Practical Magic 2 Debuts at No. 1 With $30 Million Weekend as Box Office Stays Strong

The long-awaited sequel Practical Magic 2 cast its spell over the North American box office this weekend, earning an estimated $30 million from 4,146 theaters to claim the top spot. The Warner Bros. film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman marks a triumphant return for the witchy franchise nearly three decades after the original gained cult status through home viewing and streaming.

A Magical Reunion

Practical Magic 2 reunites Bullock and Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, members of a cursed family of witches now attempting to break the spell for good. The sequel introduces younger generation witches played by Joey King and Maisie Williams, with Lee Pace joining the cast. The film adapts Alice Hoffman's novels just as the 1998 original did, though that movie only grossed $46 million during its initial theatrical run before finding devoted fans in subsequent years.

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Rentrak, emphasized the importance of bringing back the original stars. "The return of Bullock and Kidman was crucial to rekindling interest after such a long gap between films," he said. The sequel's opening landed at the low end of Warner Bros.' $30-$35 million projection for the $75 million production.

Spider-Man's Historic Run Continues

Sony and Marvel's Spider-Man: Brand New Day slipped to second place after six consecutive weekends atop the charts, adding $8.4 million to push its domestic total to $935.2 million. The Tom Holland-starring blockbuster now sits just $1.4 million behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens' $936.6 million North American record.

Dergarabedian noted the unprecedented longevity of both Spider-Man and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which placed third with $7.4 million in its ninth weekend. "Think about this movie opening at the end of July, and here we are in the middle of September," he said of Spider-Man's run, predicting Sony will keep it in theaters as it pursues $1 billion domestically.

Stronghold for Premium Formats

The Odyssey continues rewriting record books, becoming Universal's highest-grossing global release by passing Jurassic World with $1.68 billion worldwide. The mythic epic starring Matt Damon has collected a staggering $506 million from IMAX screens alone, accounting for 30% of its global haul. Its $600.5 million domestic total demonstrates remarkable staying power nearly two months after release.

Dergarabedian sees the simultaneous success of films like Spider-Man, The Odyssey and Practical Magic 2 as evidence of changing audience habits. "People aren't just looking at the movie theater as the home for the traditional cookie-cutter blockbuster," he observed. "They're looking at the movie theater like they do almost as a streaming service, where there's this incredible array and mix of genres, stars and types of films."

New Releases Find Their Footing

Angel Studios' action-comedy Runner debuted in fourth place with $6.6 million from over 2,500 theaters. The film stars Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson as unlikely partners transporting organs while evading a cartel. Meanwhile, Looney Tunes hybrid Coyote vs. Acme held fifth place with $6.2 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $47.8 million.

International offerings made their mark as well, with South Korean monster thriller Hope opening in eighth place with $3.3 million from 1,560 locations. The film from director Na Hong-jin follows a remote village besieged by a mysterious creature. Historical drama The Uprising, starring Andrew Garfield as a medieval rebel, debuted just behind with $3.25 million.

Horror and Family Films Hold Steady

Horror franchise Insidious: Out of the Further claimed seventh place with $3.35 million in its fourth weekend, pushing its worldwide total to $155.2 million. Family film Buddy earned $3.5 million in its third weekend for a $21.3 million North American haul, while crime drama By Any Means rounded out the top ten with $2.5 million.

The diverse lineup contributed to a 19.2% increase in domestic box office revenue compared to this point in 2025, with yearly totals reaching $7.5 billion. "What a great summer, a record-breaking summer and a solid start to the fall," Dergarabedian said. While no single film matched last September's Demon Slayer debut, he expressed confidence in the season's potential.

Why It Matters

Practical Magic 2's success demonstrates the enduring power of cult properties and star-driven nostalgia in an era dominated by franchises. The film's modest opening suggests word-of-mouth will be crucial to matching its predecessor's long-tail cultural impact. More broadly, the sustained performance of summer holdovers alongside new releases across genres indicates audiences are returning to theaters for varied experiences beyond traditional tentpoles.

The healthy overall box office, up nearly 20% year-over-year, points to continued recovery for theatrical exhibition after pandemic disruptions. With major studios and independent distributors alike finding success, the industry appears to be settling into a new equilibrium that accommodates both event films and niche offerings - good news for moviegoers craving diversity on the big screen.