Practical Magic 2 (2026)
The original Practical Magic was a critical and commercial failure when it was released all the way back in 1998, so what is with this belated sequel? Did the first film develop such a rabid cult following throughout the years to justify a continuation? Whatever the case, we now have Practical Magic 2, which is just as mediocre as the original.
In case you forgot the whole idea behind the first film, let's review. The Massachusetts-based Owens sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) come from a long line of witches, and that lineage includes a curse in which any man who becomes smitten with an Owens woman will soon die. So, these women try not to fall in love.
At the end of the original, the curse is apparently broken, but now in this sequel, it's established that the curse never went away. Sally's eldest daughter Kylie (Joey King) falls in love, but her prince charming Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) immediately gets hit by a car and thrown into a coma. After learning of the curse from her mother, Kylie travels to England to find answers. Sally and Gillian soon follow.
Practical Magic 2, directed by Susanne Bier (Things We Lost in the Fire, Bird Box) and based on The Book of Magic novel by Alice Hoffman, has the same major issue as 1998's Practical Magic, which is an inconsistent tone. Sometimes the movie tries to be a whimsical comedy, but then it also really wants to be a dark supernatural thriller with oodles of digital effects.
This is a mess of a movie, but the star power of Bullock and
Kidman make it somewhat watchable. The two of them have good on-screen
chemistry, and some of their witty banter will make you laugh.
