Practical Magic 2 Finally Dethroned Spider-Man — But Critics Say the Spell Didn't Quite Land

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman Are Back — 28 Years Later

It took nearly three decades, but Sally and Gillian Owens have finally returned. Practical Magic 2, directed by Susanne Bier and released by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 10, debuted at No. 1 at the domestic box office with an estimated $30 million opening weekend — ending Spider-Man: Brand New Day's impressive six-week reign at the top.

The sequel reunites Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the Owens sisters, with returning veterans Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing reprising their roles as the beloved aunts. New additions include Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, and Xolo Maridueña, rounding out a cast that bridges generations of magic — and Hollywood stardom.

A Solid Opening, But Not Exactly Spellbinding

While $30 million is nothing to scoff at — especially for a female-led legacy sequel — the numbers tell a more complicated story. The domestic box office overall brought in roughly $83.4 million for the weekend, which was down 11.3% from the prior week and a staggering 44.4% below the same period last year, when Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle opened to a monstrous $70.6 million.

For Warner Bros., the film represents a crucial test. The studio has been having a rough 2026 at the box office, and Practical Magic 2 was supposed to help turn things around. With a reported $75 million budget, the film will need strong legs and international numbers to become truly profitable. So far, worldwide gross sits at about $81.6 million — promising, but far from a sure thing.

Critics Are Split — And That Might Be Okay

Reviews have been decidedly mixed. Based on Alice Hoffman's 2021 novel The Book of Magic, the screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, and Kelly Marcel follows the Owens family as they confront the ancient curse that still haunts them. Sally's daughters Kylie and Antonia return home, secrets unravel, and the family must once again lean on each other — and their magic — to survive.

Some critics praised the warmth between Bullock and Kidman, noting that their chemistry remains as effortless as it was in the 1998 original. Others felt the 130-minute runtime dragged, calling the sequel "cumbersome and overlong." One review bluntly stated: "Sometimes the best way to let a beloved experience live on is by leaving it behind in one's memory."

So Should You Watch It?

Here's the thing: Practical Magic 2 isn't trying to be a superhero blockbuster or an awards-season prestige film. It's a cozy, witchy reunion with two of Hollywood's biggest stars doing what they do best. If you loved the original — the margarita-fueled midnight rituals, the Owens house aesthetic, the sisterhood — there's plenty here to enjoy.

Bullock and Kidman have already teased a potential threequel, joking about it during press rounds. Whether Warner Bros. greenlights a third installment will likely depend on how Practical Magic 2 performs over the coming weeks. But if nostalgia and star power have anything to say about it, the Owens sisters aren't done casting spells just yet.