PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 (2026)

Director: Susanne Bier
Writers: Based on The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Xolo Maridueña, Maisie Williams, Lee Pace, Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest
Genre: Fantasy | Drama | Romance
Runtime: 2h 7min
Release Date: September 18, 2026
Rating: PG-13

🧹 Introduction

Nearly three decades after Practical Magic first charmed audiences in 1998, the Owens family returns in Practical Magic 2, a soulful, spellbinding sequel that honors its cult-classic roots while conjuring a fresh, emotional story for a new generation. With Susanne Bier (The Night Manager, Bird Box) at the helm and Alice Hoffman’s rich source material guiding the script, the film strikes a powerful balance between magic, family, and fate.

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman slip seamlessly back into their roles as Sally and Gillian Owens, their chemistry as luminous as ever. But this time, they’re not just battling curses — they’re facing legacy, lineage, and love across generations.

🌑 Plot Summary (Spoiler-free)

When the centuries-old Owens curse begins to resurface in troubling ways, Sally and Gillian are forced to return to the ancestral home in Massachusetts. But the magic they once feared now lies in the hands of the younger generation — including Sally’s fiercely independent daughter (Joey King) and a gifted newcomer (Xolo Maridueña) whose past may hold secrets of its own.

As old wounds reopen and new powers emerge, the family must decide whether breaking the curse will cost more than they’re willing to sacrifice.

🎭 Performances

Sandra Bullock delivers a grounded, emotionally resonant performance as Sally — older, wiser, and more protective than ever. Nicole Kidman is radiant as the ever-wild Gillian, bringing vulnerability beneath her charm. Their dynamic remains the film’s emotional anchor.

Joey King is a standout as Sally’s daughter, injecting the sequel with youthful urgency and heart. Xolo Maridueña brings charisma and depth to a role that could’ve easily been cliché. Maisie Williams adds grit and mystery, while Lee Pace lends gravitas and warmth in a key supporting role.

Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest return as Aunt Franny and Aunt Jet with delightful mischief — a nostalgic nod that doesn’t feel forced.

🎥 Direction & Visuals

Susanne Bier brings a more mature, moody aesthetic than the whimsical tone of the original, using natural light, candlelit interiors, and evocative New England backdrops to great effect. The visual storytelling leans into gothic romanticism — think windswept coastlines, enchanted attics, and spell circles drawn under moonlight.

Cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen (Fences, A Quiet Place) crafts lush, painterly images, and the special effects remain subtle and tactile, grounding the magic in realism rather than spectacle.

🎵 Music & Sound

The score, composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, is haunting and lyrical, weaving classical strings with ethereal tones that echo through every emotional beat. Stevie Nicks makes a welcome return to the soundtrack with a new original song, giving fans chills and closure all at once.

Sound design is layered and immersive — whispers of incantations, creaking wood, flickering flames — reinforcing the magical realism at the heart of the Owens world.

✍️ Screenplay & Themes

The screenplay blends lyrical dialogue with dry wit and grounded emotional stakes. The script deepens the mythology without overexplaining, respecting both longtime fans and newcomers. Themes of inherited trauma, matrilineal power, and the enduring complexities of sisterhood are explored with nuance and heart.

The notion of magic as both gift and burden is central, and the film wisely doesn’t offer easy answers. Love, loss, sacrifice — it’s all here, wrapped in hemlock and moonlight.

👎 Weaknesses

While the film’s slower, more introspective tone elevates the emotional stakes, some may miss the lighter, more playful energy of the original. A few plot threads — particularly involving side characters — feel underdeveloped or rushed in the third act. And while the new generation is compelling, they occasionally feel overshadowed by the returning cast.

✅ Final Verdict

Practical Magic 2 is a rare kind of sequel — one that grows with its audience. It’s not just about magic spells and family curses; it’s about the power of memory, the resilience of women, and the legacy we choose to leave behind.

It doesn’t try to replicate the original’s quirky charm — instead, it matures it, offering a deeper, more poetic meditation on love and lineage. Whether you’re a diehard fan of the first film or stepping into the Owens world for the first time, this is a story that casts a lasting spell.

Rating: 8.7/10
A graceful, gorgeously acted return to a world where love is the most dangerous magic of all.