Sandra Bullock recalls 'Practical Magic' bombing at the Box Office: 'And then it got quiet'

'Practical Magic 2' arrives in cinemas on September 18, 2026, 28 years after the original

Sandra Bullock is looking back on the disappointing theatrical run of Practical Magic nearly three decades after the fantasy comedy first hit cinemas, admitting that she and co-star Nicole Kidman expected audiences to immediately embrace the film.

The actresses are now preparing to return as witch sisters Sally and Gillian Owens in Practical Magic 2, but Bullock remembers a very different reaction when the original film was released in 1998.

Speaking about the movie's initial reception, Bullock recalled being convinced that audiences were going to love it. Instead, the film struggled at the box office and failed to make the impact she and Kidman had anticipated.

“I remember thinking, ‘People are going to love this movie,’” Bullock said. “And then it got quiet.”

Practical Magic, directed by Griffin Dunne and based on Alice Hoffman's 1995 novel, starred Bullock and Kidman as sisters born into a long line of witches. Sally and Gillian are forced to confront a family curse that threatens the men they fall in love with, while also navigating their complicated relationship with one another.

The film was not a major theatrical success when it opened, but its fortunes changed considerably after its cinema run. Over the years, Practical Magic developed a passionate following through home entertainment and television, eventually becoming a cult favourite.

That lasting affection is a major reason Bullock and Kidman are returning to their roles for Practical Magic 2. The sequel arrives in cinemas on September 18, 2026, 28 years after the original.

The actresses have remained close in the years since the first film, and Kidman has previously described Bullock as someone she feels deeply connected to. “We're like sisters,” Kidman told Variety earlier this year, describing the pair's relationship and their chemistry both on and off screen.

Practical Magic 2 is directed by Susanne Bier from a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote the original, and Georgia Pritchett. Bullock and Kidman are also producing alongside Denise Di Novi, who produced the first film.

The sequel brings back more familiar faces, including Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the eccentric Owens aunts, Frances and Jet. The new cast includes Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, Solly McLeod and Joey King.

Now, after years of fans refusing to let go of the original, Bullock and Kidman are getting the opportunity to return to the world of Practical Magic. And this time, they already know exactly how much audiences love the Owens sisters.