Practical magic returns with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back as Sally and Gillian Owens, and audience reviews are leaning positive. Critics did not fall under the Owens family’s spell in their first reviews, but early viewers are pushing the sequel in the opposite direction.
Rotten Tomatoes audience reviews give the clearest read on the sequel so far. Jacqueline called it “Soooo good! Worth the 28-year wait for the second movie. I experienced an array of emotions throughout the movie. I laughed, cried, sighed and smiled! What great workmanship from the writers to the actors! Well done!”
Jenn and the repeat-viewing test
Jenn’s reaction is the most practical sign that the sequel is landing with viewers who already know what they want from this story. She said, “My daughter and I went to see Practical Magic 2 and loved it! My daughter, 30 years old, loved the first one when she was younger and so she was excited to hear about the second movie coming out. I loved that it wasn’t just the first movie on repeat with a couple new characters. Great storyline, special effects, and character building! We will probably go see it again!”
That is the kind of audience response sequels chase. It points to a film that is doing more than borrowing a title; it is giving returning viewers enough familiar rhythm to keep them engaged while still offering something distinct.
Sally and Gillian Owens return
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman step back into Sally and Gillian Owens, which is the core selling point for the sequel. Several audience reviews singled out that return directly, with Michael W writing, “We loved it! What a wonderful sequel! This was not a Hocus Pocus type sequel, I mean there was ‘fan service,’ but Nicole and Sandra really stepped back into their roles so wonderfully. Lots of laughs and tears!! Totally worth a watch!!!”
Sara took a similar line, saying, “While differing from the first movie, it still brought lots of light, laughs, and tears like the first! Beautifully written and executed. Will be seeing again!” Tracy Lee C added, “Loved that it wasn’t a 100% remake. Loved the characters being exactly who they were years ago!”
The curse and the complaints
In Practical Magic 2, Kylie and Antonia are the next generation dealing with the ancestral family curse, and that setup gives the sequel its structure. It lets the story move beyond simple reunion material and into family fallout, which is why some reviews focused on what the film adds rather than what it repeats.
Not every viewer bought in. Torie said the sequel had a “Different feel from the original” and “leans more strongly on love, loyalty, and taking care of one another,” while George M praised “the return of the iconic home” and Michael E called it “About as good as a legacy sequel can get.” That split between affectionate audience reaction and cooler first reviews is the real story here: the sequel is finding favor with viewers even as it leaves some critics unmoved.
When Practical Magic 2 reaches viewers, the question is no longer whether the original cast can return. It is whether the sequel’s balance of nostalgia, family curse material, and new generation stakes is enough to send people back for another watch, and Jenn already answered that part for herself.
