Practical Magic 2 Casts Its Spell Over the UK and Ireland Box Office

Nearly three decades after the original charmed its way into cult status, the Owens sisters are back on the big screen and back on top. Practical Magic 2, the long awaited follow up to the 1998 favourite, claimed the number one spot at the UK and Ireland box office, proving that the appeal of the witchy sisters has not faded with time.

Top of the UK chart

According to box office figures, Practical Magic 2 led the UK and Ireland chart for the weekend of 13 September 2026, taking a reported 2,798,771 pounds over the three days. In a late summer period marked by softer takings across the board, that was enough to place the film comfortably ahead of its rivals.

The result stands out because the wider market had been relatively quiet in the preceding weeks, with weekend leaders often earning less. A legacy sequel with a devoted fan base proved to be exactly the kind of title that could tempt casual and committed cinemagoers back through the doors.

A long awaited return

The film is a direct sequel to Practical Magic, the 1998 fantasy that has grown in affection over the years, particularly around the autumn season. That gap of nearly three decades between the two films is unusually long for a mainstream sequel. It also helps explain the sense of occasion that surrounded its arrival in cinemas.

Its European premiere took place on 26 August 2026 at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London, ahead of the wider rollout. The North American release followed on 10 September 2026, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, setting up the film's run across the key autumn weekends.

Familiar faces and a new generation

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as the sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, the roles that anchored the first film. Their reunion is the emotional core of the sequel and a major part of its marketing appeal, reconnecting audiences with characters they first met in the late 1990s.

They are joined by a broader ensemble that bridges old and new. Joey King and Maisie Williams play Sally's daughters Kylie and Antonia, while Lee Pace appears as a magic history professor and Xolo Maridueña features as a younger love interest. Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing also return as the eccentric aunts Jet and Frances.

From page to screen

The story draws on The Book of Magic, the 2021 novel by Alice Hoffman, following the Owens family as they confront a long standing curse and try to break it together. Adapting a later book in Hoffman's series allowed the filmmakers to move the saga forward rather than simply repeat the original.

Behind the camera, Susanne Bier directed the film, working from a screenplay credited to Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett and Kelly Marcel. Goldsman's involvement offers a direct link to the first film, which he also helped write, lending the sequel a degree of creative continuity.

A mixed critical reception

Commercial success did not translate into universal praise. The film received mixed reviews, holding a 38 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 44 out of 100 rating on Metacritic, figures that point to a divided response among critics rather than a clear consensus.

Audiences appeared warmer than the critics. The film earned a B plus grade on CinemaScore, which surveys opening weekend viewers, suggesting that the people who turned up were largely satisfied with what they saw. That gap between reviews and audience reaction is common for nostalgia driven sequels.

What comes next

With a worldwide total reported at around 49 million dollars and a UK chart topping weekend behind it, Practical Magic 2 has reminded the industry of the pulling power of familiar stories. Whether the film enjoys a long theatrical life or a strong afterlife on streaming, its opening confirms that some spells, once cast, are hard to shake off.