27 Years Later, This Charming Witch Movie Still Has 27% on RT – But Deserves All 100%

Twenty-five years ago, the film adaptation of Alice Hoffman's novel Practical Magic was released to lukewarm and skeptical reviews.

But time has put everything in its place. Today, the story of the Owens sisters, Sally and Gillian, is a cult fairy tale with a rare healing magic that cures souls better than any potion on screen.

What Is 'Practical Magic' About?

It all began with an ancient curse that the witch Maria Owens placed on all men who dared to love her family's women. Generations later, sisters Sally and Gillian must fight against this ancestral destiny.

Widowed at an early age, Sally raises two daughters and tries to build a normal life, rejecting magic. Her sister Gillian falls into the clutches of an abusive and obsessive partner named Jimmy Angelov.

In order to save her, the sisters must tap into the powers they've hidden for so long and confront the consequences of the curse that has plagued their family for generations.

'Practical Magic' Is a Unique Mix of Different Genres and Topics

Practical Magic defies categorization – it is simultaneously a mystical thriller, a dark comedy, a detective story, a tale of domestic violence, and a sentimental saga of sisterhood.

Director Griffin Dunne was pressured by the studio to tone down some of the darker scenes, including violence and attempted murder. However, what initially seemed like a cacophony eventually found harmony.

The film's ability to cover several major chapters in the Owens family's lives in two hours – switching from horror to humor, melodrama to magic – now appears not as a weakness, but as a bold strength.

'Practical Magic' Is a Movie About Sisterhood We Deserve

The magic here isn't limited to spells and potions, it also encompasses the unbreakable bond between the sisters, which Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman convey with stunning sincerity and warmth.

The movie suggests that true magic lies in the everyday, such as a mother's ability to hear her child's cries from miles away and the healing power of sisterly support.

Practical Magic rejects the patriarchal fairy tale of a prince on a white horse and offers a different kind of happy ending: loving sisters, friends, and the family you choose for yourself.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Practical Magic'?

• Practical Magic has 27% from critics and 73% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.4/10.

• On Letterboxd, Practical Magic scored 3.6/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Practical Magic'?

You can buy or rent Practical Magic on Apple TV.