Practical Magic 2

'Practical Magic 2,' the long-awaited sequel to the 1998 cult-favorite fantasy romcom, opened atop the North American box office with an estimated $30 million domestic debut (about $46 million worldwide) from 4,146 theaters, ending 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day's' six-week run at number one; the opening came in at the low end of Warner Bros.' $30-35 million projection against the film's reported $75 million budget. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reprised their roles as witch sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, joined by newcomers Joey King and Maisie Williams playing Sally's daughters, with Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña and Solly McLeod also added to the cast; Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing returned from the original. Bullock and King told the BBC the demand for the sequel reflected audience nostalgia and a desire for 'simpler times' amid fast-moving technology, while Williams said she preferred a true sequel to a remake, calling herself 'not the biggest fan' of straight remakes.

Critical reception was mixed: The Guardian called it a 'nostalgia-bait return' that is 'strange and messy' but with 'warm seasonal pleasures,' while The Hollywood Reporter said the 'slapdash' film 'works better the less you look for any sense of logic.' The Associated Press gave it two out of four stars, saying it lost some of the original's campy charm but was carried by Bullock and Kidman's chemistry. The film, adapted from Alice Hoffman's novels, arrived 28 years after the original, which grossed $46 million domestically on release before building a cult following through streaming and social media.