Practical Magic 2 Ends Spider-Man's Six-Week Box Office Reign

Key points

• Practical Magic 2 opened at No. 1 with $13 million on Friday, including previews, and is projected to reach $30 million for the weekend.
• The film, directed by Susanne Bier, stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witches attempting to break a family curse that prevents love.
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day fell to second place, earning an estimated $8.5 million, bringing its domestic total to $935.27 million, just shy of the all-time record.
• The Odyssey took third place with $8.1 million, becoming Universal’s highest-grossing global release, surpassing Jurassic World.
• The Uprising, starring Andrew Garfield, debuted in ninth place with a weak $3.1 million weekend estimate, while Runner opened in fifth with $6 million.

Background

Practical Magic 2 is the sequel to the 1998 film, which grossed $46 million domestically but achieved cult status later. The 1998 original had a $75 million budget and a 29% Rotten Tomatoes score. The new sequel carries the same $75 million budget and a 36% critics score, though it holds a 93% audience score. Spider-Man: Brand New Day had led the domestic box office for six consecutive weeks since its July 31 release, previously topping $923 million domestically and $2.4 billion worldwide.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter and Variety both confirm the $13 million Friday gross and $30 million weekend projection for Practical Magic 2, noting its B+ CinemaScore. Variety emphasizes that the 1998 original 'bombed' initially but became a cult classic, while The Hollywood Reporter highlights the film’s 36% Rotten Tomatoes score, which is slightly better than the original’s 29%. The Los Angeles Times offers a positive review, praising the chemistry between Bullock and Kidman and the director’s tone, contrasting with the mixed critical reception noted by other outlets. All sources agree that Spider-Man: Brand New Day is narrowly missing the all-time domestic record held by Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($936.6 million).

Why it matters

The shift in box office leadership signals a change in audience preferences from superhero blockbusters to nostalgic sequels, even with mixed reviews. Spider-Man’s near-record performance indicates sustained audience interest in the franchise, while The Odyssey’s milestone highlights the enduring power of Christopher Nolan’s historical epics. The weak debut of The Uprising suggests that historical dramas may struggle against high-concept or nostalgic titles in the current market.

What to watch

Spider-Man: Brand New Day may still break the all-time domestic record if it maintains strong hold performance, though it is currently $1.3 million behind the record. Practical Magic 2 will need to maintain its momentum to surpass the 1998 original’s $46 million domestic total. The Odyssey’s global success may influence future studio strategies for historical epics, while The Uprising’s poor performance may impact Focus Features’ release strategy for similar titles.