Phoenix 24
A poorly reviewed sequel may already be repeating its predecessor’s path toward cult status.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have reunited as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens in Practical Magic 2, nearly three decades after the original supernatural romance reached cinemas. The sequel has produced one of the year’s most striking divisions between professional reviewers and general audiences.
As of September 11, the film held a 35% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 104 professional reviews. Its verified audience score stood at 92%, creating a 57-point gap. The contrast resembles the reception of the 1998 original, which earned approximately 30% from critics but 73% from viewers before gradually becoming a seasonal cult favourite.
Set 25 years after the first story, the sequel introduces a new generation of the Owens family. Sally’s daughter Kylie, played by Joey King, begins uncovering family secrets while developing magical abilities of her own. The crisis reunites Sally and Gillian with the family’s older matriarchs as they confront the curse that has shadowed the Owens women for generations.
Critics have praised the chemistry between Bullock and Kidman but questioned the film’s 130-minute running time, convoluted screenplay and heavy dependence on nostalgia. Several reviews argue that the sequel recreates recognizable moments without recovering the unusual balance of romance, grief, comedy and gothic atmosphere that gave the original its enduring identity.
Audiences appear more interested in emotional familiarity than narrative precision. Viewers who grew up with the first film have responded enthusiastically to the return of its characters, themes of sisterhood and autumnal aesthetic. That loyalty translated into approximately $4.7 million from Thursday preview screenings, exceeding initial projections of between $3.5 million and $4 million.
With a reported production budget of about $70 million, the film is projected to earn between $30 million and $35 million during its domestic opening. Its long-term position will depend on whether enthusiasm extends beyond established fans. Cult status, however, cannot be manufactured during an opening weekend. Like the original, the sequel may need years of repeat viewing before its mixture of flaws, emotion and atmosphere acquires a cultural life independent of critical judgment.
Audiences sometimes discover value where criticism sees only imperfection.