Nearly 30 years later, the Owens sisters are back for “Practical Magic 2.” A sequel to the 1998 cult favorite, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have reunited for some cinematic witchy goodness. Warner Bros. was hoping it could turn a ’90s box office flop into a hit sequel here. So, how’d it go? After opening weekend, it’s still too close to call, but there’s certainly much to discuss.
Directed by Susanne Bier, “Practical Magic 2” opened to $30 million domestically. That was below pre-release estimates, which were pretty bullish and were much closer to the $40 million range, if not higher. The sequel also added $16 million internationally, giving it a $46 million global start. Against a reported $75 million production budget, that’s a so-so result. But there’s potential upside in the coming weeks.
For one, Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” reboot is poised for a franchise record box office opening, potentially in the $45 million range. That’s the big release this upcoming weekend, but it’s firmly going for a very different audience. That means WB’s “Practical Magic” follow-up could still work as counterprogramming for female audiences not just this weekend but, honestly, all the way through Halloween in a best-case scenario.
Critics weren’t terribly kind to this sequel
Critics weren’t terribly kind to this sequel. It holds a 39% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with /Film’s Witney Seibold calling “Practical Magic 2” both “unfunny” and “sloppily assembled” in his review. Audiences, however, disagree. It carries a 92% audience rating and a B+ CinemaScore. Those marks suggest that the movie is working for the intended audience. If it doesn’t fall off a cliff in weekend two and beyond, it could still work out.
Practical Magic 2 may go down as a win, but Practical Magic 3 feels unlikely
Warner Bros.
“Practical Magic 2” follows the Owens sisters as they confront the dark curse that threatens to unravel their family once and for all. Joey King (“The Kissing Booth”), Maisie Williams (“Game of Thrones”), and Lee Pace (“Bodies Bodies Bodies”) also star.
1998’s “Practical Magic” made just $68.3 million worldwide on a reported $60 million budget. It later became a cult favorite, so much so that Warner Bros. rolled the dice on a similarly pricey sequel all these years later. The studio is likely banking on a sizable chunk of the audience coming through VOD and HBO Max, so it’s entirely possible that this was green lit with the understanding that it wouldn’t outright profit in theaters. To that end, a “Practical Magic” sequel series was in the works at HBO Max at one point.
To become an outright theatrical hit, Practical Magic
To become an outright theatrical hit, “Practical Magic 2” needs to make over/under $190 million worldwide. That’s a tall order. Around $150 million worldwide with a good showing on VOD/streaming could be a qualified win. The thing is, these women-focused movies can perform very well. “It Ends With Us” ($50 million opening/$351 million worldwide) is a damn fine example.
Now, let’s circle back to the question at hand. What does this mean for the franchise overall? The sequel may do what WB needs it to do. The jury is still out. But even if it does, “Practical Magic 3” or any further continuation seems wildly unlikely. This isn’t like “The Devil Wears Prada 2” securing a potential future for that franchise with $693 million worldwide. That was a home run. This is looking more like a single, maybe a double at best.
“Practical Magic 2” is in theaters now.
