‘Practical Magic 2’ Is Ready to Break Spider-Man’s Six-Week Box Office Spell

Practical Magic 2 may finally be the movie that ends Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s long run at the top of the domestic box office. After six straight weeks of holding the No. 1 spot, Sony and Marvel’s latest Spider-Man movie now has a new challenger, and this time it is a very different kind of film. Warner Bros.’ sequel to the 1998 cult favorite is heading into theaters with a lot of nostalgia behind it, and the big question is whether that will be enough to push it past the superhero giant.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Practical Magic 2 is the strongest threat Spider-Man: Brand New Day has faced in weeks. The movie brings Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, nearly 30 years after they first played the characters in the original film. The first Practical Magic did not become a huge hit when it opened in theaters, but it slowly found a much bigger audience over the years. That fanbase is now giving the sequel a strong start.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has had an unusually powerful run since arriving in theaters in late July. The movie has stayed on top of the domestic charts for six weeks and has also become the biggest Spider-Man movie ever at the worldwide box office. With more than $2.4 billion earned globally, the film has clearly become one of the biggest theatrical successes of the year. That makes Practical Magic 2’s attempt to take the No. 1 spot even more interesting.

Early tracking suggests that Practical Magic 2 could make between $30 million and $35 million in the United States and Canada during its opening weekend. That would be a strong result for the franchise, especially when compared with the original movie. Practical Magic finished its original theatrical run with around $46 million domestically, meaning the sequel could earn a large part of that total in only a few days. Warner Bros. has also given the film a wide release, with the sequel playing in more than 4,000 theaters across the country.

The movie is also getting a major international release. Warner Bros. has launched Practical Magic 2 in 77 overseas markets, where it is expected to bring in another $18 million to $25 million during the opening weekend. While the domestic battle is the main focus right now, a strong international start would give the sequel even more momentum as it moves into the next few weeks.

There is one major problem, though. Reviews for Practical Magic 2 have been mixed, with some critics questioning the film’s story and pacing. After waiting almost three decades for another movie, fans may have expected something special, and not every reviewer feels the sequel delivers that. Still, negative reviews do not always stop a movie with a strong fanbase, especially when nostalgia is such a big part of its appeal.

The real test will be whether Practical Magic 2 can bring in people who did not grow up loving the original. The sequel already has a built-in audience ready to see Bullock and Kidman return, but defeating Spider-Man after six weeks will likely require more than that. It needs casual moviegoers to choose the witches over the web-slinger.

For now, Spider-Man: Brand New Day remains the movie to beat, but Practical Magic 2 has a real chance to change that. If the sequel reaches the higher end of its opening projections and attracts a wider audience, Sally and Gillian could finally end Spider-Man’s six-week reign. After such a long run at No. 1, seeing a cult fantasy sequel pull off the upset would easily become one of the more surprising box office moments of the year.

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