1985, Disney released an animated version of “The Black Cauldron,” and it was disappointing at best. But “The Black Cauldron” is just one of five books in a series called “The Chronicles of Prydain.” Disney should not only make a live action version of “The Black Cauldron,” it would be nice to see all five books turned into films. They are dark books that had to be sanitized to try to make that one film in 1985, and animated versions would remain too dark. But live action versions could be a more interesting approach.

Those are some of my picks. What cult classics would you like to see get a sequel?

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy has been a big Disney fan since he was a kid growing up during the Disney Renaissance. One day he hopes to go to every Disney Park in the world.

View all posts