Practical Magic 2 Opens Softer Than Expected

Noah Miller 09/13/2026

The box office landscape is proving to be a volatile place, where even beloved legacy sequels can struggle to recapture the magic they once promised. The highly anticipated Practical Magic 2, for instance, failed to summon the massive audience expected, settling for a 30 million opening instead of the projected $40 million. While this isn’t a catastrophic failure—especially considering the original film had a somewhat uneven run—it certainly wasn’t the soaring performance fueled by a growing cult following, which many hoped would propel the sequel to greater success.

This performance adds another layer of complexity to the financial woes currently plaguing major studios. For Warner Bros., the film, which cost $75 million to produce, still managed to achieve a profit. However, the reception reflected the broader industry mood, especially considering recent disappointments across the slate, including films like The Bride, Supergirl, and Evil Dead Wrath.

The overall box office picture is a mixed bag, showing a variety of contenders carving out space. Domestically, Spider-Man: Brand New Day remains firmly in the lead, pulling in an $8.5 million weekend and steadily climbing toward becoming the highest-grossing film of all time domestically. Right behind it is The Odyssey, which capitalized on massive 70mm IMAX showings to secure an $8.1 million weekend.

Other films also contributed to the weekend totals. The newcomer Runner, starring Alan Ritchson, delivered a solid $6 million opening, earning a favorable A-minus CinemaScore. Meanwhile, the South Korean hit Hope managed a modest $3.3 million, though some wondered if distributors expected a bigger showing for this acclaimed piece.

Not all new releases found the same footing. The Uprising, starring Andrew Garfield, experienced a softer opening, grossing only $3.1 million and earning a less enthusiastic B-minus CinemaScore. This suggests that while some films continue to dominate, the market is demanding more from ambitious projects across the board.