“Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can.”
― Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic
The fantasy/romance/comedy Practical Magic (1998) was released almost 30 years ago and has gained a cult following over the years. With the long-awaited sequel, Practical Magic 2, scheduled for release on September 11th, 2026, Warner Brothers Home Entertainment is releasing the original film for the first time in 4K resolution with high dynamic range (HDR). The newly remastered film will be available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and digital which will include new bonus content featuring the cast and creative team discussing the making of the film. Based on the 1995 novel by Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic stars Sandra Bullock (Speed, Murder by Numbers) and Nicole Kidman (Eyes Wide Shut, The Others) as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, who are descended from a long line of witches. Practical Magic was written by Alice Hoffman, Robin Swicord (Matilda), and Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind), and directed by actor, producer, and filmmaker Griffin Dunne (Movie 43). Featuring a strong ensemble cast who promote sisterhood, a nostalgic ‘90s soundtrack, and the concept that love can overcome anything (with a little help from magic of course), Practical Magic remains as enchanting as ever.
In a small coastal town in Massachusetts, the women of the Owens family have been blamed for anything bad that has happened in the area for generations because they were and are witches. More than 200 years ago, Maria Owens (Caprice Benedetti) was known as the first witch and the townspeople attempted to execute her and failed. She was then banished to an island. Pregnant and alone after being abandoned by the father of her unborn child, Maria cast a spell on herself so that she, and any of her descendants, would never find love, which became a curse. After their father died because of the curse and their mother died of a broken heart, young sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) Owens were sent to live with their eccentric aunts, Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest).
Bullied and called witches for being different, Sally and Gillian are taught how to use their magical gifts by their aunts, who are well-liked by the local women who come to them asking for spells to improve their lives, like finding love. Sally and Gillian are extremely different from each other. Sally is quiet and reserved and Gillian likes to party and be the center of attention. With detailed mannerisms and a soft-spoken communication style, Bullock does an excellent job portraying Sally’s introverted nature, while Kidman gives a believable performance as free-spirited, uninhibited, wild child Gillian. Despite the Owens family curse, Sally falls in love and marries a man named Michael (Mark Feuerstein) and they have two beautiful daughters, Kylie (Evan Rachel Wood) and Antonia (Alexandra Artrip). After Michael is killed in a tragic accident, Sally learns her aunts cast a spell so she could find love, and, heartbroken, she vows to never allow her daughters to learn magic.
Meanwhile, Gillian travels around the country and has many suitors, including the abusive Jimmy Angelov (Goran Visnjic). When Gillian tells Sally about her involvement with the dangerous Jimmy, who she can’t get away from, Sally goes to rescue her sister and Jimmy is accidentally killed. Panicked, the sisters take Jimmy’s body back to their aunts’ house where they perform a forbidden spell to resurrect him, but an unfortunate series of events leads to Jimmy’s angry spirit terrorizing the Owens women. When state investigator Gary Hallet (Aidan Quinn) arrives looking for Jimmy, who is wanted for murder, the sisters realize they have more than a dead body and a pissed off ghost to deal with as Sally finds herself falling in love with Gary.
Channing (The West Wing; Grease) and Wiest’s (Footloose; The Birdcage) credibly quirky, empathetic portrayals of aunts Frances and Jet are energetic and fun. The “midnight margarita” sequence where the Owens women dance around the house to Harry Nilsson’s 1971 song “Coconut” while sipping margaritas is infectious. The beautiful, iconic Victorian-style home belonging to the aunts in Practical Magic unfortunately isn’t a real house; it was a custom-built exterior shell with scenic seaside gardens, and interior shots were filmed on a soundstage in Los Angeles. Award-winning cinematographer Andrew Dunn (Edge of Darkness, The Madness of King George) shot the film on 35 mm and chose a color palette consisting of autumnal shades like red, orange, and yellow for a cozy, golden aesthetic that accentuates the magical atmosphere of the story. Practical Magic is highlighted by a distinct ‘90s soundtrack which includes Faith Hill’s popular song “This Kiss” and “If You Ever Did Believe” by Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow.
Practical Magic received mixed reviews at the time of its release due in part to its blend of genres, but the mixture of fantasy, romance, comedy, and drama works incredibly well with the fantastical storyline and the film’s refusal to fit neatly into only one genre box is part of its enduring appeal.
The newly remastered 4K Ultra HD and 4K UHD Blu-ray of Practical Magic is presented with vibrant colors that capture the spirit of the film, and it sounds fantastic, making for a bewitchingly pleasant home viewing experience. With lovely, authentic performances showcasing unconditional bonds between the fascinating female characters, gorgeous, warm visuals, and the nostalgic soundtrack, Practical Magic leaves the viewer with the possibility that magic is real.
Practical Magic 4K UHD Special Features:
- *NEW* The Power of Practical Magic (digital edition-only)
- Casting the Spell
- Making Magic
- Commentary with director Griffin Dunne, producer Denise Di Novi, star Sandra Bullock, and composer Alan Silvestri
Available on 4K UHD and digital August 25th, 2026.
For more information, head to the official Warner Bros. Pictures Practical Magic webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming
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