The Wasteland Reviewer

Practical Magic 2 (2026) Written Review

Are we ready to dive back into the lives of the Owens’ sisters of witches? Practical Magic is a witchy film for the Halloween season that has certainly found its own cult following since the 90s. The original film is not one that received a lot of critical praise upon its initial release but has at least found a fervent following since. But who would have expected a sequel almost 30 years later, but it certainly is here. Director Susanne Bier has taken the reins with Practical Magic 2 with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back at the front. But Bullock’s Sally has shunned magic for herself and her daughters (Joey King and Maisie Williams) which open the door for a fun yet dark adventure.

How does Bier approach this sequel? One of the shaky elements of the first film is the tone and it continues to be an issue here. When the film focuses on the family elements, there is whimsy, charm, and warmth. The final 10 minutes or so is a wonderful distillation of this atmosphere and it is endlessly charming. But the film does struggle with some melodrama when sadness is injected into the equation. What is even harder to swallow is the dark turn the film takes, getting into the main conflict and the climax. Jarring and unsettling, this sequence of the film just feels strange. There is a budding romance in the film (between Bullock and Lee Pace) that feels like one of the best parts of the film because it is seductive, sexy, and fun. Visually, there is a nice feeling of warmth and nostalgia, but it does still feel too much like many studio films today. A lack of visual identity and too much of an over lit sheen takes away from the warmth that Bier is trying to achieve. The music by composer Rupert Gregson-Williams and some well-placed needle drops gives the film plenty of personality. Pacing-wise, the film also struggles as not all elements of the film are equally engaging. The runtime is also cumbersome with Practical Magic 2 not earning 130-minutes.

Does the screenplay by its four writers deliver a worthwhile experience? The inconsistency of the film’s elements makes this feel like such a middling experience. The elements that work most focus on the returning cast. The natural and charming banter and relationship between Sally and Gillian is where the film thrives. Their dialogue pops and keeps the audience engaged. Sally’s arc of slowly re-accepting her magic is an endearing one and quite satisfying as she became quite the formidable force. The presence of Pace’s Ian Wright (a witch who once dabbled in darkness) is a welcomed one as his budding romance with Sally feels enticing and engaging. The way the film utilizes Jet and Franny (the elder matriarchs of the Owens family) is welcome and meaningful. Where the film falters is the inclusion of Sally’s daughters. Whenever the film cuts to them, the pacing screeches to a halt. Neither of them is fleshed out too well and they just don’t have the charm of their mother or aunt. Joey King’s Kylie gets a bigger spotlight when her boyfriend is on the brink of death. Her adventure takes a dark turn and becomes the main conflict of the film. The antagonist of the film never gets enough to do or flesh out but the idea behind their motivations is interesting enough. Connecting back to Sally’s choice to avoid magic makes this feel more thematically linked and centers on the familial focus of the franchise.

What is the biggest shining light of this film (and the first film)? The cast really makes this film work as well as it does. The runtime might feel long but certain members of the cast truly light up the screen. Bullock is a strong presence who brings warmth and care. She also finds humor to slide in a subtle and charming way. Kidman’s presence in the film is bigger. Her acting choices are bigger. She honestly feels like the life of the party. The chemistry between Bullock and Kidman really makes the experience. The same goes for Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing who each bring a unique vibe to the film. Wiest might not be in the film much, but she delivers a charming turn with some good character work. Channing’s performance might be a little bit tougher, but she is equally engaging. King gets a few moments to shine but Maisie Williams all but wasted (leaving the daughters feeling a lot less interesting). Lee Pace delivers the most fun supporting turn with his seductive, magnetic, and sly demeanor. This two-plus hour film would be close to insurmountable without this strong ensemble.

Was Practical Magic 2 worth the wait? The first film found an audience and those same viewers will probably have a good time with this bloated sequel. Bullock and Kidman are worth the price of admission (and Pace adds on). This sequel just tries to do too much and not enough to build up the next generation. A legacy sequel set up doesn’t work for this one but the direct elements with the original characters are a good bit of fun.