Product Info

Studio

Warner Bros. Pictures

Director

Susanne Bier

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Rated

PG-13

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Sep 10, 2026

Film Length

2hr 10min

Purchase From

Home » Practical Magic 2 (Review)

Practical Magic 2 is a surprisingly strong follow-up to the classic 1998 movie, expanding the Owens family story while bringing back the magic, humor, and sisterly chemistry that made the original a fan favorite.

A Little More Magic

© 2026 WARNER BROS. ENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The sequel follows the Owens family of witches as they continue to try to find a way to break a three-hundred-year-old curse that kills the people they love.

With the original made in 1998, the film shows three generations of Owens sisters. Two of the generations return to the sequel; Sally Owens is played by Sandra Bullock (Speed, Miss Congeniality), Gillian Owens is played by Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge!, To Die For), and their aunts are played by Stockard Channing (Grease, Six Degrees of Separation) and Dianne Wiest (Edward Scissorhands, The Birdcage). Instead of teaching the new generation of their experience of the curse and magic, the family raises Sally’s daughters to adulthood for a normal life, but leaving out the details of the curse can prove to be fatal. 

The new generation, as Sally’s daughters, Antonia, played by Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones, The New Mutants), and Kylie, played by Joey King (Despicable Me 4, Bullet Train), are in college and on successful paths for graduation and a normal life. When they both come home for one of their beloved aunt’s birthdays, a string of events unfolds, including Kylie’s boyfriend coming for a visit unexpectedly to everyone’s surprise… even Kylie. 

As with Owens family traditions, all the women share how love is dangerous and ends in death. Not knowing about the family curse or that they are witches, the youngest generation of women thinks it’s a joke until Kylie hears a chirping beetle and feels something horrible happen to her boyfriend from a distance, indicating he is going to die because of the curse. By saying these words, “I love you,” activates the curse, causing trouble to the man she loves, placing him into a coma after a horrible accident, and now Kylie knows the curse is real and will do anything to save him. This means that Kylie must end the curse in order for her boyfriend to survive. 

Kylie races against time to go across the world, where a spell book can break the curse. Her mother, Sally, and Aunt Gillian are close behind her, trying to find her while also attempting to unlock Sally’s magic, which has been mostly dormant and locked away for many years. Unlocking Sally’s magic is the key to helping save Antonia from the dark magic that she is unknowingly being pulled towards, which she has no ability to protect herself from because her mother blocked both her daughters’ magical powers.

Breaking the Curse

© 2026 WARNER BROS. ENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Practical Magic 2 is surprisingly better than the first film, which is a fan favorite. With the return of familiar faces like Stockard Channing, Diane Wiest, Sandra Bullock, and Nicole Kidman, who have had twenty-eight more years to develop their craft, the film successfully revives the chemistry between two generations of Owens sisters and surpasses it in every way possible. Their performances in capturing the essence of their characters are outstanding. The addition of new actors for the most recent generation, including Sally’s daughters, allowed Williams and King to bring a fresh chemistry to the screen that delighted filmgoers. The connection and love between each generation of sisters and then to the entire family is powerful.

The story itself doesn’t follow an easily predictable movie arc. The writers were able to throw off the most seasoned moviegoers to keep them engaged and hopeful for what would come next in the film. No spoilers or hints make for a more enjoyable experience. Throwing in a mix of humor and playfulness (you get to see Kidman pantsing Bullock like two big kids) will make you love these characters even more. 

That being said, there was a bit of a feeling of something missing in parts of the movie, and it’s likely because Antonia didn’t go with her mom and aunt to help her sister. She was tasked with watching over Kylie’s boyfriend, who is in a coma, along with her beloved Aunt Franny. The characters spend most of this section of the movie sitting around and throwing salt on Kylie’s boyfriend to keep him safe, but the scene felt less impactful than Kylie, her mom, and her aunt actively trying to break the curse and keep themselves safe. It feels like a missed opportunity to continue to show the sisterly connection by having them in the same place and actively working toward the same goal.

Instead, the sisters were across the world from each other in what is supposed to be Europe. There are not enough camera shots to create a sense of being in Europe. There are some great buildings they showed, but aside from a few outside shots, it felt like it was mostly indoors and didn’t capture the European countryside as well as they could have. However, the camera shot choices do not detract from the film, particularly given the exceptional cast.

The Final Spell

Practical Magic 2 is a great film that could have done more, but it successfully captures the essence of the original and far exceeds it with its characters. If you enjoyed the first film, this one is definitely worth seeking.

An early screening provided for this review. Practical Magic 2 arrives in theaters on September 10, 2026. Fans can visit the film’s official website for more information and showtimes.