‘Practical Magic 2’ Box Office Struggles Force Warner Bros. to Rely on ‘Dune: Part Three’

Warner Bros. kicked off the fall movie season with hopes that a beloved cult classic could revitalize its theatrical lineup. The studio has been in search of a genuine hit for most of 2026, and ‘Practical Magic 2‘ seemed like the perfect nostalgia-driven crowd-pleaser to finally deliver one.

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reprised their roles as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens nearly three decades after the original film became a cherished comfort watch. Early buzz indicated that audiences were genuinely excited for the sequel, directed by Susanne Bier, which also saw the return of Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest, alongside newcomers Joey King, Maisie Williams, Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña, and Solly McLeod. Thursday night previews were promising, with ‘Practical Magic 2’ earning $4.7 million from previews across 3,200 locations, exceeding initial projections.

However, that optimism quickly faded. According to X account Global Box Office, the studio faced yet another setback as ‘Practical Magic 2’ received a poor critical reception and underperformed on Friday, bringing in only around $7.5 million plus previews. This was a significant drop from the $30 million to $40 million opening weekend estimates that some outlets had suggested just days prior. Industry tracker F*XOXO echoed this sentiment, estimating the film would earn roughly $7.75 million for Friday alone, with disappointing walk-up business undermining what had initially been healthy advance sales.

The critical backlash undoubtedly played a significant role. ‘Practical Magic 2’ currently holds a 35% “rotten” score based on 103 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics candidly pointing out its shortcomings. Empire’s Leila Latif noted that the sequel sacrifices the original’s unruly feminist magic for a disappointingly conventional narrative, stating that while the midnight margaritas return, the magic does not. Collider’s Taylor Gates was even more critical, stating that the film lacks the charm, whimsy, and heart of the original, delivering instead a convoluted and bland experience.

The disappointing numbers are especially painful in context. Warner Bros. Discovery reported a 46% year-over-year decline in theatrical revenue during the second quarter of 2026, a stark contrast to 2025, when the studio became the first to surpass $4 billion at the global box office and secured 11 Oscars, including Best Picture. Box office analyst Gitesh Pandya pointed out that Warner Bros. reached September without a single 2026 release crossing $100 million domestically, making it the only major studio without one this year.

This grim streak is precisely why all eyes are now on ‘Dune: Part Three.’ The finale directed by Denis Villeneuve, which adapts Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune: Messiah,’ is shaping up to be the one release that could potentially turn the studio’s fortunes around before the year concludes. ‘Dune: Part Three’ reportedly garnered around $10 million domestically on its first day of wider pre-sales, marking a new best for the franchise and putting it on track to gross over $100 million in its opening weekend. For comparison, ‘Dune: Part Two’ opened to $82 million domestically in 2024, ultimately finishing its global run at approximately $715 million.

With Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya returning to lead the cast, ‘Dune: Part Three’ also faces a built-in box office rival. The film is set to debut the same December weekend as Disney’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ creating a showdown that is already drawing comparisons to the Barbenheimer phenomenon of 2023. For Warner Bros., however, this isn’t merely about competing with Marvel. It’s about whether the studio can end a challenging year with at least one film that proves its theatrical business hasn’t lost its magic entirely, ‘Practical Magic 2’ pun very much intended.