The Magic Box

Practical Magic is a 1998 American fantasy romantic comedy drama film based on the 1995 novel by Alice Hoffman. The film was directed by Griffin Dunne and stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing and Aidan Quinn. Bullock and Kidman play sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, descended from a long line of witches. Raised by their aunts after their parents' death from a family curse, the sisters are taught the uses of practical magic as they grow up. Years later, they must use their magic to destroy the evil spirit of Gillian's abusive boyfriend before it kills them. Practical Magic was released by Warner Bros. on October 16, 1998, and grossed $94.4 million worldwide against a production budget of $60–75 million. The film received poor reviews from critics and has since gained a cult following. A sequel, Practical Magic 2, was released on September 10, 2026.