Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, Practical Magic 2 is not only the latest 1990s film to have a legacy sequel but is among the latest witch-based media to see a revival for the 21st century. Ranging from The Craft and Hocus Pocus to Netflix’s adaptation, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the history of such projects has shown that witches have always been popular among audiences. But after 28 years, are they ready to re-indulge in midnight margaritas?
Based on Alice Hoffman‘s 2021 novel The Book of Magic, Practical Magic 2 sees Sally Owens burying her identity as a witch following the death of her husband Gary while asking her sister Gillian to promise to never reveal their true lineage to her daughters Kylie and Antonia. But when Kylie (Joey King), now grown-up, sees her boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) suffer an accident and discovers her dark powers, the Owens sisters are forced to confront the truth and uncover family secrets to save her.
With a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, and Kelly Marcel, the sequel sees the continuation of the Owens sisters’ curse, where anyone they fall in love with dies. After the loss of two husbands, maternal self-preservation causes Sally to bury her heritage to not only protect herself but her daughters from heartache. However, audiences familiar with the first film will see this as déjà vu. Sally’s reluctance to embrace magic causes tension within her family, particularly as their local community knows that the Owens are witches.
However, the more spirited Gillian has embraced her powers and is more aware of her supernatural surroundings, even when Sally is in denial. But after experiencing first-hand the emotional turmoil of tampering with the curse, Gillian recognises the consequences of suppressing or manipulating their magic while Sally is emotionally motivated by fear. As the pair assume cliché yin and yang personalities, it doesn’t take long for them to unsurprisingly put their differences aside to focus on one common goal—saving Kylie.
During a tense family scene, the aunts say ‘no magic is stronger than sisterhood’. It is a message that underlines many witch/coven-based media before them (Sabrina: The Teenage Witch, Charmed, Hocus Pocus) and Practical Magic 2 is no exception. The film tests the bonds between Gillian and Sally, as well as those between their aunts Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest), and Gillian’s daughters Kylie and Antonia (Maisie Williams). Each pair faces their own conflicts over how to navigate magic and love, but they ultimately have each other’s backs as they are bonded by blood.
Buoyed by the cast’s charming performances, the natural camaraderie among the multi-generational Owens sisters creates an endearing chemistry. Bier incorporates an intimate direction that reinforces the closeness of the Owens, whether they are sharing deep conversations at bedtime or exchanging sibling-like banter over pie and Cool Whip. In contrast, the male characters, notably rugged academic Ian Wright (Lee Pace) and groundskeeper Thomas (Solly McLeod) suffer from poor dialogue and predictable development, restricting them to token supporting characters.
Although the Owens sisterhood is the beating heart of this sequel, the plot structurally unravels as the story progresses. As soon as Kylie suffers inevitable heartache and is faced with the desperate need to save her boyfriend, the film treads a familiar path of finding oneself and reasserting the family legacy. More importantly, the screenwriters fail to incorporate something new, despite the vast possibilities of the supernatural. Most notably, Kylie and Antonia’s relationship is given far less prominence than that of Sally and Gillian, leaving the latest generation of Owens sisters in the dark. With the biggest narrative opportunity wasted, especially for younger, newer audiences, Practical Magic 2’s potential is ultimately overwhelmed by the curse of the Owens sisters, creating an uneventful and unnecessary sequel.
In the latest of 2026’s legacy sequels, Practical Magic 2 suffers from a predictable and overly familiar narrative that not even the charm of Bullock and Kidman can overcome.
Practical Magic 2 is out in cinemas on 11 September.
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Director: Susanne Bier; Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, Kelly Marcel
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Maisie Williams, Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest, Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña, Sonny McLeod
Runtime: 130 minutes
Country: USA
