‘Practical Magic 2’ Holds Steady in Week Two Approaching $50 Million

Tena Milakovic
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Legacy sequels often face a crucial test during their second weekend, where initial nostalgia from opening crowds must translate into sustained interest from general audiences. This weekend, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman’s return to the Owens sisters confronted that challenge, competing against one of the fall’s most eagerly awaited new releases.

Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ reboot debuted with significant fanfare, dominating box office discussions and overshadowing other releases. Despite this fierce competition, ‘Practical Magic 2’ managed to maintain a commendable position.

In its second week, ‘Practical Magic 2’ secured second place at the box office, earning an additional $3.1 million on Friday, as reported by Variety. The witchy sequel is projected to accumulate another $10.4 million over the weekend, bringing its total to $48.2 million.

Achieving second place against a heavily marketed franchise reboot like ‘Resident Evil’ is a notable accomplishment for a film that initially received mixed reviews. The sequel opened to approximately $30 million domestically from 4,146 theaters, a figure some outlets deemed underwhelming given the star power of its leads from a beloved 1990s original.

Crossing the $48 million mark by its second weekend indicates that the film has cultivated a loyal audience willing to return week after week, even without a blockbuster opening. For a legacy sequel with a reported $75 million production budget, this consistent performance is just as crucial as a spectacular debut.

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 21 22 37 Practical Magic 2 Rotten Tomatoes

‘Practical Magic 2’ continues the tale of the Owens family and their ancestral curse, which dooms any man who falls in love with an Owens woman to an early demise. Sally and Gillian thought they had broken the curse years ago, but Sally’s second husband Gary’s death proves otherwise, prompting her to suppress her daughters’ magical heritage.

This decision haunts the family when Kylie’s boyfriend falls into a coma after she professes her love for him, leading Sally, Gillian, and the next generation to seek answers using the mysterious Book of Raven. Their quest ultimately takes them to England, where they encounter Tom Lockland, a dark warlock intent on stealing Kylie’s powers, setting the stage for the film’s central conflict.

Reviews for ‘Practical Magic 2’ have been mixed, with the film holding a 38 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from 121 critics and a 44 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating an “average” reception. However, audiences have responded more positively, giving the film a “B+” CinemaScore that surpasses the original 1998 film’s “B-” grade.

This disparity between critical and audience reception may clarify why the film’s second-weekend performance has remained relatively strong, as positive word of mouth from opening-weekend viewers can sustain a film even amid lukewarm reviews. Director Susanne Bier’s interpretation seems to resonate more with fans already invested in the Owens sisters than with newcomers.

The sequel concludes its narrative with Sally, Gillian, and the rest of the Owens women ultimately defeating Tom Lockland through blood magic, only to realize that a willing witch’s sacrifice is necessary to permanently break the family curse. Aunt Frances, portrayed by Stockard Channing, ultimately makes that sacrifice, freeing the family from generations of sorrow.

With the film consistently adding to its box office totals week after week, ‘Practical Magic 2’ appears set to comfortably surpass the $50 million mark in the coming days, even without dethroning ‘Resident Evil’ from the top position.

In addition to Bullock and Kidman, the sequel features Dianne Wiest as Jet, alongside newer talents like Joey King as Kylie and Maisie Williams as Antonia, bridging the gap between the original fanbase and younger viewers discovering the Owens family for the first time. Lee Pace and Xolo Maridueña complete the supporting cast, introducing fresh faces to a story rich in nostalgia.

This combination of returning stars and new talent may be precisely what keeps audiences returning in the weeks to come, even as more prominent new releases continue to fill the fall box office schedule.

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