Practical Magic 2 Debuts at No. 1 with $46M Global Take, Missing Studio Targets

Key points

• The sequel grossed $30M domestic and $16M overseas, totaling $46M worldwide.
• It ended Spider-Man: Brand New Day's six-week No. 1 run but missed international projections.
• The film has a 36% Rotten Tomatoes score but a strong B+ CinemaScore grade.
• With a $75M budget, the film faces significant hurdles to break even.

Background

Practical Magic 2, directed by Susanne Bier, is the sequel to the 1998 hit starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The film, based on Alice Hoffman's 2021 novel, follows the Owens sisters 25 years later as they attempt to break a family curse. Pre-release tracking suggested a global opening of $58M-$63M, with domestic estimates of $38M-$40M.

How outlets are covering it

Deadline reported the $46M global opening as a domestic-driven success, noting the $16M overseas take fell short of the $18M-$23M target. Variety emphasized the disappointment, calling the debut a 'fizzle' and noting the film's struggle to break even. Rolling Stone highlighted the disconnect between critics (34% Rotten Tomatoes) and fans (92% audience score), arguing the film was made for nostalgia, not critical acclaim. The LA Times praised the film's tone and Bullock and Kidman's chemistry, suggesting it appeals to core fans despite a lower critical reception.

Why it matters

The opening weekend performance indicates a challenging path to profitability for Warner Bros, especially given the $75M budget. It also highlights the ongoing tension between critical reception and audience appeal for nostalgia-driven sequels.

What to watch

Warner Bros will monitor the film's hold in the coming weeks, hoping for a rebound. The studio also faces pressure from other releases, including Tom Cruise's Digger, which has a $130M budget.