Practical Magic 2 claimed the top North American box office spot this weekend, earning an estimated $30 million. The sequel successfully ended the six-week dominance of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
A $30 million start against a $75 million budget
The Warner Bros. sequel opened in 4,146 theaters, securing a top spot that landed at the lower end of the studio's $30 million to $35 million projections. According to Rentrak estimates, the film's initial domestic performance is a critical first step in recovering its reported $75 million production budget.
While the opening is a victory in terms of ranking, the financial margin is tight.. The film, directed by Susanne Bier, must rely on strong legs in the coming weeks to ensure profitability, especially since the initial $30 million domestic haul represents less than half of the production cost.
The 28-year gap since the original Owens sisters
The return of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as Sally and Gillian Owens comes nearly three decades after the first film's release. As the report notes, the 1998 original only earned $46 million during its first domestic run, failing to become a massive hit upon arrival.
The success of Practical Magic 2 is an echo of the original's slow-burn trajectory. The first movie developed a massive, devoted following through streaming services, social media, and home viewing over the years.. This transition from a modest theatrical performer to a cultural touchstone provided Warner Bros. with a pre-built audience for this sequel, proving that long-term digital engagement can breathe new life into old intellectual property.
Spider-Man's $935.2 million run and Universal's new global leader
The shift at the top of the charts comes as Spider-Man: Brand New Day nears a historic milestone. The Sony and Marvel production, starring Tom Holland, has collected roughly $935.2 million domestically, leaving it just $1.4 million shy of the all-time North American record held by 2015's Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens.
Meanwhile, Universal Pictures has a new champion in The Odyssey. Starring Matt Damon, the mythic epic has crossed $600 million domestically and has officially surpassed 2015's Jurassic World to become the highest-grossing global release in the history of Universal Pictures.
Mixed reviews and the $18 million international start
Despite the No. 1 ranking, Practical Magic 2 is facing a divide between critics and viewers. The Associated Press gave the film two out of four stars,claiming the sequel loses the campy energy of the first movie, though it praised the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
Internationally, the film added $18 million from 52 markets,bringing its global total to $48 million. However, a significant question remains: can the film maintain its momentum if the critical consensus remains lukewarm? While audience scores are currently higher than critic ratings, the long-term viability of the film depends on whether the "word-of-mouth" mentioned in the report can outweigh the mixed professional reviews.
Other notable weekend debuts
- Runner: The Angel Studios action-comeddy starring Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson opened in fourth place with $6.7 million.
- Coyote vs. Acme: The Looney Tunes feature from Ketchup Entertainment earned $6.2 million in its third weekend, totaling $47.8 million.
- Hope: The South Korean sci-fi thriller directed by Na Hong-jin debuted in eighth place with $3.3 million.
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