For fans of witchcraft, romance, and enduring cinematic sisterhood, few titles hold the cultural staying power of Practical Magic. Released in 1998 and starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as an unforgettable pair of sister witches, the film has cemented its legacy as one of the definitive Halloween and romantic classics of the late 20th century. For audiences weary of conventional slasher flicks or standard holiday fare, the film offers a reliable refuge of supernatural enchantment, atmospheric magic, and poignant heartbreak, anchored memorably by Aidan Quinn’s piercing gaze. Decades after its initial theatrical run, Practical Magic remains a staple that enthusiasts return to year-round, long after October has passed.
That enduring devotion has now translated into a massive commercial resurgence with the theatrical release of Practical Magic 2. Hitting the big screen this month, the highly anticipated sequel reunites Bullock and Kidman in their iconic roles as Sally and Gillian Owens. They are joined by returning cast members Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the eccentric, beloved aunts, alongside a fresh infusion of talent featuring Joey King and Maisie Williams as the next generation of Owens women. Directed by Susanne Bier and written by Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote the 1998 original, the sequel wasted no time asserting its dominance by claiming the top spot at the domestic box office.
Despite drawing mixed reactions from professional film critics—a historical echo of the reception faced by the original feature—audiences have overwhelmingly embraced the continuation of the story. Rejecting the negative critical chatter, everyday fans have rallied behind the film, awarding it a robust 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The successful launch of the sequel has naturally triggered a broader cultural craving for atmospheric, spellbinding cinema that captures the distinct aesthetic of the original classic. Following the time-tested wisdom of Sally Owens—who famously advised viewers to throw spilled salt over their left shoulder, keep rosemary by the garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever possible—audiences are once again seeking out stories that blend romance with the supernatural. For viewers eager to extend the witchy momentum of the Owens family onto their home television screens and into their personal watchlists, a wide spectrum of cinematic offerings exists to fill the void.
Topping any post-sequel watchlist is, naturally, Practical Magic 2 itself, for those yet to experience the theatrical run or waiting for its imminent digital and VOD release. The film brings back the signature elements that defined the original: the dreamy, historic house, the complex family curses, and the mandatory midnight margaritas.
Beyond the Owens family universe, other modern additions to the genre have successfully captured a similar audience. Hocus Pocus 2, released in 2022, brought Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker back together nearly thirty years after the release of the original holiday favorite. Delivering the same comforting brand of campy witchcraft, the legacy sequel proved that audience appetite for nostalgic magical comedies remains exceptionally high. Similarly, the 2024 cinematic adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked offers a different musical flavor while exploring a deeply resonant core theme: two women who see each other clearly in a world that refuses to understand them. Anchored by powerhouse performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the film serves as a natural thematic companion before its continuation in subsequent releases. For fans of darker, more contemporary teenage witchcraft, The Craft: Legacy (2020) offers a softer, more earnest update to the 1996 coven dynamic, focusing on a new generation of young women discovering the boundaries of their mystical capabilities.
A rich library of feel-good and classic witchy cinema provides further comfort for those looking to recreate the specific ambiance of the 1998 hit. The original Hocus Pocus (1993) remains an unmitigated staple of zany, small-town seasonal chaos, while 1987’s The Witches of Eastwick explores the lives of three grieving friends—played by Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer—who unwittingly unleash latent supernatural powers. Nicole Kidman’s extensive history with the genre is further highlighted in the 2005 romantic comedy Bewitched, which pairs her with Will Ferrell in a clever television adaptation twist, while 1958’s Bell, Book and Candle stands as the cinematic great-grandmother of modern witch romances, featuring Kim Novak as a sorceress who jeopardizes her powers by falling for Jimmy Stewart.
Other explorations of sisterhood and regional lore, such as Sandra Bullock’s 2002 drama The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, lean into the mystical atmosphere of the American South even in the absence of explicit witchcraft. Meanwhile, teen-centric fantasies like 1989’s Teen Witch and the original 1996 cult classic The Craft offer a nostalgic look at the consequences of teenage empowerment and magical experimentation, backed by memorable period soundtracks.
For audiences prioritizing supernatural romance and atmospheric thrills over literal spellcasting, several adjacent titles capture the emotional core of Practical Magic. The 1990 supernatural romance Ghost offers a similar blend of high-stakes emotion and ethereal danger anchored by Patrick Swayze, while the dark comedy Death Becomes Her (1992) pairs Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn in a twisted cautionary tale about a potion promising eternal youth. Bullock’s subsequent supernatural romance, The Lake House (2006), reunites her with Keanu Reeves for a time-bending architectural romance, and early nineties favorites like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) and Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands—which features Practical Magic star Dianne Wiest in a pivotal supporting role—continue to define the cinematic landscape of misunderstood outsiders and fantastical wonder.