Practical Magic

Name: Practical Magic
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Released: October 16, 1998
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 46
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock

1998

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 52 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	Your Score
6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 52 Ratings

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Practical Magic

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: October 16, 1998 | PG-13

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock

Summary: Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are modern witches looking for love and happiness in this spunky and spellbinding comedy/romance. (Warner Bros.)

Director: Griffin Dunne

Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

Dunne is committed, thank good-ness, unapologetic for even the most fluttery sentiment or spookiest chill, enjoying the swellness of the very idea almost as much as any fanciful girl. Read full review

David Sterritt

Lively acting, eye-catching cinematography, and funny dialogue lift this fantasy a notch above the average until love-story cliches and horror-movie shocks bog it down. Read full review

Laura Miller

Like the rest of this new breed of witch story, it's about sisterhood instead of the supreme allure of housewifery, but like all too many witch movies (old and new), it's really just a self-congratulatory paean to banality and shrunken horizons. Read full review

Edvins Beitiks

The cast and crew and screenwriters seem to have had some fun with it, and the audience, coming along for the ride, has some fun with it, too. Read full review

Sarah Kerr

Griffin Dunne's plodding adaptation of Alice Hoffman's novel can't decide whether it's a horror show, a cute comedy, or a soap opera. Read full review

Keith Phipps

Its flat whimsy, VH1-ready musical montage sequences, and less-than-magic magic realism will probably not be enough to hold the attention of all but the most undiscriminating fans of witches and Stockard Channing. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Director Griffin Dunne lacks a clear vision, torn between blithe spirits and brimstone, between madcap and macabre. But then what does it matter when there's so little magic on screen anyhow? That is unless you count making audiences disappear. Read full review

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User Reviews

Lisa

Oct 18, 2005

I've purchased two copies of this movie, because my children and I have worn out the first one watching it (got a DVD the second time) It's a refreshing change to see the good guy get his woman in the end and the bad guy get what he deserves, and all in the same film. Very I've purchased two copies of this movie, because my children and I have worn out the first one watching it (got a DVD the second time) It's a refreshing change to see the good guy get his woman in the end and the bad guy get what he deserves, and all in the same film. Very refreshing, romance with action too. We need more films like this.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Morrigan137

Jul 10, 2021

A rare case of Film beats book. The stellar cast, concept, sets and music really all pulls together to perfectly create a movie so memorable and beloved that it transcends generations. This is a movie that is talked about so highly by so many people yet it got an unjust rating on RT fromA rare case of Film beats book. The stellar cast, concept, sets and music really all pulls together to perfectly create a movie so memorable and beloved that it transcends generations. This is a movie that is talked about so highly by so many people yet it got an unjust rating on RT from critics. Just goes to show your better off watching things for yourself and making up your own mind.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

orkcaitlin

Nov 23, 2015

This is a fun movie to watch. I get this sort of empathy towards these witches and a feeling of nostalgia for the 90's. Ooh Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman and Goran Visnjic young again. It is a fun movie to watch, fun for the whole family cause everyone lives happily ever after at the end.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Cees_Timmerman

Oct 7, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Meandering intro, sudden mood swings, and a happy end. The magic isn't very practical.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FilipeNeto

Jun 29, 2018

This comic movie revolves around the loves of Sally and Gillian, two young witches who are raised by their aunts on an isolated island. They are unhappy in love due to a cruel curse. The film is supposed to be a romantic comedy with a supernatural background, but the plot cuts off almostThis comic movie revolves around the loves of Sally and Gillian, two young witches who are raised by their aunts on an isolated island. They are unhappy in love due to a cruel curse. The film is supposed to be a romantic comedy with a supernatural background, but the plot cuts off almost every developmental path in romance, which turns out to be very fragile. In a romantic comedy, the plot must privilege the development of a love story strong enough to support the plot... but that never happens here. The two female characters want it, but neither does magic make the male characters rise to the challenge. They always seem totally secondary in all plot. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman were both very well and gave the two witches, the main characters of the film, tremendous strength and personality. They were well supported by Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest, who played the two aunts. The problem is the boys: Goran Visnjic and Aidan Quinn have never been well in the film, perhaps because the script did not help the actors' work at all. It's too bad.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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79	#79 Most Discussed Movie of 1998
82	#82 Most Shared Movie of 1998