Nearly three decades after Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman first played the Owens sisters, Practical Magic 2 has finally arrived in UK cinemas. But after years of anticipation, the big question for fans is whether the sequel has managed to recreate the charm of the 1998 cult favourite — or whether nostalgia has done more of the work than the new story.
The early answer is mixed. The film is now playing in UK cinemas, but critics have been considerably less enchanted than many fans hoped.
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The sequel was released in UK cinemas on 11 September 2026, following its North American release. It brings Bullock back as Sally Owens and Kidman as Gillian, with Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing also returning. Joey King and Maisie Williams join the cast as the next generation of Owens women.
Directed by Susanne Bier, the new film continues the Owens family story several years after the events of the original. Sally has tried to protect her daughters from the family’s magical legacy, but the curse surrounding love and the Owens women eventually returns.
The story then takes the characters towards England, giving the sequel a noticeably different setting from the Massachusetts world of the first film.
For UK audiences, there is also a genuine local connection behind the production. Parts of the film were made in the UK, including at Leavesden Studios and locations in Buckinghamshire and London.
This is where expectations need to be separated from the facts.
The film has generated plenty of interest because of the return of two major stars and the enduring popularity of the original. However, the early critical response has been lukewarm.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the film at around 35% from critics, based on reviews available at the time of writing. That score can change as more reviews are added, so it should be treated as a snapshot rather than a final verdict.
Reviews have generally agreed that Bullock and Kidman remain the strongest reason to return to this world. Their chemistry and familiarity with the characters have been praised, even by critics who found the story itself uneven.
The main criticism is that the sequel relies heavily on nostalgia. Some reviewers have argued that it recreates familiar elements of the original without giving the story enough fresh material or character development. Others have been more positive, particularly about the cast and the themes of family and sisterhood.
One misconception is that the 1998 Practical Magic was an immediate blockbuster. It wasn’t.
The original had a relatively modest theatrical run before developing a much stronger following through home viewing, streaming and years of renewed interest. That gradual growth is a major reason the sequel exists nearly 30 years later.
That also makes comparisons between the two films tricky. Practical Magic became a cult favourite partly because audiences had years to discover and revisit it. Practical Magic 2, by contrast, is arriving with enormous expectations already attached to it.
A disappointing early review score therefore doesn’t automatically mean audiences will reject it.
If you’re deciding whether to see Practical Magic 2 in a cinema, the current evidence points towards a fairly simple distinction.
If you’re a fan of the original, the reunion of Bullock and Kidman is likely to be the main attraction. The film deliberately brings back familiar characters, settings, themes and pieces of the original’s visual and emotional identity.
If you’re new to the franchise, the mixed critical response suggests it may be worth watching the 1998 film first. That gives the family relationships and the Owens curse more context and makes the sequel’s callbacks easier to appreciate.
The film is also officially classified by the BBFC as 12A in the UK, with content advice covering threat, violence, injury detail, sex, language and sexual-violence references. Its listed running time is about 130 minutes.
Don’t assume the current critic score tells you exactly how audiences will react.
Don’t assume the sequel has already been a box-office success either. At the time of writing, reliable UK box-office figures for its opening run are not yet available, so claims that it has already “flopped” or “become a hit” would be premature.
There is also no need to treat the film’s mixed reviews as proof that the franchise has lost its appeal. The original’s journey from an initially underwhelming theatrical release to cult status shows how differently a film’s reputation can develop over time.
If you want to make up your own mind, check current UK cinema listings and see the film while it is on the big screen.
Fans who haven’t watched the original recently may also want to revisit it first. That is particularly useful because Practical Magic 2 builds directly on the Owens family’s history rather than functioning as a completely separate story.
And if you’re waiting for streaming, don’t assume a confirmed UK streaming date unless Warner Bros. or the relevant streaming service announces one. The film is currently being positioned as a theatrical release.
Practical Magic 2 has arrived in UK cinemas with plenty of built-in nostalgia, but the early critical reaction is mixed rather than universally glowing. Bullock and Kidman remain a major draw, while the biggest question is whether the new story can develop the cult appeal of the original rather than simply repeat it.
For now, UK audiences will have the final say — and that verdict may prove more interesting than the early critic score.
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