Practical Magic 2 review: is it worth watching
The Owens witches return after 28 years—but does the sequel live up to the original's magic?
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Practical Magic 2 reunites Sandra Bullock, Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing as the Owens family witches 28 years after the original. Director Susanne Bier takes over from Griffin Dunne, working from a script by Akiva Goldsman and Georgia Pritchett based on Alice Hoffman's novels. It runs 110 minutes, hit theaters September 10, 2026, and earned a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics say it trades the first film's warmth and sisterhood for a forced, overstuffed plot that never finds its footing, and fans who loved the original are walking out disappointed.
What the movie is about
The sequel picks up decades after Sally and Gillian Owens broke the family curse. The aunts are still dispensing herbal remedies and advice from the old house, but a new supernatural threat pulls the family back into danger. Reports say the script tries to cram in too many new characters, subplots and stakes without the focus or humor that made the first one work. It's a comedy-drama-fantasy that wants to be all three and ends up being none of them well, leaning on callbacks to the original's midnight margaritas and 90s movie atmosphere without building something that stands on its own.
What critics and audiences say
The 37% on Rotten Tomatoes tells the story: critics call it a lifeless retread that mistakes callbacks for character and nostalgia for a plot. Reviews say Bullock, Wiest and Channing show up and do what they can, but the script gives them nothing to work with, and Bier's direction lacks the lightness and sisterly chemistry Dunne captured in the first film. The original became a cult favorite for its focus on the Owens sisters' bond and cozy witchcraft vibe; this one feels like a studio obligation, not a story anyone needed to tell. There's no verified IMDb user score or audience rating available yet, but early word from fans who saw it in theaters is that it's a pale imitation.
What works and what does not
What works: the three leads still have presence, and the production design brings back the old house and the autumnal New England look fans remember. What does not work: everything else. The script is overstuffed and undercooked, the new characters are flat, the jokes land with a thud, and the plot feels like it was assembled from a checklist instead of a real story. Reviews say the first Practical Magic worked because it was about two sisters, a curse, and the small-town magic that came with being an Owens woman; this one tries to be bigger and broader and loses the intimacy and charm that made the original worth loving.
Who it is for
Die-hard fans of the 1998 movie who need to see what happened to Sally, Gillian and the aunts might get a kick out of the reunion, but even they are likely to walk away wishing it had been left alone. If you loved the original for its sisterhood and witchy small-town vibe, this one does not deliver. It is not for casual viewers, and it is not for anyone hoping for the same magic that made the first film a favorite. Skip it and track down the original instead.
Where to watch it
Practical Magic 2 is in theaters now. If you want something that actually captures the spirit fans loved, look for the 1998 original on disc or streaming.
Parents' guide
Rated PG-13 · Best for 13+. Practical Magic 2 contains mild supernatural violence, some magical peril, and occasional language. There is no sexual content, nudity, or drug use beyond the original film's witchcraft themes. The movie is family-friendly in terms of content, though parents should know it's a fantasy film with magic and curses as plot elements.
Woke or not?
Not woke. No woke messaging is reported in reviews or consensus. The film is criticized for being a poorly executed sequel that relies on nostalgia and callbacks, not for pushing any ideological agenda.
Quick answers
Is Practical Magic 2 worth watching?
No. Critics gave it a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, and reviews say it lacks the charm, humor and sisterly chemistry that made the first movie a cult favorite.
Do Sandra Bullock and the original cast return?
Sandra Bullock, Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing all return for the sequel.
Is it better than the first Practical Magic?
No. Reviews call it a pale imitation that mistakes nostalgia for a story and never recaptures what made the original work.
Where can I watch Practical Magic 2?
It is in theaters now.
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