Editing Thora Birch (section)

=== 1988–1998: Television work and film breakthrough ===
Birch appeared in commercials in the late 1980s for [[Burger King]], [[The California Raisins|California Raisins]], [[Quaker Oats Company|Quaker Oats]], and [[Vlasic Pickles]].<ref name="Fearless Thora" /><ref>{{cite web |first1=Paul |last1=Fischer |url=http://www.darkhorizons.com/features/1206/thora-birch-for-dungeons-and-dragons |title=Thora Birch for "Dungeons and Dragons" |website=Dark Horizons |date=December 8, 2001 |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> She made her film debut as Molly Johnson in the 1988 science fiction comedy ''[[Purple People Eater (film)|Purple People Eater]]'', for which she received a [[Young Artist Award]] in the category of "Best Young Actress Under Nine Years of Age".<ref name=IMDb>{{IMDb name|301|section=awards}}</ref> That same year, she guest-starred in an episode of ''[[Doogie Howser, M.D.]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0564437/ |title=Vinnie Video Vici |date=25 October 1989 |access-date=19 January 2017 |via=IMDb}}</ref> and was cast in the regular role of Molly on the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Day by Day (American TV series)|Day By Day]]''. The show ran for two seasons and earned Birch a further two Young Artist nominations.<ref name=IMDb/>

In 1990, Birch was cast in a principal role on ''[[Parenthood (1990 TV series)|Parenthood]]'', a sitcom based on the [[Parenthood (film)|1989 film of the same name]], which ran for a single season on NBC. Birch played Billie Pike in the 1991 drama ''[[Paradise (1991 film)|Paradise]]'', with [[Roger Ebert]] commenting in his review for the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' that Birch played the role with "strong, simple charm".<ref>{{cite web |last=Boone |first=Steven |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/paradise-1991 |title=Paradise Movie Review & Film Summary (1991) |publisher=Roger Ebert |date=1991-10-04 |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref> She appeared in the festive comedy ''[[All I Want for Christmas (film)|All I Want for Christmas]]'' that same year, playing a girl who schemes to reunite her divorced parents. The film was a moderate financial success,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3296298497/weekend/|title=All I Want for Christmas (1991)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2023-06-15}}</ref> but found an audience on television and home video in subsequent years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hellogiggles.com/1991-movie-all-i-want-for-christmas/|title=We need to talk about the 1991 movie All I Want for Christmas|website=HelloGiggles |date=2018-12-25|access-date=2023-06-15}}</ref> She then co-starred as the daughter of [[Jack Ryan (character)|Jack Ryan]] in the spy thriller ''[[Patriot Games (film)|Patriot Games]]'' (1992), a commercial success which grossed US$178 million at the worldwide box office.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=patriotgames.htm |title=Patriot Games (1992) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=1992-08-18 |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref>

At age 11, Birch starred in the Halloween-set fantasy film ''[[Hocus Pocus (1993 film)|Hocus Pocus]]'' (1993), playing Dani Dennison, the younger sister of a teenage boy who inadvertently resurrects a trio of witches. Making US$39 million in the U.S. (against a budget of US$28 million),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hocuspocus.htm |title=Hocus Pocus (1993) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=1993-10-22 |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref> ''Hocus Pocus'' was not considered a financial success, but quickly developed a sizeable [[cult film|cult following]] due to strong home video sales and television re-runs.<ref>{{cite web |first=Cavan |last=Sieczkowski |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/five-reasons-why-hocus-pocus-one-greatest-cult-classic-films-325484 |title=Five Reasons Why 'Hocus Pocus' is One of the Greatest Cult Classic Films |publisher=Ibtimes.com |date=1993-07-16 |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/movies/the-magical-tale-of-how-hocus-pocus-went-from-144105863.html |title=The Magical Tale of How 'Hocus Pocus' Went From Box-Office Flop to Halloween Favorite |website=Yahoo!|date=2015-10-28 |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref> "I think the most surreal thing is that it keeps getting more popular instead of the other way around", Birch later said, while admitting the experience was "the most amount of fun I've ever had on a set".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/thora-birch-looks-back-on-hocus-pocus-25-years-later/|title=Thora Birch Looks Back on 'Hocus Pocus' 25 Years Later, Why She Thinks It Still Translates Today|work=Us Weekly|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=June 18, 2023}}</ref>

In the 1994 comedy ''[[Monkey Trouble]]'', Birch played a girl accompanying a [[Capuchin monkey]]. In a positive review for the ''[[Austin Chronicle]]'', Marjorie Baumgarten observed that Birch's "nuanced performance (a rarity amongst child performers) no doubt lends ''Monkey Trouble'' its realistic touch".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/1994-03-25/monkey-trouble/ |title=Monkey Trouble - Film Calendar |newspaper=The Austin Chronicle |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref> That same year, she reprised her ''Patriot Games'' role in its sequel, ''[[Clear and Present Danger (film)|Clear and Present Danger]]'', which grossed over US$215 million globally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=clearandpresentdanger.htm |title=Clear and Present Danger (1994) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=1994-10-25 |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref> She was then cast as "Teeny" Tercell in the 1995 coming-of-age drama ''[[Now and Then (film)|Now and Then]]''. The film was largely dismissed by critics upon release,<ref>{{cite news|title=Now and Then|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/now_and_then|access-date=June 15, 2023|website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref> but has since been recognised as a milestone of its genre.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/movies/now-and-then-anniversary.html|title='Now and Then' at 25: Girlhood Finally Taken Seriously|work=The New York Times|first=Ilana|last=Kaplan|date=October 23, 2020|access-date=June 16, 2023}}</ref> Next, Birch headlined the adventure film ''[[Alaska (1996 film)|Alaska]]'' (1996), playing one of two siblings who cross the Alaskan wilderness in search of their lost father. The ''Austin Chronicle'' found it to be a "decent kids' adventure movie" with an "impeccable" performance by Birch.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/1996-08-16/alaska/|title=Alaska|publisher=The Austin Chronicle|first=Marjorie|last=Baumgarten|date=August 16, 1996|access-date=June 18, 2023}}</ref> For the next two years, she did not appear on film but guest-starred in episodes of ''[[Promised Land (1996 TV series)|Promised Land]]'' and ''[[Touched by an Angel]]''.