From Destination Salem
It’s time to grab some popcorn and snacks and watch some Halloween-inspired movies featuring the city of Salem on the big (or whatever size your tablet or television) screen. New this season is Hubie Halloween, Adam Sandler’s latest movie, filmed in downtown Salem. The story takes place in the Witch City and includes footage from 2019’s Haunted Happenings as well as scenes from the famous Salem Witch Museum. Hubie Halloween premiers on Wednesday, October 7 on Netflix.
“It was a lot of fun to have Adam Sandler and crew in Salem last year to film parts of Hubie Halloween,” said Kate Fox, Executive Director, Destination Salem. “Salem has a rich history and is recognized around the world for our monthlong celebration of Halloween, which made it a great fit for Hubie Halloween. As travel to Salem is not possible for many families this year, the new film will let them bring a piece of it home to their personal screen.”
As you plan your Halloween movie viewing this year, here’s a list of other movies filmed in Salem:
Hocus Pocus:
This classic 1993 film introduces us to the Sanderson Witches. Viewers will recognize scenes from Pioneer Village as well as iconic downtown locations including the Ropes Mansion (Allison’s House), Salem Common, Old Town Hall, and more. Hocus Pocus fans can also go on a self-guided tour of Hocus Pocus locations in Salem. Disney has officially announced that they’ll be heading back to Salem for Hocus Pocus 2 and are currently scouting locations. Any ideas where they should film next? Available on Prime Video and Disney +.
Mass Hysteria:
This independent horror comedy is about a group of Salem Witch Trial re-enactors who find themselves the target of a modern-day witch hunt after a tourist dies on Halloween night. Filmed in several downtown locations and Pioneer Village, Mass Hysteria is available on Vimeo on Demand.
Salem has been the setting for these three Halloween-themed films, and it has “doubled” for locations in Defending Jacob (Apple TV), Joy, and American Hustle. Look closely and you can see the courthouses on Federal Street in Defending Jacob and American Hustle, and several scenes of Joy were filmed at the Hawthorne Hotel.
A list of the staff of Destination Salem’s favorite movies and television programs filmed in Salem can be found here: https://www.salem.org/filmed-in-salem/