Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman’s long-awaited sequel is expected to give Warner Bros. a much-needed boost and potentially end Spider-Man’s run at No. 1.
After dominating the domestic box office for weeks, Spider-Man: Brand New Day could finally be pushed out of the top spot this weekend.
The movie expected to make that happen is Practical Magic 2, the sequel to the beloved 1998 fantasy film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
The new Warner Bros. release is generating strong early interest and could bring in around $40 million during its opening weekend, according to Boxoffice Pro analyst Daniel Loria.
If that projection holds, Practical Magic 2 would have a strong start and potentially become the studio’s biggest domestic success of the year so far.
A Stronger Opening Than ‘Freakier Friday’
The projected debut would also put Practical Magic 2 ahead of another recent legacy sequel aimed heavily at female audiences.
Freakier Friday, released last year, opened with approximately $28 million domestically.
The stronger tracking for Practical Magic 2 suggests that audiences may be particularly interested in seeing Bullock and Kidman return to their iconic roles as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens.
The original Practical Magic developed a devoted following after its 1998 release and became a cult favorite over the years.
Warner Bros. Could Use the Win
A successful opening would arrive at an important time for Warner Bros.
The studio enjoyed an impressive 2025, with films such as A Minecraft Movie, Sinners and One Battle After Another generating significant attention. Several of those movies performed strongly both commercially and critically.
The picture has been much less positive in 2026.
Following the international success of Wuthering Heights, which crossed the $270 million mark worldwide, Warner Bros. has struggled to produce another major theatrical hit.
The studio’s recent releases have included the Mortal Kombat sequel, They Will Kill You, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy and The Bride!, with several of those films falling short of expectations.
Most notably, Warner Bros. is heading into the final part of the year without a movie that has earned $100 million domestically.
That would mark the first time the studio has reached this stage of a year without such a film since 2001.
‘Practical Magic 2’ Arrives at the Right Moment
The sequel could therefore represent more than another successful franchise release for Warner Bros.
It could give the studio momentum heading into an important stretch of its theatrical calendar.
Bullock and Kidman are returning as the Owens sisters, bringing back characters who have remained popular with fans for decades.
The nostalgia surrounding the original film, combined with the star power of its leading actresses, is expected to be one of the biggest factors behind the sequel’s box-office performance.
The movie also arrives after Spider-Man: Brand New Day has held onto the No. 1 position for an extended period.
If projections are accurate, Practical Magic 2 could finally break that streak.
More Major Releases Are Coming
Warner Bros. still has several high-profile movies scheduled that could change the studio’s fortunes before the end of the year.
Among the upcoming titles are Tom Cruise’s Digger, The Cat in the Hat and Denis Villeneuve’s third Dune installment.
The studio’s leadership team, including Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, has experienced pressure before following a series of disappointing releases.
The pair faced questions about their future after several costly misses in 2024, before A Minecraft Movie helped dramatically improve the studio’s position.
Now, Warner Bros. is once again hoping a major theatrical success can change the conversation.
Can the Magic Return?
For Warner Bros., Practical Magic 2 arrives with unusually high expectations.
A $40 million opening would not only give the sequel a strong launch but could also provide the studio with its first major domestic victory of the year.
Whether the movie can maintain that momentum beyond its opening weekend will depend on audience reception and competition in the weeks ahead.
For now, however, all eyes are on the box office to see whether the Owens sisters can finally break the spell cast by Spider-Man.