Practical Magic Author Knows Why Movie Failed at Box-Office Despite Starring Both Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman: ‘It wasn’t a time when that was very popular’

Sometimes ‘feel good’ movies don’t do well and that’s just a fact that we have to accept. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t have them listed as our guilty pleasures, right? Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman’s Practical Magic is the perfect example of this. The film was released a little over 25 years ago and the critics weren’t big fans of the romance fantasy. The audience, on the other hand, now that was a different story.

As for why the film didn’t do too well in 1998, the author of the namesake novel knows exactly why. On the 25^th anniversary of Practical Magic, writer Alice Hoffman opened up about why the film struggled to be accepted and she wholeheartedly believes that the time just wasn’t right for the film.

Practical Magic Author on the Film’s Misfortune

Practical Magic (1998) was based on the namesake novel by Alice Hoffman. The adapted film follows the story of the Owens family and the tragic fate of its women who dare fall in love.

Upon its release, the movie was criticized for its confusing shifts in tone as it hopped between themes of horror, romance, and comedy. It also suffered at the box office making $68 million on a budget of $75 million. However, over time, the movie has become somewhat of a cult classic, especially among women.

When Hoffman sat down to discuss Practical Magic’s poor performance at the box office and its negative reception, she rightly suggested that the movie was ahead of its time.

Back in 1998, people weren’t as drawn to magic as they are now. Thus, Hoffman told The New York Post,

When that book came out and the film came out, really, there wasn’t such an openness to magic, especially women in their respective roles. So it wasn’t considered literature. People heard that and weren’t as welcoming as they might be.

If the film had been released in recent years, we are almost a hundred percent sure that it would have received the love it deserved back then. Especially with the lead actresses Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock looking as incredible as ever, there is no way Practical Magic wouldn’t have emerged victorious today.

Hoffman continued,

I think that has really changed now, and I think magic is everywhere. And I think you read more and see more about women who are friends and sisterhood and sisters. It wasn’t a time when that was very kind of current and popular. And I think that’s one of the reasons when the film came out, it didn’t do that well because the critics were not very kind to it. And I think that was basically the reason. They weren’t interested in anything a lot of women are interested in.

Now, magic seems to be everywhere. Perhaps this is why the film has been getting more and more popular over the years with October, the month of the spooky, being designated as the ‘Practical Magic month’ on X.

Honestly, Kidman and Bullock’s Gillian and Sally walked so Wanda Maximoff and Hermione Granger could run.

Alice Hoffman Was Totally Down for a Sequel

Despite the undesirable reception, Kidman and Bullock will be reprising their roles in a Practical Magic sequel which has recently been announced. Kidman told PEOPLE that there is still “a lot more to tell” in regards to the story which made them want to return to the franchise.

After writing Practical Magic, Hoffman released two prequel novels, The Rules of Magic and Magic Lessons as well as one sequel book, The Book of Magic. Back in 2019, The Rules of Magic was supposed to be adapted into a film but sadly, the idea never came to life. Now with the sequel confirmed, we wonder if they will revisit this plan, base the film off The Book of Magic, or go in a completely different direction.

As far as Hoffman is concerned, she is completely on board for the sequel. Talking to TNYP last year, she stated,

I would certainly be up for it. I think it would be a great idea and I would love it if it was the original cast. I know that the readers and the fans and the people who love them are dying for that to happen. And I would do anything to have it happen.

Well, it looks like Hoffman’s wish has magically been turned into reality. The Owens sisters are up to something again!

Practical Magic is available to watch on Max.