Practical Magic (1998)

6.4PG-13100 minDirector: Griffin Dunne

1998 film by Griffin Dunne

Practical Magic is a 1998 American romantic fantasy film based on the 1995 novel by Alice Hoffman. The film was directed by Griffin Dunne and stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing and Aidan Quinn. Bullock and Kidman play sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, descended from a long line of witches. Raised by their aunts after their parents' death from a family curse, the sisters are taught the uses of practical magic as they grow up. Years later, the adult sisters must use their magic to destroy the evil spirit of Gillian's abusive boyfriend before it kills them.

Practical Magic was released on October 16, 1998, and grossed $68 million worldwide against a production budget of $75 million. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who found the film's combination of different genres, including supernatural fantasy, domestic abuse drama, romantic comedy, and crime procedural, to be jarring. It has since gained a cult following. A sequel, Practical Magic 2, is scheduled to be released on September 11, 2026.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Practical Magic about?
Practical Magic (1998) — Sisters Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman) have a special bond with each other despite being different in personality and outlook. Having grown up with their spinster Aunt Frances (Stockard Channing) and Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest) in the long time Owens f
Is Practical Magic based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Practical Magic scary?
Content rating: PG-13. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.