Is ‘Practical Magic 2’ worth watching or is nostalgia doing all the magic? Sequel struggles to recapture original charm

The sequel reunites beloved cast members but struggles with an overlong story and uneven new characters

Nearly three decades after Practical Magic first arrived in cinemas, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are back as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens in Practical Magic 2. The original 1998 film was not a major success when it was released, but its reputation changed over the years as audiences embraced its unusual combination of witchcraft, romance, comedy and sisterhood. That cult following ultimately helped bring the Owens family back to the screen.

The big question now is whether nostalgia is enough to make the sequel worth watching.

Directed by Susanne Bier, Practical Magic 2 brings back Bullock and Kidman alongside Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing. Joey King and Maisie Williams join the story as Sally’s daughters, Kylie and Antonia, while Lee Pace also appears as a warlock who becomes connected to Sally. The film continues the story of the Owens family and its long running romantic curse, with the women once again attempting to find a way to break it.

The premise gives the sequel a useful reason to exist rather than simply bringing the characters together for another collection of nostalgic moments. Kylie becomes connected to the same curse that has haunted the family, prompting Sally and Gillian to confront their history and travel beyond their Massachusetts home. Much of the story eventually moves to England, where the family searches for answers.

There is plenty here for audiences who loved the first film. Bullock and Kidman still have the sisterly chemistry that made Sally and Gillian memorable, and their return carries genuine emotional weight. Their relationship remains central to the film, while the presence of the original great aunts adds another layer of familiarity. Bullock and Kidman also serve as producers, giving them greater creative involvement in the continuation of the story.

However, the reunion does not automatically make the sequel successful. Early reviews have been mixed, with several critics praising the leads while questioning the screenplay, pacing and amount of nostalgia. Entertainment Weekly noted criticism surrounding the film’s lengthy runtime, rushed storytelling and underdeveloped characters, particularly Williams’ role.

That criticism matters because Practical Magic 2 is clearly designed around audience affection for the original. The film knows viewers are returning for Bullock, Kidman, the Owens family and the familiar magical world. Yet when the story itself becomes less compelling, those references can begin to feel like reminders of why the first film was beloved rather than reasons to embrace the sequel.

Other reviews have been kinder. The Guardian highlighted the enduring chemistry between Bullock and Kidman and the film’s emphasis on female solidarity, while Time Out gave the sequel three out of five stars and recognised the appeal of revisiting the Owens family after so many years.

That makes Practical Magic 2 difficult to dismiss completely. It is not necessarily the disaster that some early reactions suggest, but it also does not appear to deliver the effortless charm that helped the original become a cult favourite.

The film is now playing in cinemas, with Warner Bros releasing it internationally from September 9 and in North American cinemas from September 10.