Practical Magic (1998)
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20% of critics liked it
(55 reviews) -
73% of users liked it
(187,523 ratings)
Griffin Dunne directed this romantic fantasy adapted from the 1995 Alice Hoffman novel about the Owens family of witches, regarded as outcasts in the town where they live. Aunt Frances (Stockard Channing) and her sister Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest) tried to pass on practical magic skills to their nieces,… More Griffin Dunne directed this romantic fantasy adapted from the 1995 Alice Hoffman novel about the Owens family of witches, regarded as outcasts in the town where they live. Aunt Frances (Stockard Channing) and her sister Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest) tried to pass on practical magic skills to their nieces, subdued Sally (Sandra Bullock) and fiery Gillian (Nicole Kidman), brought up by the two aunts after their parents died. The aunts concoct spells for the lonely and the lovelorn, but the family's use of witchcraft unfortunately invokes a curse that spells doom to the family's menfolk. Denying her powers, Sally attempted to lead a life minus magic. Her marriage to fish merchant Michael (Mark Feuerstein) brought two daughters -- and Michael's death. Moving into the aunt's seaside mansion, the widowed Sally warns the aunts not to influence her daughters. Sally intervenes when Gillian suffers at the hands of her abusive Bulgarian boyfriend Jimmy (Goran Visnic), and Arizona detective Gary Hallet (Aidan Quinn), investigating Jimmy's disappearance, turns up in town, eyeing Gillian and Sally as the leading suspects. Filmed in Washington (San Juan Island, Whidby Island, Coupeville, Friday Harbor). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Griffin Dunne
- Written By
- Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman, Adam Brooks
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Kids & Family, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
- In Theaters
- Oct 16, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Susan Stark, Detroit News
A saga that lacks the courage of its own odd convictions.
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Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
The trio of credited writers exhibits a complete failure of imagination!
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie doesn't seem sure what tone to adopt, veering uncertainly from horror to laughs to romance.
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Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Uneven adaptation of lyrical novel.
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Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
A bad sign when the only female in the creative process is Swicord
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Sandra Bullock
as Sally Owens
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Nicole Kidman
as Gillian Owens
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Dianne Wiest
as Aunt Jet
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Stockard Channing
as Aunt Frances
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Aidan Quinn
as Gary Hallet
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Goran Visnjic
as Jimmy
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Evan Rachel Wood
as Kylie
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Alexandra Astrip
as Antonia
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Mark Feuerstein
as Michael
- Alexandra Artrip
- Camilla Belle
- Margo Martindale



