LOS ANGELES – This past weekend, “Practical Magic 2” cast a spell at the box office, debuting at number one in North America nearly 30 years after the original became a beloved cult classic.
The sequel, featuring stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, raked in an estimated $30 million from 4,146 theaters, according to Rentrak’s Sunday estimates. It knocked the superhero hit “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” off its six-week reign at the top.
In addition to its domestic success, “Practical Magic 2” earned around $16 million from 77 international markets, bringing its worldwide opening to approximately $46 million.
Although the debut fell at the lower end of Warner Bros.’ expectations of $30 million to $35 million, it still marks a significant return for the franchise, which had a production budget of $75 million. Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Rentrak, noted, “It’s the kind of movie that you can build an evening at the movie theater around with your friends.”
The film’s success can be attributed to the nostalgia and chemistry of Bullock and Kidman, who reprise their roles as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens. They face the challenge of breaking a family curse while introducing a new generation of witches, played by Joey King and Maisie Williams, with Lee Pace joining the cast.
Adapted from Alice Hoffman’s work, this sequel comes 28 years after the original “Practical Magic,” which earned $46 million during its initial run but grew its fanbase significantly through home viewing and social media.
Critics have given the sequel mixed reviews, with The Associated Press awarding it two out of four stars, mentioning that while it lacks some of the campy fun of the original, the performances from Bullock and Kidman shine through.
In contrast, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” fell to second place with $8.4 million, experiencing a 54% drop from the previous weekend. The Marvel blockbuster starring Tom Holland has now amassed approximately $935.2 million domestically, closing in on the all-time domestic record held by “Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens.”
Following in third place, Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” earned $7.4 million, bringing its domestic total to over $600.5 million and making it Universal’s highest-grossing global release to date.
Other notable releases include “Runner,” which debuted in fourth place with $6.6 million, and “Coyote vs. Acme,” rounding out the top five with $6.2 million.
This weekend’s box office results reflect a diverse array of films captivating audiences, with domestic revenue for the year reaching $7.5 billion, a 19.2% increase from the same point in 2025. Dergarabedian remarked on the positive trends, stating, “What a great summer, a record-breaking summer and a solid start to the fall.”
Here’s a summary of the top 10 films at the box office:
1. “Practical Magic 2,” $30 million.
2. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” $8.4 million.
3. “The Odyssey,” $7.4 million.
4. “Runner,” $6.6 million.
5. “Coyote vs. Acme,” $6.2 million.
6. “Buddy,” $3.5 million.
7. “Insidious: Out of the Further,” $3.35 million.
8. “Hope,” $3.3 million.
9. “The Uprising,” $3.25 million.
10. “By Any Means,” $2.5 million.
