How ‘Practical Magic’ became a cult classic after scathing reviews, according to Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock looks back at how Practical Magic went from its original critical reception to cult classic—and what she says made it happen.
In a new conversation with friend Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock looked back at the rough launch of Practical Magic and the surprising way it found its audience years later. She remembers the early critics’ pans landing hard before the movie slowly morphed into a cozy, cable-era staple.
“I had a decent amount of shame because I thought I’d done something wrong. You just go, ‘Okay, okay, okay. I won’t do that again.’ And then it just took off.”
Aniston didn’t disagree.
“It turned into a cult classic.”
That “cult classic” energy came from late-night rewatches and word of mouth: the witchy New England vibe, midnight margaritas in the kitchen, and that storybook Victorian house that launched a thousand Pinterest boards. The 1998 film may have stumbled theatrically, but VHS, DVD and cable turned it into comfort viewing.
From flop to sequel
Bullock credited modern social media for supercharging the resurgence—fans trading favorite scenes and sharing first-time reactions long after release. Seeing that, she reached out to producer Denise Di Novi and learned there was more to adapt from author Alice Hoffman’s books.
“So I said if we can say these things for the people who deserve to hear them, we should make it.”
The result is Practical Magic 2, reuniting Bullock with Nicole Kidman as the Owens sisters on a new quest to break a generational curse. The follow-up leans into the family- first heart of the original while raising the stakes for the next generation.
Who’s back
- Dianne Wiest — Aunt Jet
- Stockard Channing — Aunt Frances
- Joey King — Kylie, Sally’s now-grown daughter
- Maisie Williams — Antonia, Sally’s other daughter
Early reaction has been mixed: critics say the sequel keeps a strong emotional core but struggles to fully recapture the 1998 movie’s charm, pointing to a wonkier, more scattered script. On Rotten Tomatoes, it’s hovering around 35%.