‘Practical Magic 2’ Set to End ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Six-Week Box Office Reign

Summer 2026 has showcased one of the most robust theatrical seasons in recent years, with Tom Holland’s latest ‘Spider-Man’ film leading the way like few franchise entries have before. As we transition into fall, exhibitors are keenly observing whether this momentum can carry over into a fresh slate of releases.

For the past six weekends, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ has held a firm grip on the top of the domestic box office charts. This impressive streak has propelled the film past $2,000,000,000 globally and positioned it to soon surpass ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ as the highest-grossing movie of all time domestically, unadjusted for inflation.

However, that streak appears to be nearing its conclusion. ‘Practical Magic 2’ is projected to debut with earnings between $30,000,000 and $40,000,000 from 4,000 North American theaters this weekend, potentially claiming the number one spot and finally dethroning ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ after its remarkable six-week reign.

The sequel brings back Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the witchy sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, arriving nearly three decades after the original 1998 film garnered a cult following despite its initial box office struggles. The first film earned just $68,000,000 worldwide against a $75,000,000 production budget, making its lasting cultural impact all the more surprising.

Directed by Susanne Bier, the follow-up takes place 25 years after the original, focusing on Sally and Gillian’s daughters as they uncover hidden family secrets while attempting to break the dark curse that has plagued the Owens family for generations. Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing reprise their roles as the sisters’ aunts, while Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Joey King, Xolo Maridueña, and Solly McLeod join the cast in new roles.

Despite the star-studded cast, ‘Practical Magic 2’ has struggled with critics, currently holding a mere 35% on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety’s review described the film as cumbersome and overlong, given the 28-year gap between installments, a reaction that could limit its staying power once the initial curiosity of opening weekend wanes.

Internationally, the sequel is expected to add another $18,000,000 to $25,000,000 across 77 territories, bringing its combined global opening to between $48,000,000 and $65,000,000. With a $75,000,000 production budget from Warner Bros., this range indicates a competitive but uncertain path to profitability for the studio.

‘Practical Magic 2’ arrives amid a wave of fall releases aiming to maintain the momentum built over the summer, joining upcoming titles like Tom Cruise’s comedy ‘Digger,’ Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ reboot, and the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s ‘Verity’ starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson. Exhibitor Chris Randleman of Flix Brewhouse noted that there are many exciting and original ideas set to debut this fall, which is precisely the variety audiences have been craving.

This optimism reflects a broader shift in how theater owners are approaching the latter half of the year, hoping that the strong summer numbers indicate a renewed audience appetite for theatrical releases across various genres.

Even as it relinquishes its top position, ‘Brand New Day’ is not fading quietly. The film has already amassed $923,000,000 domestically and $2,400,000,000 globally, and its pursuit of the all-time domestic box office record remains firmly on track, regardless of this weekend’s shakeup at the top of the charts.

With ‘Practical Magic 2’ set to finally break Spider-Man’s hold on the box office, the film’s opening weekend performance will provide an early indication of how much nostalgia-driven sequels can still attract audiences to theaters this fall.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.