The sequel to the 1998 film “Practical Magic,” starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, debuted at No. 1 in North American theaters this weekend but underperformed at the box office, earning $30 million.
Despite finishing first, “Practical Magic 2” disappointed with a $30 million debut from 4,146 North American theaters. Overseas, the Warner Bros. fantasy sequel collected $16 million from 77 markets, bringing its global weekend total to $46 million. When adjusted for inflation, the sequel’s domestic opening is similar to the original “Practical Magic,” which was considered a box office flop but later gained a cult following.
The original film launched with $13 million, which translates to roughly $27 million in today’s dollars. The sequel carries a $75 million price tag, not including marketing costs. Warner Bros. is hoping nostalgia and the star power of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman will boost sales in the coming weeks. The film received a dismal 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences gave it a “B+” grade on CinemaScore exit polls.
Initial audiences were primarily older women, indicating the film appealed to existing fans but failed to attract a younger demographic. Directed by Susanne Bier, “Practical Magic 2” picks up 25 years after the first film, with the daughters of Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman) uncovering family secrets and attempting to break a long-standing curse. Joey King and Maisie Williams join the cast, alongside returning actors Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing.
While “Practical Magic 2” is not a complete disaster for Warner Bros., it will likely struggle to break even, given that theater owners retain approximately 50% of ticket sales. The film’s performance extends a recent string of disappointments for the studio, including “The End of Oak Street,” “Supergirl,” and “The Bride!” This puts pressure on the upcoming Tom Cruise-led comedy “Digger,” which has a $130 million price tag. The film ended the six-weekend run of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and outperformed newcomers “Runner” and “The Uprising.” The weekend’s overall box office is down 43% compared to the same weekend in 2025, when “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” debuted with $70.6 million. “This is shaping up to be a solid, if somewhat subdued, early-fall weekend,” says P.
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