Practical Magic

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Practical Magic

PG-13

1998

1h 44m

Comedy

Fantasy

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

31%

Tomatometer

111 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.

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Critics Consensus

Practical Magic's jarring tonal shifts sink what little potential its offbeat story may have -- though Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock's chemistry makes a strong argument for future collaborations.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Aug 6, 2026

4/5

A zanier adventure in occult romance can hardly be imagined, and the elements of grown up noir violence only make it weirder -- it is as if The Witches of Eastwick took on something of Thelma & Louise with a decaffeinated David Lynch.

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

Mar 30, 2019

Filming in a golden-syrupy light, Dunne seems to have little ambition beyond making his stars look adorable (not tricky) and hoping we'll have forgotten most of The Witches of Eastwick.

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Jami Bernard

New York Daily News

Mar 30, 2019

1/4

It doesn't seem as if there was much communication between the three screenwriters who are credited with adapting Alice Hoffman's novel. Perhaps they should have tried ESP.

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Kevin A. Ranson

MovieCrypt.com

Sep 13, 2026

3/4

The chemistry between Bullock and Kidman overshadows every glitch and gripe... doesn't always add up coherently but still ends magically.

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Sep 11, 2026

3/5

The juggling of tones and genres is messy, yes, but the feminist message - from the sisters to the aunts to the whole female population of the town - is what makes this an endearing cult film. And midnight margaritas

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Sep 11, 2026

Nothing could have prepared me for a movie about a female family of witches to be so much about their (insubstantial) romantic relationships with hastily sketched men.

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Phantom H

@RT02937505 5 days ago

I genuinely am uncertain why people love this movie. It has the same amount of charm as any similar movie at this time, only it’s thematically inconsistent. Constantly jump cutting, time skipping, adding in story beats every second while not giving enough time for anything to breathe. This story is more a horror story/minor supernatural crime thriller than it is a heartwarming one. The story is not only all over the place but dark and f’d up but set to a happy tune. Nothing like a group of grown women giggling as they perform an exorcism. They hated these women forever yet are just chill with helping because they’re curious? Thats not how that works. Similarly, let’s look at “the craft” well paced, story consistent, even the rules of the world are made super clear. Not in practical magic. A movie that definitely should’ve been a show and that feels very much like you took illicit substances because that’s how jumpy it is. This is a horror story with Tuscan mom vibes.

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Felix S

@FelixjSolis Sep 22, 2026

I am so sad that I missed this movie back in the 90s! The Vibes, the feels, the aesthetic the all! -mostly I am sad that i didn’t grew up with this movie in my mind and heart. But as Sally said fall in love whenever you can, and I Just did with this movie.

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Christina C

@cscmom4 Sep 21, 2026

I love this movie. It’s a must all year long.

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Catherine H

@RT26271956 Sep 21, 2026

Love this movie. Rewatch several times a year. Will buy PM2 when it streams.

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Liam D

@RT27490930 Sep 20, 2026

I love this movie and I actually went to the cinema to see the sequel today. It felt very funny, and innocent. Other than a spirit taking control of jillians body and almost killing her. Otherwise it was so funny I absolutely loved it.

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Jack L

@RT67175345 Sep 20, 2026

This movie hits me in the nostalgia and fall feels every time it gets played basically making it one of my top spooky season films

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Griffin Dunne

Director

Sandra Bullock

Sally Owens

Nicole Kidman

Gillian Owens

Dianne Wiest

Aunt Bridget 'Jet' Owens

Stockard Channing

Frances Owens

Aidan Quinn

Officer Gary Hallet

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29%

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Synopsis

Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.

Director: Griffin Dunne
Producer: Denise Di Novi
Screenwriter: Alice Hoffman, Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman, Adam Brooks
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Fortis Films, Warner Brothers, DiNovi Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 1998, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $46.8M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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