‘Practical Magic 2’ Proves This Franchise Still Has Magic
I don’t know about everyone else, but I could use a little magic amidst the darkness we’re living through right now. Life is tough, and the only cure is a bit of nostalgia and a whole lot of escapism. I want to visit a world where the characters feel like family, and even when everything feels overwhelming, you know love (and magic) can conquer it all. Studios aren’t dumb; they know what audiences crave, and a series like Practical Magic gives them plenty of material to revisit. Which brings us to Practical Magic 2.
Now, don’t get me wrong: some movie sequels arrive decades later, desperately trying to recapture lightning in a bottle. They cash in on nostalgia but miss the heart or story that made the original work in the first place. But some return and prove the magic never really disappeared; it just needed a moment to be rediscovered. Practical Magic 2’s arrival proves the magic is still alive; it just needed more time to brew.
Practical Magic 2 brings the Owens sisters back into our lives, and their reunion is every bit as magical as I could have hoped. Directed by Susanne Bier and inspired by Alice Hoffman’s The Book of Magic, the sequel finds Sally and Gillian confronting a lingering family curse, this time with the next generation of Owens women caught in its supernatural grip. What follows is an enchanting mix of family drama, witchy mischief, romance, and the unapologetic sentimentality Hollywood rarely embraces in modern cinema.
[Warning: spoilers from Practical Magic 2 are below!]
A new generation, the same old curse
It’s been nearly three decades since the Owens sisters graced our screens, and yet life doesn’t seem much different. Sally (Sandra Bullock) still craves a small-town life, wishing more than anything to be human, while Gillian (Nicole Kidman) is still traversing the world looking for a good time. However, unlike the first film, these two sisters are more involved in each other’s lives, though neither can understand why the other lives the way they do.
Part of that conflict stems from Sally’s refusal to use her magic or share the knowledge with her daughters, Kylie (Joey King) and Antonia (Maisie Williams), but the main reason is that Sally’s heart has been broken once again. As it turns out, the curse they thought was broken is still very much alive. Any man that an Owens woman falls in love with is doomed to die, and it doesn’t seem like there’s any escaping it.
Sally wants nothing more than to live without the pain that the curse has caused her family so much pain, and because she can’t do anything about it, she’s going to ignore it as much as possible. However, the truth always comes to light, and when Kylie is confronted head-on with the curse and the discovery of magic, things begin to unravel. Kylie will stop at nothing to break the curse, even if it means walking down the dark side of magic.
Can Sally and Gillian work together and save Kylie from the forces at play? To do so, Sally finally has to embrace what she’s been running from her whole life. It’s never easy to confront trauma and fear; however, the power of sisterhood and the strength of a mother will carry this wish and her coven to the end, or they’ll die trying.
A sisterhood that never lost its magic
It’s impossible to say what I enjoyed more about Practical Magic 2: returning to the Owens’ world, or seeing Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock share the screen again. The story itself was incredibly enjoyable, balancing the magic with the heart that has always drawn audiences in. Yes, we want to see Sally and Gillian wave their hands and make something extraordinary happen, but we also crave the deep, meaningful connection these two sisters share throughout these two films.
Sally and Gillian are bonded through trauma, heartache, but most importantly, love. Their love goes far beyond what you might experience with some siblings. It’s protective, enduring, and never wavering. Part of the beauty of Practical Magic 2 is seeing how that love extends to Sally’s children and the entire Owens family. At times, it almost feels like Atonia and Kylie are as much Gillian’s daughters as they are Sally’s, and that feels incredibly intentional. It speaks to that familial bond and the lengths we’ll go to protect our own, which only deepens what it means to be part of a coven of witches.
Beyond the story in Practical Magic 2, seeing Bullock and Kidman reunite filled me with joy unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Their performances have the effortless familiarity of two people who know these characters inside and out, and their chemistry remains the film’s most irresistible ingredient. Bullock brings her signature warmth and grounded sincerity back to Sally, while Kidman slips back into Gillian’s more adventurous personality with infectious enthusiasm. Their contrasting temperaments create a wonderful balance, giving the film both its emotional foundation and some of its most entertaining moments.
Their reunion is especially satisfying because these women are no longer the same people we met in 1998. Life has happened, both the good and the bad. They’ve experienced love, loss, heartbreak, and everything in between. Rather than ignoring the passage of time, the sequel embraces it, letting these central characters carry the weight of their experiences while keeping the playful spirit that made them so endearing in the first place. It’s a welcome reminder that growing older doesn’t mean growing less interesting. In fact, Sally and Gillian are arguably more compelling now than ever.
A new generation bringing the same enchanting spirit
One of the film’s smartest decisions is expanding the Owens family without pushing its original stars into the background. Joey King and Maisie Williams bring fresh energy to a franchise built on the complicated relationships between generations of women, without feeling forced or messing with what was already there.
King and Williams add appealing depth to the ensemble, bringing a youthful perspective to the family’s extraordinary legacy. Their characters represent both the promise and the burden of inheriting something they never asked for, adding another dimension to the film’s exploration of identity, responsibility, and family expectations. Both actresses fit beautifully alongside Kidman, Sandra, and returning cast members Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing, giving Practical Magic 2 an even more lived-in world.
But don’t get me wrong: Sally and Gillian’s story is still at the center; without Kylie and Atonia, though, there wouldn’t be a Practical Magic 2. These relationships are essential to the film, with Kylie specifically serving as the catalyst for everything that happens. However, while the other stories swirl in chaos, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman remain at the center and serve as the true guiding force, as they should in a Practical Magic story.
While the supernatural complications give our protagonists plenty of narrative momentum, the real pleasure comes from watching these women interact. There is something immensely appealing about a film that recognizes the extraordinary power of ordinary family relationships, even when the family in question has some rather unusual abilities. Some of the best scenes are when these sisters sit around chatting. Arguing with one another. In these moments, Practical Magic 2 truly comes alive and elevates the film from simple nostalgia bait to something remarkable.
Practical Magic 2 is bewitching from beginning to end
The level of comfort I received from the moment I laid eyes on the Owen’s home was exactly the level of nostalgia I needed. It felt like reuniting with an old friend and picking up right where you left off. However, Practical Magic 2 used that nostalgia to foster something new for audiences. It wasn’t the same film as its predecessor. It didn’t try to retread well-worn tracks just because the creatives could. Instead, this film expands the lore, building a story that feels earned rather than forced.
Yes, it’s based on a book, which gives it an easier blueprint to follow. However, while Hoffman’s novel gives it a strong core, the true magic comes from the actors. No movie has ever made me cry as hard as this, thanks to Stockard Channing’s brilliant performance. The bond between Bullock, Kidman, and the new generation of actors is breathtaking. These relationships truly sell Practical Magic 2. So for those reasons alone, now’s the time to pour yourself a midnight margarita, gather your favorite people, and enjoy the magic. Some spells are simply too wonderful to break.
Practical Magic 2 is in theaters now! Are you excited to see this film? Will you be checking it out? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to keep the conversation going!
Practical Magic is a Spellbinding Classic That Only Gets Better With Age
