Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return in Practical Magic 2 after 28 years

A cult classic revived

Twenty-eight years after the 1998 fantasy romantic comedy Practical Magic debuted in cinemas, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have reunited for the sequel Practical Magic 2. The original film, directed by Griffin Dunne and adapted from Alice Hoffman's novel, combined romantic comedy, domestic melodrama, and supernatural elements. Although it initially struggled at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics, the story of the cursed Owens sisters found a dedicated following through home video, television broadcasts, streaming platforms, and social media. The sustained interest from audiences eventually prompted producer Denise Di Novi, along with Bullock and Kidman, to develop a second film.

You never get the opportunity to do something where people really are asking you, 'please do it'. It's usually us going to them.

Production and adaptation

Directed by Susanne Bier, Practical Magic 2 draws from Alice Hoffman's 2021 novel The Book of Magic. The screenplay was written by Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote the 1998 film, alongside Georgia Pritchett and Kelly Marcel. Returning to executive producing roles, Bullock and Kidman oversaw the reconstruction of the iconic coastal Massachusetts Victorian home and the return of signature elements like midnight margaritas. Hoffman noted that cultural attitudes toward stories centered on female solidarity and sisterhood have evolved substantially since the late 1990s.

When the first one came out, there really were no movies about women, and it was really kind of looked down upon. Magic was looked down upon. Sisterhood was looked down upon. Everything that it was about was looked down upon. And that has radically changed.

Plot developments and returning cast

The narrative resumes as Sally Owens (Bullock, 62) loses her second husband to the ancestral curse that dooms any man who falls in love with an Owens woman. Sally conceals their magical heritage from her daughters, Kylie and Antonia, until they reach adulthood. When Kylie's boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) slips into a coma following a car accident, Kylie resolves to break the curse and travels to England. Sally and Gillian (Kidman, 59) pursue her, meeting magic historian Ian Wright (Lee Pace), while Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest, 78) and Aunt Franny (Stockard Channing, 82) attempt to end the family curse after Jet hears the death beetle rattle.

Critical reception and themes

The sequel features Joey King as Kylie and Maisie Williams as Antonia, incorporating 1990s fashion items including slip dresses, floral skirts, and tartan shirts. Reviews focused on differences in tone, pointing to darker magic scenes in place of the campy whimsy from the 1998 production. The film also references Harry Nilsson's song Coconut and other callbacks to the first movie, though critics noted a condensed role for Antonia compared to the source novel. Williams expressed gratitude that the production continued the narrative rather than remaking the original story.

I think with technology moving at the speed that it is, we're really missing the times when we were less reachable.