‘Practical Magic 2’ Is Winning Over Audiences Even as Critics Cast a Spell Against It

Practical Magic 2 may be proving that critics do not always have the final say when it comes to a movie’s success. The sequel has received a much warmer response from audiences than from professional reviewers, and the early numbers suggest that fans of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman’s supernatural comedy are showing up in theaters in a big way. For Warner Bros., that could be very good news after a difficult stretch at the box office.

The biggest sign of the audience reaction came from CinemaScore. According to the latest results, Practical Magic 2 earned a B+ from opening-night moviegoers. That is a clear improvement over the B- grade given to the original Practical Magic when it opened in 1998. The difference may look small on paper, but CinemaScore grades are often watched closely because they can offer an early idea of whether audiences will recommend a movie to other people.

The response is especially interesting because critics have not been nearly as kind to the sequel. Practical Magic 2 is currently sitting at around 35 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, which is not far from the 30 percent score earned by the original movie from critics. In other words, the reviews look surprisingly similar more than two decades later, even though the audience reaction appears to be much stronger this time.

The original movie is a perfect example of how a film can find a much bigger audience after its initial release. Practical Magic was not a critical favorite when it arrived in theaters, but it slowly developed a loyal following. The relationship between the Owens sisters, played by Bullock and Kidman, became a major part of the movie’s lasting appeal, and the film eventually turned into a cult favorite.

Early audience numbers for the sequel suggest that history could be repeating itself, only on a larger scale. According to the information provided, Practical Magic 2 has reached a verified audience score as high as 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. That is a huge gap compared with the critics’ score and is also higher than the original movie’s eventual 73 percent audience rating. It suggests that viewers who wanted to return to this world may be getting exactly the kind of reunion they hoped for.

That positive response could also help the sequel at the box office. Current tracking has the movie heading toward an opening weekend of about $30 million domestically. That would put it close to The Lost City, another Bullock movie that opened with $30.4 million in North America and eventually earned $105.3 million domestically. While the two movies are very different, the comparison shows that Bullock still has plenty of power with movie audiences.

The timing is also important for Warner Bros. The studio has been dealing with several disappointing releases, making a strong performance from Practical Magic 2 especially useful. Instead of depending on strong reviews, the sequel is relying on two major stars, nostalgia, and an audience that already has a connection to the original. That can be risky, but the early response suggests the strategy may be working.

Alcon is also involved in the financial side of the movie, with the company reportedly financing half of the production alongside Warner Bros. A healthy opening is therefore only part of the story. If audiences continue recommending the movie to friends and returning to theaters, the sequel could have a much longer run than a film that depends almost entirely on opening-weekend interest.

There is still plenty of time for the movie’s box office story to develop, but the early signs are encouraging. The stronger CinemaScore, high audience rating, and expected $30 million opening all point in the same direction. Critics may not be impressed, but moviegoers seem much more willing to embrace the return of the Owens sisters.

For Practical Magic 2, that could be the most important result of all. The original movie became a fan favorite despite its weak reviews, and the sequel may now be following a similar path. If audiences keep spreading the word, Warner Bros. could end up with a surprise hit that proves once again that sometimes the viewers, rather than the critics, decide which movies stick around.

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