Practical Magic 2 opens in cinemas on 10 September, bringing Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back as the magical Owens sisters in a sequel that mixes fresh faces with a heavy dose of nostalgia. Directed by Susanne Bier and adapted from Alice Hoffman’s novels, the follow-up is a glossy, at times charming continuation of the 1998 cult favourite — yet it repeatedly teeters between improvement and repetition.
What the film offers
The sequel expands the Owens universe across generations. New arrivals Joey King and Maisie Williams play Sally’s daughters, Kylie and Antonia, and their younger energy helps brighten parts of the story. The ensemble also features Xolo Maridueña, Solly McLeod, Lee Pace and Dianne Wiest, whose presence underlines the picture’s intent to balance legacy characters with fresh blood.
At its heart, the film revisits the Owens family curse — the long-standing conceit that men who fall for an Owens woman meet an untimely fate. That thread kicks the plot into gear when Sally is forced to bury a second husband, prompting her to reject magic and make her children forget their witch heritage. Years later the family reunites for a birthday, but tragedy soon returns: Kylie’s boyfriend, Gideon, is struck by a car and falls into a coma. Kylie then digs into her family’s secrets, travelling to England, where she meets Tom and uncovers new strands of the Owens’ past. Sally and Gillian enlist the help of an enigmatic academic, Ian, who becomes a romantic interest for Sally.
Strengths and shortcomings
- Star power: Bullock and Kidman remain magnetic together; their chemistry is a core asset.
- Fresh faces: King and Williams inject youthful verve, giving the sequel room to breathe.
- Tonal unevenness: The film cycles through romance, family drama and supernatural mystique, but transitions sometimes feel clumsy.
- Familiar beats: Much of the narrative echoes the original, which may delight devoted fans but frustrate viewers seeking a bolder new direction.
Overall, the reviewer awards the film two-and-a-half stars out of four and gives it a PG-13 rating. That middling score captures the movie’s main problem: it is often entertaining, yet too content to replay comfortable formulas rather than push into unexpected territory.
How it will land with audiences
For those who loved the 1998 original, the sequel delivers enough callbacks, warmth and performances to feel like a reunion — a comforting, sometimes spirited return to a familiar world. Casual viewers or newcomers, though, may find the story’s repeated motifs and predictable third act lessen the emotional stakes.
| Key credits | Names |
|---|---|
| Director | Susanne Bier |
| Source material | Alice Hoffman’s books |
| Principal cast | Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, Solly McLeod, Lee Pace, Dianne Wiest |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Release | 10 September (theatrical) |
Susanne Bier’s direction often brings a polished sheen and competent handling of ensemble scenes, but the film’s tonal shifts — swinging from light-hearted romantic beats to darker, curse-driven stakes — sometimes feel undercooked. Performances are generally strong: the veterans ground the emotional core, while the younger cast members supply momentum and curiosity that occasionally lift the material beyond mere pastiche.
In short, this sequel is likely to charm the already converted and to leave others wishing for a bolder reimagining. It’s a safe bet for viewers craving a warm, star-studded return to the Owens household, but it stops short of reinventing the spell that made the original a midnight-movie favourite.
