The first social reactions to Disney’s Hexed landed after Thursday’s world premiere in Hollywood. Critics love the mother-daughter story, Jodie Foster’s villain and a three-eyed cat.
The first verdict on Disney’s Hexed is in, and it’s a lot of purple hearts. Walt Disney Animation Studios held the world premiere at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre on Thursday night, Nov. 12, and reactions started hitting social media right after.
The short version: people are calling it magic. A lot of them literally used the word “magic,” which feels like cheating for a movie about witches, but fine.
Hexed opens only in theaters on Wednesday, Nov. 25, right in time for Thanksgiving.
What are critics saying in the Hexed first reactions?
Mostly good things. Laughing Place rounded up the early posts, and the mother-daughter story came up again and again.
“Hexed is pure magic,” wrote Laughing Place’s Alex Reif. “The mother/daughter story is so strong, and there are so many belly laughs for all ages.”
Jazz Tangcay had a very specific favorite: “Jodie Foster is a wickedly delish disney villain.”
The Nerds of Color called it “the most magical surprise of the holiday season.” The site singled out the cast too: “The emotional beats are strong as are the performances, especially Foster, Goggins, and Jones!”
POC Culture kept it short and sweet. “Hexed is for the mothers & daughters (and the whole family),” the account posted.
Here’s a quick look at the movie from Walt Disney Animation Studios:
Who steals the show in Disney’s Hexed?
Apparently, a cat. Walton Goggins voices Beef Roger Crummchuk, a grumpy, magical, three-eyed cat, and he’s already winning people over.
“The hilarious three-eyed Beef Crumchuck steals the film with his Southern drawl,” Michael J. Lee wrote. (He spelled it “Crumchuck,” Disney spells it “Crummchuk,” and honestly, both feel right.)
Drew Taylor was right there with him. He called the story a mother-daughter tale “with shades of ‘Back to the Future,’” then added, “we would die for Beef.”
Tessa Smith of Mama’s Geeky said Goggins and Henry Winkler are “hilarious additions.” She also loved the soundtrack: “Some truly fantastic needle drops!!”
Did anyone have complaints about Hexed?
Yes, and it’s the same crowd that liked it. The Nerds of Color added a second post with a few gripes.
“It has flaws,” the site wrote. “Billie Doe can be annoying. There’s a deus ex machina I didn’t love, & unnecessary needle drops. It also borrows from stronger movies like Turning Red.”
So the needle drops are already splitting the room. The same post said the movie “gets better and stronger as it continues,” landing on “a solid movie overall.”
Keep in mind these are first reactions from premiere guests and invited press. Full reviews, and a Rotten Tomatoes score, come later.
What is Disney’s Hexed about?
Hailee Steinfeld voices Billie, an impulsive, unusual teenager who finds out she has secret magical powers. Those powers pull her out of the suburbs and into Hexe, a huge hidden world of witches.
Rashida Jones plays Alice, Billie’s careful mom. The two have to team up, and they dig up family secrets that could change the witch world for good, according to Disney.
Jodie Foster voices Queen Celeste, the ruler of Hexe. The cast also includes Henry Winkler, Dan Stevens, Tracey Ullman and Stephen Fry.
It’s an original story, too. No fairy tale, no sequel number, no live-action version to compare it to yet.
Jason Hand and Fawn Veerasunthorn directed, with Josie Trinidad as co-director. Roy Conli and Yvett Merino produced. Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller wrote the screenplay, and Kris Bowers did the score.
When does Hexed come out in theaters?
Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving. That’s Disney Animation’s favorite release slot. Frozen, Moana and Encanto all opened over the holiday week, so Hexed is in good company.
Early box office tracking reported by Deadline points to a $40 million to $50 million start over the five-day holiday frame. Good early buzz doesn’t hurt, especially with families trying to pick one movie everybody can agree on for the long weekend.
If you’re a D23 Gold member, Disney is also running early screenings before opening day. And if your kid has been begging to dress up as a witch again three weeks after Halloween, now you know why.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
Laughing Place (Nov. 12), the social reaction roundup and quotes
Walt Disney Studios (Nov. 12), premiere details, cast, roles and credits
Deadline (Nov. 2026), box office tracking as reported by Fiction Horizon
Walt Disney Animation Studios, the Wicked Fun video
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