‘Practical Magic 2’ Casts a Box Office Spell With Strong Previews

Legacy sequels have faced challenges in recent years, with many nostalgic follow-ups failing to convert old fan bases into new ticket sales. Warner Bros. has seen several of its own films in 2026 underperform, making the studio’s fall lineup in need of a genuine success.

Enter ‘Practical Magic 2,’ a film that arrives nearly three decades after its 1998 predecessor became more of a cult classic than a box office hit. Reuniting Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the enchanting Owens sisters, the sequel had critics largely skeptical ahead of its release, with reviews keeping it below fresh territory.

However, that skepticism did not deter opening weekend audiences. ‘Practical Magic 2’ garnered an estimated $4.7 million during Thursday preview screenings, a figure that significantly surpassed several comparable films and indicated strong interest in the sequel as it headed into its first full weekend.

This preview total is well above recent films in similar genres and star-driven categories, including ‘The Lost City,’ ‘Mean Girls,’ and ‘Wuthering Heights.’ It’s also nearly double what 2021’s ‘Jungle Cruise’ earned during its preview window, highlighting the enduring star power of Bullock and Kidman together on screen.

Warner Bros. is now forecasting a domestic opening weekend in the range of $30 million to $40 million, with some estimates even reaching as high as $45 million if the momentum continues. This would mark a significant increase from the original film’s modest $13.1 million debut back in October 1998.

For context, the first ‘Practical Magic’ never achieved blockbuster status, finishing its entire run with $46.7 million domestically and $94.4 million worldwide. It only became a true cultural phenomenon later, thanks to years of cable reruns and streaming rediscovery that kept Sally and Gillian Owens relevant long after their theatrical release.

This new installment has a production budget estimated between $75 million and $78 million, meaning even the lower end of its opening projections would represent significant progress toward profitability. International estimates are also looking promising, with the studio anticipating an additional $18 million to $25 million from overseas markets, potentially pushing the global opening total to between $50 million and $65 million.

Directed by Susanne Bier, ‘Practical Magic 2’ picks up decades after the original, following the Owens sisters as they face a resurfacing family curse alongside a new generation. Joey King joins the cast as Sally’s daughter Kylie, with Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest, Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña, and Solly McLeod rounding out the ensemble.

The sequel currently holds a score in the mid-30s percent range on Rotten Tomatoes, a rating that closely mirrors the initial reception of the first film nearly thirty years ago. This similarity has not gone unnoticed by industry observers, many of whom highlight that lukewarm reviews never hindered ‘Practical Magic’ from becoming a cherished classic in the first place.

The preview numbers suggest audiences are approaching this release similarly to how they eventually embraced the original: as comfort viewing centered around two captivating leads rather than a film seeking critical praise. Nostalgia, star power, and the allure of the spooky season all seem to be working in the sequel’s favor this weekend.

‘Practical Magic 2’ also arrives at a pivotal moment for the domestic box office, as the film is set to dethrone ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ from the top spot after a lengthy, record-setting run. That superhero blockbuster has been closing in on the all-time domestic box office record, making this weekend’s shift all the more significant for casual chart watchers.

Whether ‘Practical Magic 2’ can maintain this early momentum throughout its run remains uncertain, but its opening figures already indicate that Warner Bros. may have found its fall counterprogramming hit. With built-in nostalgia and two stars that audiences clearly still enjoy watching together, the film appears poised to exceed expectations based solely on its critical reception.

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