When sequels come along—especially when it’s almost 30 years after the original—we all hold our breath a bit. Will it live up to the original? Was there enough plot to work with after the first seemed tidily wrapped up? Can two highly established actresses return to a character after having so many others under their belt?

The problem with most sequels to a smash hit like Practical Magic, is they lack the spark of novelty. And with adaptations particularly, sometimes there isn’t original source material to work from.  However, this one wasn’t facing those obstacles. There was a real story here, mainly because it was based off another novel in the series, The Book Magic. So the essence of sisterhood, love and sacrifice, remained strong. Add to it that Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman seemed to pick up right where they left off. Their chemistry is unmatched, exactly as it was when we left the Owens sisters 28 years ago.

That being said, there are always misses when you’re following up a major cult classic, especially after all this time. There were some clunky character development moments, and a shift in scenery from the charming Massachusetts town that was so palpable in the first novel.

If you go into the film with appreciation for the nostalgia and an understanding that capturing magic in a bottle twice is a rarity, this film offers a delightful launch into witchy season, a teary departure of a beloved character (a few in fact), and a reminder that Nicole Kidman can be down right hilarious at times, there is plenty to enjoy here.

The She Reads team had an opportunity to attend an early screening and we each went into it with a different experience of the original… see below for each of our takes!

Spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t seen Practical Magic 2 yet, you may want to return later.

The Original vs. The Sequel

The big thing both the original and the sequel have in common is the story of sisters; in Gilly and Sally, Kylie and Antonia, and Jett and Frances. The love between sisters, the sacrifice and never-ending frustration is really what drives the heart of Practical Magic. And that didn’t change with PM2. They kept a lot of the key iconic moments from the original; midnight margaritas, sisters sharing secrets beneath bed sheets, the iconic ending line and the Owens women floating off the roof. These were such cozy and essential nods to the original.

There were a few key differences, however. The magic, especially in the climax felt different between the original and the sequel. The first one was focused on botanicals and remained more grounded, but the second had a storyline of dark magic that felt much flashier. The tones of the two stories are quite different as well. The first one felt cozy and small-town witchy, whereas the second leans into a dark academia, London-set mystery vibe. They both feel like a balancing act of darkness and light. They both always brought it back to hilarious moments that had the entire theatre laughing.

POV Reviews

The She Reads team went to an early screening of the film and realized we all had very different relationships with the original. Taylor has never seen Practical Magic, Hanna watched it for the first time last week, Riley has seen it once and it’s been a while, and Christelle grew up on it and loved it. Here’s a review from each perspective.

Taylor: I had intended to watch the original before the screening of PM2, but I’m kind of glad I didn’t. Sequels can be polarizing, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one even though I had no context from the first movie. It’s likely everyone you know has seen this cult classic, but for anyone else who’s been living under a rock, I’m here to say you’ll have a fun time watching PM2. Now it’s time to go watch the original!

Hanna: I decided to watch the first one when we got invited to the screening. It had always been on my fall watchlist, but I just never got around to it. I’m so glad I finally did, because I loved it. No surprise, I love my sisters and everything a little witchy. It was a little darker than I had anticipated, but I thought it was fun. The sequel was no exception, and I had a blast seeing how they were going to give Sandra Bullock a third love interest in two movies. But, I suppose, third time’s the charm!

Riley: I definitely had lower expectations for Practical Magic 2. I tend to be a little wary of sequels—especially when they come out years later. I can happily say that this one exceeded my expectations. I laughed way more than I anticipated, I shed some tears (any time you include Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, I’m a goner), and it gave me all those whimsical feelings that I enjoyed from the first one. As someone who has only seen the original once, I can say that as soon as I got home from the movie, I put on the original to keep the magic going. What a great way to jump start fall!

Christelle: I went into this sequel a little apprehensive because I adore the first movie, it’s so nostalgic for me. I was pleasantly surprised! I thought Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman hopped right back into these characters effortlessly. I chuckled countless times at their quirky sister interactions and teared up a little as we said goodbye to a beloved character. All the witchy vibes were there and I was launched into spooky season with delight!

What We Loved

Joey King – She had big shoes to fill as the latest Owens plagued by the curse and she did it so well. King truly captured the heartbreak, the naivety and the danger of trying to practice magic when you’re under trained.

Nicole Kidman – While Sandra Bullock was delightful as well, Kidman really stole the show in this one. For as many serious roles as she’s played lately (Big Little Lies, The Perfect Couple, Babygirl) it’s easy to forget she has comedic chops. It was really fun to see her come back to the wild, bohemian, untethered role of Gilly.

The Aunts – Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest also did their roles so much justice. Without giving too much away, they truly lived up to their characters. It’s such a treat to see these legends reprise their roles and serve as the wise matriarchs of this witchy fam.

What We Didn’t Love

Scenery Change – This one is debatable, but worth mentioning. While London gives plenty of witchy vibes that come with the territory, it was hard not to miss the coastal Massachusetts setting and the Owens family home as the plot progressed.

Maisie Williams – Playing the character Antonia, Sally’s other daughter opposite Joey King, it felt like there was something missing with Williams. Whereas Kidman and Bullock felt equally important and developed in the original, our two new witch sisters didn’t get the same equal treatment.

Insta-Love – As romance readers and lovers ourselves, the new love interest that entered the picture didn’t quite earn its place. It wasn’t painfully unbearable, but it felt at times unnecessary and a little too quick for our slow burn preferences.

Few sequels can hold up to the original, but Practical Magic 2 is not trying to. It sings in concert with it and brought back a piece of the late 90s for everyone that needs a hit of nostalgia for the fall. Ultimately, whether you grew up on the original, just watched it for the first time last year or last week, or have still never seen it, it’s a fun seasonal movie worth the watch. Grab a midnight margarita and your sister and buckle up for a fun ride. And “remember to always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck and fall in love whenever you can.”