When Practical Magic was released in the fall of 1998, it was hardly a box-office hit. The film grossed $68 million, which certainly isn’t terrible for a romance-fantasy, but with a reported production budget of $60–75 million, it was far from a success. Adjusted for inflation, that $68 million would be roughly $139 million today. Still, it’s hard to believe the film cost that much to make.
What’s even harder to believe is that, nearly three decades later, the original cast has returned for a sequel. Never underestimate the power of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. They wanted this sequel to happen, and they made it happen. Beyond the film’s devoted cult following, I suspect there are plenty of people who had completely forgotten Practical Magic existed until the trailer for the upcoming sequel reminded them. The original film didn’t even receive a standalone Blu-ray release in the U.S. until this year. Now, fans can rejoice as Practical Magic arrives on 4K UHD courtesy of Warner Bros.
For more than 300 years, the Owens family has been cursed. It all began when their ancestor, Maria Owens, cast a spell after being heartbroken and pregnant, vowing never to fall in love again. Unfortunately, the curse came with an unintended consequence: Any man an Owens woman truly loves is destined to die. Needless to say, this makes dating rather complicated.
In the present day, after the loss of their parents, sisters Sally and Gillian Owens move in with their aunts, Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest). Growing up, the girls are subjected to constant ridicule from the other children and their parents. Everyone knows the Owens family are witches, and nobody wants anything to do with them—unless, of course, they need a little magical assistance.
As adults, the sisters take very different paths. Gillian (Kidman), the free spirit, moves away and embraces life on her own terms. Sally (Bullock), meanwhile, falls in love and has two children. For a while, she is happy, until the family curse strikes again and she loses the man she loves. Angry and heartbroken, Sally vows never to teach her daughters about magic and forbids her aunts from doing so as well.
Gillian has problems of her own. Her boyfriend, Jimmy (Goran Višnjić), is an abusive alcoholic. When Gillian reaches out to her sister for help, Sally immediately flies to her aid. Unfortunately, their attempt to deal with Jimmy ends with him dead, leaving the sisters with few options. They decide to bury his body in the backyard, but things quickly become more complicated. When magic is involved, you can’t always count on the dead staying buried. Meanwhile, a detective (Aidan Quinn) investigating Jimmy’s disappearance begins closing in on the Owens sisters.
Practical Magic is a decent movie, but it doesn’t have a great deal going for it beyond its terrific cast. It’s the kind of film that is easy to forget, even if it does have a certain charm. For me, one of the most memorable aspects is the quaint, picturesque town of Coupeville, Washington, where several of the exterior scenes were filmed. It perfectly captures the cozy, autumnal atmosphere the movie is going for.
Still, if you are a fan of Practical Magic, you should be thrilled that the film is finally making its way to 4K UHD, arriving just in time for the fall season.
Practical Magic has always been a beautiful-looking film, thanks not only to its lovely cast but also to its picturesque seaside locations. This is the kind of charming New England-style town—even though the film was actually shot in Washington State—that any fan of fall would love to visit before Halloween. The new 2160p presentation with Dolby Vision/HDR10 delivers a stunning upgrade. The greenery surrounding the Owens home and the vibrant red roses, which were famously out of season, really pop off the screen. While this isn’t an especially bright or colorful film, the environments receive a significant boost from the new 4K restoration.
The release also includes a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, along with the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. I opted for the Atmos mix, and it does a terrific job bringing the film’s many magical elements to life, with an immersive soundscape that enhances the experience.
As for the bonus content, there isn’t anything new. The extras have been carried over from the original DVD release.
I know Practical Magic has its fans—and if it didn’t, we probably wouldn’t be getting a sequel nearly 30 years later. If you’re one of those fans, this 4K UHD release is definitely worth adding to your collection. It’s a beautiful presentation of a nostalgic fall favorite, and the timing couldn’t be better.
Bonus Content:
- Casting the Spell – Director Griffin Dunne and producer Denise Di Novi, along with stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Aidan Quinn and Goran Visnjic, reflect on the joys of bringing Practical Magic to life.
- Making Magic – Go behind the scenes with the cast and crew of Practical Magic as they share their insights on bringing Alice Hoffman’s novel to the screen.
- Commentary by director Griffin Dunne, producer Denise Di Novi, star Sandra Bullock and composer Alan Silvestri
