Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are back together in Practical Magic 2, which reaches U.S. theaters today, September 10, 2026. The actresses reprise their iconic roles as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens nearly 28 years after the original Practical Magic introduced the magical family to movie audiences.
The new film reunites Bullock and Kidman with Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing, who return as Aunt Jet and Aunt Frances. Joey King and Maisie Williams join the central cast as Sally’s daughters, Kylie and Antonia Owens. Susanne Bier directs the sequel from a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett and Kelly Marcel.
The theatrical release gives fans the long-awaited opportunity to see Bullock and Kidman share the screen again as the Owens sisters. Their return also arrives after the original movie developed a much larger following over the years.
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman Return to the Owens Family
Their characters remain at the center of the story. The new film follows the Owens family as another generation becomes connected to the supernatural legacy that has followed the women for generations.
The sequel takes place years after the events of the first movie. Sally has stepped away from magic, but circumstances involving her daughter Kylie force her back into the family’s supernatural world.
Gillian also becomes involved as the sisters work together again.
Their relationship remains one of the most important elements of the story. Sally and Gillian have very different personalities, but their loyalty to each other has always defined their bond.
That dynamic returns in the sequel, giving Bullock and Kidman another opportunity to play the characters that helped establish their on-screen partnership.
The Sequel Is Now Playing in U.S. Theaters
Practical Magic 2 is officially in U.S. theaters beginning September 10.
Warner Bros. Pictures is distributing the film, which carries a PG-13 rating and has a reported runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes.
The movie combines comedy, fantasy, drama and romance while continuing the supernatural story of the Owens family.
For American audiences, the theatrical release represents the biggest milestone in the franchise since the original arrived in 1998.
The sequel has also begun its international rollout around the same period, but September 10 is the key U.S. release date.
The Story Moves to a New Generation
One of the biggest changes in Practical Magic 2 involves the focus on Sally’s daughters.
Joey King plays Kylie Owens, while Maisie Williams portrays Antonia Owens. The two characters are now adults and become important to the continuation of the Owens family story.
Kylie’s situation becomes particularly important when the family curse begins affecting her.
Sally had attempted to protect her daughters from magic by removing their memories of it. Her decision reflects the fear that the same curse could eventually affect them.
That plan does not keep the supernatural world away forever.
When Kylie becomes connected to the curse, Sally and Gillian have to confront the family history they had tried to leave behind.
The story therefore shifts the attention from one generation of Owens women to another.
A New Chapter for the Family Curse
The Owens family has always been associated with a generational curse involving love and loss.
In the new movie, the curse becomes a problem for Kylie. Her relationship with Gideon, played by Xolo Maridueña, becomes connected to the supernatural conflict.
The situation forces Kylie to confront a part of her family history that she had not fully understood.
Sally and Gillian become involved as they attempt to help her.
The story takes the Owens women beyond their familiar Massachusetts surroundings. The new adventure brings them to England, where they encounter additional mysteries tied to the family’s magical history.
That change gives the sequel a broader setting while maintaining the connection to the original story.
Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing Are Back
The sequel also brings back two important members of the original cast.
Dianne Wiest returns as Aunt Jet, while Stockard Channing reprises Aunt Frances. Both characters played key roles in Sally and Gillian’s lives in the original film.
Their return strengthens the connection between the two movies.
Jet and Frances remain part of the Owens family mythology, and their presence gives longtime viewers familiar faces alongside the newer members of the cast.
The four returning actresses also provide an important link between the original generation and the younger Owens women.
Bullock, Kidman, Wiest and Channing now portray characters who have lived through decades of family history.
Joey King and Maisie Williams Continue the Owens Legacy
King and Williams bring a younger generation into the story.
Kylie and Antonia are Sally’s daughters, making them part of the same family line that produced Sally and Gillian.
Their characters were originally portrayed by Alexandra Artrip and Evan Rachel Wood as children in the 1998 film. The sequel recasts the roles as the characters reach adulthood.
The new casting reflects the story’s focus on the daughters as adults.
Kylie becomes central to the supernatural conflict, while Antonia remains connected to the family’s wider story.
The sequel consequently gives audiences a different view of the Owens family. Sally and Gillian are no longer the only younger women carrying the family’s legacy.
The Film Is Based on Alice Hoffman’s Owens Universe
The Practical Magic story began with Alice Hoffman’s 1995 novel.
The original 1998 movie adapted that book and introduced Sally and Gillian to a much wider audience.
For the sequel, the filmmakers drew from Hoffman’s 2021 novel The Book of Magic. The official movie information identifies the book as the basis for the new film.
That connection keeps the sequel linked to the literary world created by Hoffman.
The movie also continues the family-centered approach that has defined the Owens story.
Rather than abandoning the characters from the original, the new film places them inside another chapter of the family’s history.
Bullock and Kidman Also Serve as Producers
Bullock and Kidman’s involvement goes beyond acting.
Both actresses are producers on Practical Magic 2, alongside Denise Di Novi.
Their producer credits are significant because the sequel represents a return to characters they first played nearly three decades ago.
The actresses therefore had a creative role in bringing the Owens sisters back to the screen.
Their involvement also reflects how much their careers have developed since the original movie.
Both stars have spent decades working across major films and television projects, while also taking on greater producing responsibilities.
Bullock Has Reflected on the Original Movie
The return has also prompted Bullock to discuss how the first Practical Magic was received.
The 1998 film received mixed reactions when it was released. Over time, however, audiences developed a stronger connection with it.
Bullock recently recalled the difficult response surrounding the original movie’s promotional period. She said she was disappointed by the early reaction, particularly because she believed the story’s focus on women and sisterhood had been misunderstood.
The film later developed a dedicated following.
That change in audience response has become an important part of the story surrounding the sequel.
What once had a relatively modest theatrical reception eventually became a cult favorite.
The renewed popularity helped create the demand for Sally and Gillian to return.
Why the Reunion Has Become So Important
The appeal of Practical Magic 2 depends heavily on Bullock and Kidman’s reunion.
The actresses have maintained a friendship since working together on the original film, and they have recently spoken publicly about their long-standing connection.
Their real-life relationship adds another layer to the return of Sally and Gillian.
The characters themselves have always been defined by their loyalty to one another. Their fictional sisterhood remains central to the new story.
That makes the reunion especially meaningful for viewers who have followed the actresses since the 1990s.
Bullock and Kidman are now returning to characters they first played at very different stages of their careers.
The Original Movie’s Legacy Is Central to the Sequel
The original Practical Magic has developed a strong cultural following since its theatrical release.
The movie’s blend of romance, comedy, fantasy and family drama helped it stand apart from many other films of its era.
Its reputation grew considerably after its initial theatrical run.
That long-term appreciation created an audience for another chapter.
Bullock and Kidman have both acknowledged the change in how audiences view the original movie today. Their recent conversations about the film have highlighted how its reputation evolved after years of fan support.
The sequel arrives at a moment when that audience can finally see the Owens sisters together again.
Critics Are Giving the Sequel a Mixed Reception
The latest reviews for Practical Magic 2 have been mixed.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the film at 35% on the Tomatometer from 43 reviews. The site lists the movie as a PG-13 comedy, fantasy and drama film with a 2-hour, 10-minute runtime.
Several critics have praised Bullock and Kidman’s chemistry.
Other reviews have criticized the length, storytelling and some of the new characters.
Entertainment Weekly reported that reviewers generally appreciated the returning stars but raised concerns about the sequel’s 130-minute runtime, rushed elements and uneven storytelling.
The critical response therefore does not present one universal opinion.
Instead, the strongest common point among many reviews is the appeal of seeing Bullock and Kidman together again.
The Owens Sisters Remain the Heart of the Movie
Despite the new characters and locations, Sally and Gillian remain the emotional center of the story.
Sally’s decision to leave magic behind creates much of the conflict.
Gillian, meanwhile, continues to approach the supernatural world with a different attitude.
Their opposing personalities create the same kind of contrast that made their relationship memorable in the original.
The sequel uses that dynamic while placing the sisters in a new family crisis.
Their shared history becomes important as they attempt to help the next generation.
The New Movie Expands the Magical World
The sequel introduces new characters and locations while keeping the Owens family at its center.
Lee Pace plays Professor Ian Wright, while Solly McLeod also joins the cast. Xolo Maridueña plays Gideon, Kylie’s boyfriend.
These additions give the sequel new relationships and conflicts.
The story also takes the Owens women to England, adding another setting to the franchise’s supernatural world.
At the same time, the movie retains recognizable elements associated with the original.
That balance between familiar characters and new circumstances forms the foundation of the sequel.
A Reunion Nearly Three Decades in the Making
Almost 28 years after they first appeared as Sally and Gillian Owens, the actresses are once again sharing the screen as the sisters.
The sequel brings back familiar cast members, introduces a younger generation and continues the Owens family’s supernatural story.
It also gives Bullock and Kidman the opportunity to revisit characters whose popularity grew long after the first movie left theaters.
For U.S. audiences, Practical Magic 2 is now available in theaters, making the long-awaited reunion a reality rather than a future possibility.
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