The Owens sisters are back, and moviegoers appear ready to welcome them into theatres. Practical Magic 2 has opened its domestic run with a stronger-than-expected $4.7 million from Thursday previews, putting Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman’s long-awaited sequel in a promising position for the weekend. The Warner Bros. release has also arrived at an interesting moment, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day sitting just short of the all-time domestic box-office record.
The preview result is particularly encouraging because Practical Magic 2 is leaning heavily on a property that has grown far beyond its original theatrical performance. The 1998 film was not a major box-office phenomenon when it first arrived, but years of home viewing, social media fandom and nostalgia turned it into a cult favourite, especially among women who grew up with the movie. The sequel is now attempting to convert that long-term affection into a major theatrical opening nearly three decades later.
Practical Magic 2 gets a strong preview start
The latest estimate puts Practical Magic 2 at $4.7 million from Thursday previews across roughly 3,200 locations, ahead of where earlier tracking had placed the film. The previews began at 2 p.m., giving the sequel plenty of opportunity to build momentum before its official Friday release. Earlier estimates had suggested a Thursday haul of around $3.5 million to $4 million, making the reported $4.7 million figure a welcome jump for Warner Bros.
That number also gives the sequel a useful comparison with Sandra Bullock’s recent theatrical work. The Lost City generated $2.5 million from previews before opening to $31 million domestically in its first weekend, while Ticket to Paradise, starring Bullock and George Clooney, made $1.1 million from previews before its $16.5 million opening. Wuthering Heights also began with around $3 million in Thursday previews before reaching a $32.8 million three-day debut.
The early result therefore puts Practical Magic 2 in the right company, although previews alone cannot determine the final weekend. The film is currently being positioned for a domestic opening in the $30 million to $40 million range, with some tracking suggesting it could reach the upper end if the nostalgic audience turns out in force. Variety’s pre-release tracking also placed the expected domestic debut around $30 million to $40 million from approximately 4,000 North American cinemas.
The sequel has another advantage that did not exist when the original was released. Practical Magic arrived in 1998 to relatively modest theatrical business and eventually developed a much stronger following through subsequent years. Its current reputation as a cult favourite means the marketing campaign does not have to convince audiences that the Owens sisters matter; it only needs to convince those fans that they want to see them together again on a big screen.
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have nostalgia on their side
The biggest asset for Practical Magic 2 is not necessarily the supernatural story itself. It is the reunion of Bullock and Kidman as Sally and Gillian Owens, characters who have remained closely associated with the original film’s appeal. The sequel arrives almost 28 years after the first movie, giving an entire generation of viewers a chance to revisit the characters while introducing the Owens family’s magic to a younger audience.
The new story expands that family connection through Sally’s daughters, played by Joey King and Maisie Williams. The younger characters are now part of the supernatural legacy, creating a bridge between the women who made the original memorable and the generation that could potentially carry the franchise forward. The film is also based partly on Alice Hoffman’s later The Book of Magic, giving the sequel a larger mythology to explore.
That generational angle could be particularly important for the weekend. Current coverage has highlighted how Practical Magic developed a loyal female following long after its original release, with the film’s themes of sisterhood, relationships and female resilience helping it find a new audience. The sequel is therefore not being sold simply as another fantasy franchise entry; it is also a reunion event for viewers who have carried affection for the original into adulthood.
There is, however, a potential obstacle. The critical response has not been especially strong, with early reviews considerably less enthusiastic than the audience nostalgia surrounding the property. That makes the weekend’s word of mouth particularly important because the movie will need viewers to recommend it to friends rather than relying solely on people who already loved the 1998 film.
Spider-Man is chasing a historic domestic record
While Practical Magic 2 is trying to take the weekend crown, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is approaching a much bigger milestone. The Tom Holland-led Marvel film has already become one of the biggest domestic performers in box-office history and is closing in on the $936.6 million total achieved by Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Current figures and projections have placed Brand New Day around the $925 million-plus mark domestically, leaving it within striking distance of the record.
That chase has become one of the defining stories of the 2026 box office. Brand New Day crossed $900 million domestically faster than any previous film, reaching the milestone in 36 days compared with 50 days for The Force Awakens. Its unusually strong sixth weekend then kept the film moving toward the record even after more than a month in cinemas.
The bigger picture is equally striking. The 2026 North American summer season has already set a new record, with domestic ticket sales from May 1 through September 7 surpassing the previous 2013 summer benchmark. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has been one of the major forces behind that performance, while The Odyssey and Toy Story 5 have also delivered substantial theatrical numbers.
Now Practical Magic 2 has the opportunity to interrupt Spider-Man’s long run at No. 1. Pre-release projections suggested a $30 million to $40 million opening could be enough to take the top spot, especially because the film is targeting a demographic that has not necessarily been at the centre of the year’s biggest superhero and action releases.
Can Practical Magic 2 beat Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Practical Magic 2 has a realistic chance of opening at No. 1 if its weekend audience matches current tracking. Estimates have placed its domestic debut around $30 million to $40 million, while Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now deep into its theatrical run. The stronger-than-expected $4.7 million preview result gives the sequel an encouraging starting point.
How much did Practical Magic 2 make in previews?
The latest estimate puts Practical Magic 2 at approximately $4.7 million from Thursday previews. Earlier expectations had placed the film closer to $3.5 million-$4 million, so the updated figure represents a stronger start than initially anticipated. The preview shows began from 2 p.m. Thursday.
What is Practical Magic 2 expected to earn in its opening weekend?
Current industry tracking has projected a domestic opening in the $30 million to $40 million range. The exact result will depend heavily on Friday and Saturday attendance, particularly among nostalgic fans of the original. Internationally, the film was previously expected to generate another $18 million to $25 million from 77 territories.
Why is Practical Magic 2 performing well despite mixed reviews?
The sequel has something that many new releases cannot manufacture: decades of audience familiarity. The original Practical Magic developed a cult following after its 1998 theatrical run, with social media and home viewing helping introduce it to younger viewers. That nostalgia, combined with the return of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, gives the sequel a built-in audience.
Who stars in Practical Magic 2?
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens. Joey King and Maisie Williams play the younger generation of the Owens family, while Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing also return from the original. Lee Pace and Xolo Maridueña are among the new additions to the cast.
Will Spider-Man: Brand New Day break The Force Awakens’ domestic record?
It is extremely close. The Force Awakens finished its original domestic run at $936.6 million, while Spider-Man: Brand New Day has already moved into the $920 million-plus range and continues to play in thousands of North American theatres. Current projections indicate that it could surpass the record during this weekend if its hold remains strong.
What this weekend means for Hollywood
The Practical Magic 2 versus Spider-Man: Brand New Day battle is interesting because it represents two very different kinds of theatrical power. Spider-Man has spent weeks building an enormous audience around one of the world’s most recognisable superhero characters, while Practical Magic 2 is attempting to turn nostalgia for a cult classic into a fresh theatrical event. If the sequel reaches the top of the weekend chart, it would also demonstrate that female-focused legacy properties can still command major cinema audiences.
For Warner Bros., the stakes are even higher. The studio entered September without a film having crossed $100 million domestically in 2026, a drought not seen at the company since 2001. That makes Practical Magic 2 more than a nostalgic reunion; it is one of Warner’s clearest opportunities to change the tone of its domestic box-office year.
The $4.7 million preview figure is therefore a promising first step, but Friday and Saturday will tell the real story. If the sequel can convert its millennial fan base while also attracting younger viewers who discovered the original later, the Owens sisters could have a much bigger comeback than anyone expected. And with Spider-Man simultaneously chasing the biggest domestic record in modern box-office history, this weekend has suddenly become one of the more intriguing theatrical battles of 2026.
