Updated

Updated · Variety · Sep 9

Practical Magic 2 Targets $40 Million Debut as Spider-Man's 6-Weekend No. 1 Run Nears End

Updated

Updated · Variety · Sep 9

Practical Magic 2 Targets $40 Million Debut as Spider-Man's 6-Weekend No. 1 Run Nears End

Q: Will devastating reviews shatter the nostalgic box office magic of the Owens sisters after opening weekend?

Probably not immediately, but they could sharply cut short the film’s run after debut weekend. “Practical Magic 2” looks set to open solidly at No. 1, with forecasts generally in the $30 million to $40 million range domestically and roughly $48 million to $65 million worldwide. That suggests nostalgia for the 1998 original, plus the return of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, is strong enough to overcome weak reviews at launch. The bigger issue is what happens next. Early critical response has been poor overall, with Rotten Tomatoes hovering around the low 30s in early reviews, and several critics singling out the screenplay, pacing and overreliance on nostalgia. Those are the kinds of complaints that often hurt week-to-week holds, especially for a legacy sequel banking on older fans rather than a broad four-quadrant audience. There are still reasons it may avoid a total collapse. The original film was also poorly reviewed in 1998 yet became a durable cult favorite, and several new reviews say Bullock and Kidman’s chemistry remains the sequel’s main selling point. If fans respond more warmly than critics, audience scores and word of mouth could cushion the drop. Still, with a $75 million production budget, the sequel likely needs decent legs, not just a nostalgia-fueled opening. Right now, the evidence points to this: reviews are unlikely to ruin opening weekend, but they may keep “Practical Magic 2” from turning a strong debut into a long-lasting box-office spell.

3 articles · Updated · Variety · Sep 9

$30 million to $40 million from 4,000 North American theaters would put “Practical Magic 2” atop the weekend box office, ending “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” at No. 1 after six weekends.
Nostalgia for the 1998 original, which later became a cult favorite despite flopping theatrically, is driving the sequel’s launch; Warner Bros. spent $75 million to produce it.
$18 million to $25 million from 77 international territories would lift the sequel’s global opening to $48 million to $65 million, though weak reviews could hurt staying power after opening weekend.
Disney’s “Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger” is tracking for $5 million to $7 million from 1,200 theaters, while “Brand New Day” has reached $923 million domestic and is closing in on the all-time record.