Practical Magic Films Climbed IMDb Charts
The 1998 classic and its new sequel have both reached the top five on IMDb’s list of most popular movies.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Science Fiction
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The original 1998 film Practical Magic has returned to the top five on IMDb’s popularity charts. This resurgence coincides with the release of the sequel, Practical Magic 2, which currently ranks as the second-most popular movie on the platform.
Why it matters
The renewed interest in the original film is directly linked to the theatrical debut of the sequel. This trend highlights how modern franchise continuations can drive significant audience engagement with legacy titles.
The original 1998 film earned $94.4 million at the box office against a production budget of $60 million to $75 million. The sequel, Practical Magic 2, has already grossed over $56 million.
The players
Sandra Bullock
She is an Academy Award-winning actress who stars as one of the sisters in both the original film and its sequel.
Nicole Kidman
She is an acclaimed performer and producer who reprises her role as the other lead sister in the Practical Magic franchise.
Alice Hoffman
She is the author of the 1995 novel Practical Magic and the 2021 sequel book titled The Book of Magic.
The details
Practical Magic 2 continues the story of the sisters, who travel to England to end a centuries-old family curse that prevents them from falling in love. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have reprised their roles from the original 1998 production.
Timeline
Alice Hoffman published the novel Practical Magic in 1995.
The original film premiered on October 16, 1998.
The Book of Magic novel was published in 2021.
Practical Magic ranked in the IMDb top five on September 18, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The current resurgence follows the pattern established by the 2022 Top Gun: Maverick box office phenomenon, where a decades-later sequel successfully reinvigorated interest in a long-dormant franchise. Studios increasingly rely on such legacy sequels to leverage existing intellectual property and bridge multi-generational audiences.
Viewers can currently find both the original film and its sequel tracking high on streaming and digital interest charts. The popularity of these titles makes them primary candidates for continued theatrical support and digital library availability.
The takeaway
Legacy sequels remain a powerful tool for studios to capture both nostalgic viewers and new audiences. Revisiting original films before seeing a sequel can provide a richer understanding of the established lore and character history.
Further reading
For more coverage on trending cinematic returns, visit the Science Fiction section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBR.
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