Eager Fans Won’t Be Disappointed With This Long-Awaited Magical Sequel
When “Practical Magic” was initially released in 1998 it ended up being a box office disappointment and received mixed to negative reviews. However, in the decades since, it has undergone a massive critical reappraisal and developed a massive, passionate and enduring fanbase. Now, years later, the Owens sisters are back on the big screen!
Despite believing the deadly Owens family love curse was broken, Sally suffers another tragedy when her second husband dies. Devastated, she suppresses her magic and raises her now-grown daughters, Kylie and Antonia, completely oblivious to their witch heritage to protect them.
When Kyle falls in love with a young man named Gideon, the dormant curse strikes back, leaving him in a coma after a terrible accident. Now, after discovering the truth about her bloodline, an angry Kylie steals an ancient book that holds clues to breaking the curse and attempts to save her boyfriend.
After waiting for a long 28 years, fans of the 1998 movie can finally flock to the big screen and catch up with their favorite witches. And if you enjoyed the first movie (I actually had to quickly stream it since I have never seen it), I am very certain that you’ll love the sequel. “Practical Magic 2” is a satisfying legacy sequel that honors the cult classic spirit of the original.
Both Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman stepped back into their roles effortlessly and their on-screen chemistry is still just as great as the first movie. With their comedic timing and affectionate beats, you can easily tell that the actresses really had a blast returning to the sequel (especially since Sandra Bullock rarely returns to sequels anymore - probably due to “Speed 2”).
This long-awaited sequel also features the return of the legendary aunts (once again played by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing) and once again they bring the exact
warmth and humor that anchored the 1998 movie. Also, some of their scenes are probably some of the best moments of this movie.
In this sequel, we learn more about the origin of Maria Owens’ curse and the characters tracing the family lineage back to England - all of which is quite intriguing. The overall story has plenty of room to grow for Sally’s grown daughters and I wonder if we’ll see them again in a potential third movie down the road.
The story’s core theme - how grief, trauma, and love are passed down through generations of women - can easily resonate strongly with fans of the original movie. The emotional arcs around the mother-daughter dynamics and sisterhood is actually quite moving at times and there are certain spots in the story where fans might tear up a little bit.
“Practical Magic 2” also delivers on some fairly memorable moments that fans will surely enjoy!
The entire journey to England where we learn more of the family’s lore is interesting and the introduction of the Ian character (a charming British scholar of witchcraft) is a great addition to the sequel. The chemistry and tension-filled subplot between the romance-resistant Sally and Ian provides a great romantic subplot against a backdrop of stony ruins and witchcraft. There’s also the climax set at the ruins of Lockland Manor that is really fun and fans will really love it.
The overall audience response to “Practical Magic 2” has been overwhelmingly positive, drawing a massive wave of fan support that stands in stark contrast to poor reviews from critics. Fans have also praised the movie as a heartwarming, nostalgic comfort watch that honors the spirit of the 1998 original.
Cast: Sandra Bullock (Sally Owens); Nicole Kidman (Gillian Owens); Stockard Channing (Frances); Dianne Wiest (Jet); Joey King (Kylie); Maisie Williams (Antonia); Lee Pace (Ian Wright); Xolo Mariduena (Gideon); Solly McLeod (Tom Lockland)
Writer/director: Akiva Goldsman (writer) (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds); George Pritchett (writer); Kelly Marcel (writer) (the Venom trilogy; Cruella); Alice Hoffman (based on the novel by); Suzanne Bier (director) (Netflix’s Bird Box)
MPA: Rated PG-13 for some violent content, suggestive material and brief strong language (runtime 130 minutes)
In 2022, during an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Sandra Bullock announced that she would take a break from acting to focus on her family and raising her two children. Although several outlets referred to it as an "early retirement," that wasn't the case.
Following the 25th anniversary of the original film, in 2024, Nicole Kidman was asked by Extra about the possibility of a sequel. She confirmed that she and Bullock had been in discussions and that the idea was very much alive.
In early 2025, it was officially announced the sequel with a teaser for a 2026 release, marking Bullock's highly anticipated return to acting after a four-year hiatus - and the reunion of the original cast nearly 30 years after the first film, save for Alexandra Artrip and Evan Rachel Wood.
In 2019, Producer Denise Di Novi was originally set to produce a television series adaptation of Alice Hoffman's prequel novel Rules of Magic for HBO Max before this movie was announced.
Stockard Channing's first theatrically released movie in 13 years.
Loosely based on Alice Hoffman's novel "The Book of Magic" from 2021. In total there are four books in the series; The original from 1995, the sequel, and two prequels, The Rules of Magic (2017) and Magic Lessons (2020).
The teaser trailer for the film features Harry Nilsson's classic song "Coconut," which calls back to the iconic "midnight margaritas" kitchen scene from the original 1998 film.
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