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Practical Magic (1998)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.4/10
Reviews Counted: 55
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 44

Comedy, romance, and humor mix with unsatisfying results.

Average Rating: 3.7/10
Critic Reviews: 15
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 14

Comedy, romance, and humor mix with unsatisfying results.

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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 187,523

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Movie Info

Griffin Dunne directed this romantic fantasy adapted from the 1995 Alice Hoffman novel about the Owens family of witches, regarded as outcasts in the town where they live. Aunt Frances (Stockard Channing) and her sister Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest) tried to pass on practical magic skills to their nieces, subdued Sally (Sandra Bullock) and fiery Gillian (Nicole Kidman), brought up by the two aunts after their parents died. The aunts concoct spells for the lonely and the lovelorn, but the family's use

PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.

Action & Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Kids & Family, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Griffin Dunne

Written By: Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman, Adam Brooks

In Theaters: Oct 16, 1998 Wide

On DVD: Feb 16, 1999

Warner Home Video

Practical Magic Trailer & Photos

Cast

Critic Reviews for Practical Magic

All Critics (77) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (47) | DVD (15)

The only thing unpredictable about Practical Magic is the unpleasant surprise one feels when the movie reveals itself as a irritatingly creepy supernatural thriller, rather than the offbeat romantic comedy the ads make it out to be.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Sean Means

Film.com

Top Critic

Although I enjoyed portions of the movie, I can't wholeheartedly recommend something with such an unfortunate and dissatisfying conclusion!

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

A witch comedy so slapdash, plodding, and muddled it seems to have had a hex put on it.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly

| Comment

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Top Critic

The movie doesn't seem sure what tone to adopt, veering uncertainly from horror to laughs to romance.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Uneven adaptation of lyrical novel.

December 27, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

A bad sign when the only female in the creative process is Swicord

September 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central

| Comment

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

...innocuous, sugarcoated Hollywood fluff. (Blu-ray Comedy Double Feature)

July 3, 2010 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...applies a layer of Hollywood gloss, sentimentality, and hyperbole to the proceedings.

July 3, 2010 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

If nothing else, the screenwriters deserve recognition for the nerve it took to employ what must be the most outrageously lazy writer's device in the history of cinema.

July 12, 2008 Full Review Source: ESplatter

| Comment

Steve Biodrowski

ESplatter

Has something to annoy just about everyone: feminists of either gender, Wiccans, or just people expecting a good movie.

September 22, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

An absolute waste of time.

December 31, 2005 Full Review Source: Supercala.com

| Comment

John Venable

Supercala.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Practical Magic

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It did felt corny at some moment(s) (the blood thingy at the end). But other than that, the whole movie was great. Is full of magic (not the silly ones). I loved the bonding of Sandra and Nicole. It made me jealous for not having a sister.

November 27, 2010

Dead Angel

Super Reviewer

This is my favorite Sandra Bullock movie besides While You Were Sleeping. Love this movie. Own it and watch it often with friends. There are three movies me and my friends watch often together and it's Practical Magic, Girl Interrupted, and Almost Famous. Never fails. It's always one of the three.. Sandra and Kidman

September 28, 2008

♥˩ƳИИ ƜѲѲƉƧ♥

Super Reviewer

Practical Magic Quotes

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1. Gary Hallet: Strange town. Never spent this much on shampoo before, in my life.
– Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)
1. Gillian Owens: (to Sally) Of course you're going to see me again. We'll grow old together. It's going to be you and me living in a big house, these two old biddies with all these cats. I bet we even die on the same day.
– Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)
1. Aunt Frances: She heard the beetle ticking for your father's death all day long. She knew that when you hear the sound of the deathwatch beetle the man you love is doomed to die.
– Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)
1. Sally Owens: [to Gary] The reason you're here and you don't know why is because I sent for you.
– Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)
1. Sally Owens: I dream of a love that even time will lie down and be still for.
– Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)

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DVD

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Latest News for Practical Magic

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