‘Practical Magic’ is a Spellbinding Classic That Only Gets Better With Age

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with magic. Nothing has ever felt more desirable than waving my hands and making something impressive happen. I collected large volumes that did most of the heavy lifting in my early make-believe games, desperate for something exceptional to happen as I shook a stick from my yard like the most important wand in the world. But eventually, I grew up and powers never came. No letter arrived on my doorstep to usher me into another world of sorcery and spells. Still, the search for magic never stops, and it keeps bringing me back to Practical Magic.

There’s something comforting about the beloved supernatural romance starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, even if it tackles some pretty heavy topics. Loss, love, and everything in between, but at its core, it’s a message about family and the bonds of sisterhood between these two sisters. Their magic isn’t their only bond, though it’s a strong one; familial love is what keeps this 1998 film from losing an ounce of its magic. But isn’t that always the worry when returning to a favorite film: that it might not shine quite as brilliantly as it once did?

And yet, with the arrival of Practical Magic 2, it was time to revisit magic, love, and magical love, with director Griffin Dunne at the helm and Alice Hoffman’s literary masterpiece as its source. While the film itself isn’t perfect, it’s the message at the heart of it and the delivery of the story from some of the greatest actresses of our time that continue to make Practical Magic not just the right film for Halloween, but for any time you need a bit of a pick-me-up…and perhaps a margarita.

[Warning: spoilers from Practical Magic are below!]

Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) Owens are more than just sisters; they’re best friends. Like any sisters in real life, the Owen girls are polar opposites, but they are fiercely loyal to one another. Where Gillian is wild and flighty, Sally is guarded and grounded. They balance each other out, which is especially important when you’re born into a magical family.

That’s right: Sally and Gillian come from a long line of witches with extraordinary powers, but also burdened by a great curse. Any man who falls in love with an Owens woman is doomed to an untimely death. It’s a cold, hard fact these sisters live with, one shared by all the women in their lineage, and it shapes how Sally and Gillian live their lives. While one sister runs around loving many men, without actual attachment, the other has decided to push away the idea of love after losing her husband in a tragic accident.

Sally craves an ordinary life, wanting nothing more than to live with her two children without magic, feeling that the cost isn’t worth it. She desperately wants to escape her family’s reputation, rejecting a part of herself that every other Owen’s girl has embraced. Gillian, on the other hand, has fully embraced her magical heritage with reckless enthusiasm, living impulsively and chasing adventure wherever it might lead.

While Gillian traverses the world, Sally settles into small-town life, as far from magic as she can get. But when danger follows Gillian, Sally must once again step into a world of curses and spells to protect what she loves most. Can she save her sister, her daughters, and possibly break generations of bad luck in love?

So what makes Practical Magic work so well? I’m sure it’s something different for everyone. For my sister and mom, I know for a fact it’s the message of sisterhood and family that keeps them coming back to the film. For me, though, the movie’s incredible performances by its two leads make it special.

Sandra Bullock will always be one of my absolute favorite actresses, and I’ll watch her in just about anything. She brings authenticity to every role she steps into, whether she’s a criminal, a football mother, or even a witch. Sally has a trademark warmth and relatability that makes her feel like someone you know from the moment you see her. She could be a friend, a sister, someone who has been with you your entire life. Bullock feels effortless in the role, grounding Practical Magic’s fantastic circumstances and keeping emotion at the forefront. As you watch Sally navigate grief, motherhood, and perhaps healing enough to let love back into her life, Bullock infuses her with vulnerability and becomes the film’s emotional foundation.

Nicole Kidman, on the other hand, is an absolute delight as Gillian, radiating charisma, mischief, and a free-spirited energy that makes her impossible to ignore. Beneath that playful exterior, however, is a woman whose impulsiveness often conceals deeper insecurities and an equally powerful need for love and acceptance. Kidman navigates those layers beautifully, ensuring that Gillian never becomes merely the irresponsible sister to Sally’s sensible counterpart. She’s the air to Sally’s Earth, proving that one cannot exist without the other.

Together, the actresses create a wonderfully lived-in dynamic. Their chemistry is so natural that it’s easy to believe these women have spent their entire lives loving, irritating, and rescuing one another. While the film features its share of romantic entanglements, Sally and Gillian’s relationship is unquestionably its greatest love story.

Practical Magic has aged so gracefully because it embraces the darker realities lurking beneath its whimsical exterior. While the film offers plenty of humor and romantic fantasy, which may be part of why it has stayed with so many for so long, it also confronts grief, abusive relationships, loneliness, and the devastating consequences of choices made out of desperation. Gillian’s relationship with Jimmy Angelov introduces a genuinely disturbing element. His increasingly dangerous behavior forces the sisters into a situation that quickly spirals out of control, turning the film into something that feels like a supernatural thriller.

This shift from lighthearted, cozy magic to the darker reality of life and love might seem odd to some; perhaps it’s more emotionally ambitious than it gets credit for. Life rarely separates joy, heartbreak, fear, and humor into convenient categories, and Practical Magic reflects that unpredictability with surprising honesty. The film’s darker moments also deepen its celebration of female solidarity. When Sally and Gillian confront forces they cannot overcome alone, their greatest strength comes not simply from their magic but from the women willing to stand beside them. This message feels especially satisfying as the story progresses, transforming the Owens family’s long history of isolation and suspicion into something far more hopeful.

While the supernatural elements provide plenty of entertainment, the film’s most powerful moments often have little to do with spells or curses. They appear in the quiet exchanges between sisters, the welcoming presence of family, and the realization that love doesn’t require surrendering your independence or identity.

Practical Magic is the cinematic equivalent of coming home after a long day and spending time with an old friend that perhaps you haven’t seen in a long time. It’s warm, funny, romantic, occasionally spooky, and overflowing with an unmistakable personality that’s only become more appealing over time. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are absolutely enchanting, delivering performances that make the Owens sisters one of cinema’s most memorable sibling pairings. But what truly elevates the film is its understanding that the magic isn’t just found in spells or potions, but it’s in the people who stand beside us when everything falls apart, the courage to embrace who we really are, and the belief that love can still surprise us when we least expect it.

Nearly three decades after its release, Practical Magic remains a beautifully eccentric, endlessly charming reminder of why we fall in love with movies in the first place. Some films lose their sparkle over time. Others become more meaningful with every viewing. Practical Magic hasn’t simply stood the test of time. It’s become even more enchanting because of it.

Practical Magic is streaming on HBO Max! When did you last revisit this classic? Did the film still hold up for you as it did for us? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to keep the conversation going!

Mutiny Brings Blood, Boats, and Plenty of Statham