The romantic fantasy comedy Practical Magic 2 premieres in Ukrainian cinemas on September 10, 2026, bringing lead actresses Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back to the screen in the sequel to their 1998 film.
Directed by Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier, the project follows its world premiere in London in late August 2026 and initial reviews from film critics ahead of its theatrical debut.
History of the Owens family curse
The original Practical Magic film, directed by actor Griffin Dunne as his second feature directorial effort, premiered in theaters in October 1998. The screenplay adapted the 1995 novel of the same name by American author Alice Hoffman, following the Owens family in a small Massachusetts town where all women in the lineage are witches. Isolated from local residents for generations, the family faced continuous mockery while offering aid to neighbors in need.
The Owens women lived under a generational curse causing any man who fell in love with them to suffer an early and tragic death. Elder sister Sally vowed never to fall in love to protect others, though she eventually buried one husband and found a second partner. Younger sister Gillian chose a carefree life devoid of romantic commitment, with neither sister actively seeking a method to break the curse.
The 1998 release coincided with a surge in media focused on young witches living in contemporary society, including television series such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Despite a star-studded cast and a budget ranging between $60 million and $75 million, the original movie struggled at the box office, grossing $95 million worldwide. Critical reviews were initially harsh, though the film later built a dedicated audience and achieved cult status.
Warner Bros. Pictures announced the sequel in the summer of 2024, securing the return of Bullock, known for her roles in Speed, Miss Congeniality, The Proposal, The Blind Side, Bird Box, Gravity, and Ocean's 8, alongside Kidman, whose screen credits include Eyes Wide Shut, Moulin Rouge!, Dogville, Babygirl, Big Little Lies, and The Perfect Couple.
Return of original stars and creative team
Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier, known for In a Better World, Bird Box, The Night Manager, and The Perfect Couple, directed the sequel. Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman returned to script the new installment after co-writing the 1998 original film.
Plot details for the fantasy sequel
The narrative of Practical Magic 2 takes place more than 20 years after the conclusion of the first film. Gillian continues to travel the world without forming long-term relationships with men, while Sally has secluded herself following the death of her second husband. Sally's daughters from her first marriage, Kylie and Antonia, who were young children in the original movie, are now adults living lives devoid of magic, as Sally deliberately withheld information about their family heritage.
The situation changes when Kylie falls in love with her boyfriend, Gideon. When Gideon faces a mortal threat, Kylie discovers her innate magical abilities and embarks on a dangerous path, leaving Sally and Gillian limited time to intervene and attempt to break the family curse.
Recasting and additions to the ensemble
Bullock and Kidman lead the production with strong on-screen sisterly chemistry. Actresses Dianne Wiest, known for The Purple Rose of Cairo, Edward Scissorhands, Bullets over Broadway, and I Care a Lot, and Stockard Channing, known for Grease, The First Wives Club, and Where the Heart Is, reprise their original roles as Aunt Jet and Aunt Frances.
The sequel recasts Sally's daughters, hiring Joey King, known for Bullet Train and The Kissing Booth, as Kylie, and Maisie Williams, known for The New Mutants, Game of Thrones, and Pistol, as Antonia. They replace Alexandra Artrip and Evan Rachel Wood from the 1998 cast. Artrip departed from acting after the original film, whereas Wood built a career with roles in The Wrestler, The Ides of March, True Blood, and Westworld. Both Wood and Artrip stated in recent interviews that producers did not offer them the opportunity to return for the sequel.
Actor Lee Pace, known for Guardians of the Galaxy, Bodies Bodies Bodies, The Running Man, The Hobbit franchise, and Foundation, joins the cast as Dr. Ian Wright, a medical doctor who studies magic and has acquired basic magical skills. Wright assists the Owens sisters in searching for Kylie while developing a bond with Sally, despite keeping personal secrets. Xolo Maridueña, known for Blue Beetle and Cobra Kai, plays Kylie's boyfriend Gideon, while Solly McLeod, known for Jericho Ridge, portrays Tom Lockland.
Critical reception and review verdict
Following its London premiere in late August 2026, critics published initial reviews early in the release week. Practical Magic 2 holds a 34 percent approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing the initial critical rating of the original film. On Metacritic, the film received a score of 45 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews.
By comparison, the 1998 original earned a 30 percent critics score and a 73 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a 48 out of 100 critics score and a 6.9 out of 10 audience score on Metacritic. The review noted that moviegoers often respond more favorably to the franchise than professional reviewers.
In its review, UNIAN reported that Practical Magic 2 maintains the style of the 1998 original, combining charismatic lead performances with noticeable narrative drawbacks. The review noted that the film spends its initial half-hour attempting to resolve plot points left open by the original, resulting in a dragged-out introductory sequence that requires viewers to remember the original movie to catch every narrative reference.
The review also described the production as overly sweet and polished in certain scenes, while recommending it as an autumn release for groups of viewers enjoying Margarita cocktails, stylish costuming, and Pace's performance. UNIAN awarded Practical Magic 2 an overall score of 5.5 out of 10 points.
