Film Review: Practical Magic 2

Practical Magic 2
Director: Susanne Bier
Warner Bros. Pictures
In theatres: 09.11.2026

I am of the opinion that one of the most exciting things to talk about as a film lover is legacy sequels, but not because they are a bastion of originality or speak to some sort of universal truth. No – they are exciting to talk about because, depending on the quality, they can recontextualize or reaffirm your preexisting ideas about a film. You can come to understand why a certain work could only be made in the time it was made, why it was ahead of its time, or reintroduce and explore something that was only briefly touched on in the original property

It would be a lie to say that remakes, sequels and other film-marketing gimmicks are only now plaguing the industry. The truth is, these types of projects have existed since the dawn of the industry. The Wizard of Oz was remade countless times after Judy Garland stepped into the ruby slippers. Universal insisted that James Whale make a sequel to his beloved monster movie, and thus, Bride of Frankenstein captivated and frightened viewers in the 1930s; and if we want to talk big movie crossover events, Frankenstein met the Wolf Man long before Nick Fury recruited the Avengers.

But legacy sequels feel a bit different. They are projects that can only exist after a property has had enough time to marinate, to capitalize on nostalgia. Due to film’s relatively short lifetime as a narrative medium, only now have legacy sequels reached a point of noticeable saturation. As a result, we have had to endure truly terrible offerings, like Independence Day: Resurgence, but also witness some cinematic masterpieces as well, like Blade Runner 2049. Now, we have a new film to add to the list of legacy sequels: Practical Magic 2.

The film once again follows the Owens clan, a family of witches cursed by the spell of their ancestor, Maria Owens, that any man who falls in love with an Owens woman is doomed to an untimely death. After the loss of her second husband, Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock, Miss Congeniality, Gravity) casts one final spell: for her daughters, Kylie (Joey King, The Kissing Booth, Ramona and Beezus) and Antonia Owens (Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones, The New Mutants), to forget all about magic, despite the protests of her sister Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman, Eyes Wide Shut, The Others). Years pass, and Sally has foregone magic, while Gillian continues to revel in it. After Kylie’s boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) nearly dies in an accident and is put in a coma, Kylie learns the truth about the Owens curse and sets out to break it.

The original Practical Magic belongs in a category known as “here for the vibes.” Its warm color palette and whimsical score by Alan Silvestri, along with classic needle drops, create an inviting and cozy atmosphere that signals the changing of the seasons. It’s the type of film that reflects the optimism and serenity of a post-Berlin Wall, pre-9/11 America that endures despite its abysmal pacing and poor story structure. It also holds up thanks, in no small part, to the strength of the performances from both Bullock and Kidman playing such believable sisters. It is the epitome of a movie that could only be made in the 90s. Practical Magic 2 attempts to capture that same magic, but lacks the soul that made it resonate.

This legacy sequel feels like it was made by a marketing executive who compiled a list of the most common searches related to Practical Magic and decided to put all of it into a movie. The original film had needle-drops of contemporary and 1970s artists. The same is done here, only instead of the needle drops actually existing in a conversation with the film, they are randomly tacked on and take you out of the story. 

The first film explored Sally’s grief and fear of love and magic due to the curse, which is rehashed again in this movie with Lee Pace (The Fall, Pushing Daisies) as Bullock’s new love interest and is given the most obvious dialogue possible. It also renders Gillian’s role into a superfluous presence, simply to support Sally through the same character arc she went through in the first movie. Of course, the first film explored their bond as sisters, but this film just makes Gillian out to be Sally’s sidekick rather than doing more to explore her interiority. 

Now you may be asking: What does this movie do differently? Well, like any sequel, it’s all about going bigger. Instead of the autumnal, cozy Massachusetts town of the first film, which gave it its iconic scenery and helped explore themes of community, the sequel moves to drab, colorless England. Nothing is done to make the setting pop or create a uniquely witchy ambiance. It also doesn’t help that the domestic, PRACTICAL magic from the original is replaced with ridiculous Harry Potter-style magic attacks and an underdeveloped villain. This isn’t even touching on Bullock and Kidman’s somewhat phoned-in performances. 

The lack of Silvestri’s score was also palpable and was only exacerbated when you could hear soulless remixes of the original soundtrack. What made the original feel so timeless was that, despite the magical shenanigans, it still felt grounded through the relationship of the Owens sisters, their aunts and their everyday life as witches in a small town. 

For as many complaints as I have about this film, I can’t deny that there were moments where I enjoyed the banter between Sally and Gillian. Pace was also a highlight, as he is always magnetic on screen. There were genuinely charming and beautiful moments toward the end, but they were too little too late to completely save the film. 

What hurts the most about this film was that it had potential. There were small glimpses of whimsy and sincerity, but either a poorly placed needle drop or a questionable piece of dialogue ruined the immersion. In the end, Practical Magic 2 lacks the enchantment and charm to uplift its flawed script the same way the original film was able to do. –Angela Garcia

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