Practical Magic 2
debuted on September 11, 2026, aiming to unseat Spider-Man: Brand New Day
from the No. 1 box office spot after six weeks.
The sequel, released in over 4,000 theaters, marks the follow-up to 1998’s Practical Magic,
starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witch sisters. Warner Bros. expects the film to surpass the original’s $46 million domestic total, though critics panned its narrative and runtime, with one reviewer calling it as cumbersome and overlong as the 28-year wait
between films.
Box Office Projections and Competition
Practical Magic 2
entered the weekend with a $30 million to $35 million domestic opening projection, according to Yahoo.com, aiming to dethrone Spider-Man: Brand New Day,
which had led the box office for six consecutive weeks. The film’s international rollout, targeting 77 territories, added $18 million to $25 million, pushing global sales anywhere from $48 million to $65 million.
Despite the sequel’s nostalgic appeal, its $75 million budget raised questions about its financial viability. The movie works better the less you look for any sense of logic, and the more you just lean into the transient joys of watching these [two] actresses bounce off each other,
wrote The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han.
Critical Reception and Nostalgia
Critics divided on the sequel’s execution, with some highlighting its reliance on nostalgia. Variety’s Todd Gilchrist called it as cumbersome and overlong as the 28-year wait
between films, while The Hollywood Reporter’s Han praised its “transient joys” of Bullock and Kidman’s chemistry. The film’s plot, which follows the characters uncovering hidden family secrets and seeking to break the curse that has long haunted their lineage, drew comparisons to the original’s witchcraft themes.
Despite the mixed reviews, the film’s marketing emphasized its connection to the 1998 classic, with cast members like Joey King and Maisie Williams joining Bullock and Kidman. The original film was a box office flop but eventually became a cult favorite, a trajectory that Practical Magic 2
hopes to replicate.
Production and Legacy
Directed by Susanne Bier, the sequel features a cast including Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing, who reprised their roles from the prior film. The film’s production, handled by Warner Bros., included location shoots in London, England, and was rated PG-13 for some violent content, suggestive material and brief strong language.
The film’s release coincided with a broader box office landscape, where summer leftovers like Spider-Man: Brand New Day
and “The Odyssey” dominated screens.
What’s Next?
For fans of the original, the sequel offered a chance to revisit the Owens sisters’ world, albeit with mixed results. As one critic noted, The movie works better the less you look for any sense of logic…
— a sentiment that encapsulated both its charm and its flaws. Whether Practical Magic 2
would achieve lasting success or fade into the shadows of its predecessor remained to be seen.
