‘Practical Magic 2’ casts its strongest spell on sisterhood

There is a comforting feeling about returning to a story that feels familiar, especially when it brings back characters who have over the years become a representation of a specific era. That is perhaps the simplest way to describe “Practical Magic 2.” 

The sequel reunites Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, years after they first cast their spell on audiences in the 1998 film, which became a cult classic. 

The original film follows sisters Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman), who come from a long generational line of witches as they confront an ancient family curse that prevents the women in their bloodline from finding true love. 

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More than two decades later, “Practical Magic 2” picks up with the Owens sisters facing a new chapter of that family legacy. Sally has kept her daughters, Kylie (Joey King) and Antonia (Maisie Williams), unaware of their magical heritage in an effort to protect them, which later invites another tragedy.

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READ: Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock find their ‘practical magic’ in family, sisterhood

There is nothing groundbreaking about this second installment, honestly speaking, because the premise is as plain as Jane, but its biggest strength lies not in the story itself but in the unmistakable chemistry that Bullock and Kidman bring to Sally and Gillian. 

Watching these two women, whose personal and professional lives have also drastically changed since 1998, slip back into these iconic roles feels surprisingly reassuring. Their performances remind us why the relationship between the Owens sisters was at the heart of the original film. 

More than the spells and supernatural elements, the film highlights the power of sisterhood—the kind of bond that refuses to disappear as life changes; one strong enough to survive distance, heartbreak, and even death. 

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And the film understands that sisterhood does not begin and end with Sally and Gillian. Dianne Wiest’s Bridget and Stockard Channing’s Frances remain an important part of the Owens family story, reminding us that the greatest inheritance that they can pass down isn’t magic. It is each other. 

That message is particularly significant now, especially in an era where women in the real world are starting to realize the importance of sisterhood and the power of female friendships in a misogynistic, patriarchal society. 

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And perhaps that is where “Practical Magic 2” feels most relatable: in the sheer pleasure of watching women love, fight, laugh, and protect one another. It celebrates women in all their complicated, messy, magical forms—not as perfect figures, but as individuals who are allowed to be vulnerable, powerful, ridiculous, romantic, protective, and deeply connected to one another.

“Practical Magic 2” may not leave everyone in awe of its narrative or execution. Viewers looking for a new story or a groundbreaking approach to the supernatural genre may find its premise monotonous and its execution less adventurous.

But sometimes a film does not have to reinvent the wheel to be meaningful. Sometimes, there is magic in simply returning to something that feels warm and familiar. In “Practical Magic 2,” that magic comes less from the spells. 

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Because spells can be broken, curses can be lifted, and lives can change—but sisterhood, the film reminds us, endures. The most powerful and practical magic was never in the spell book—it was in having each other. Not because they can bend the impossible, but because they never let each other face every curse and heartbreak alone.