Sandra Bullock Says She Was ‘Sad’ by How “Practical Magic” Was Initially Received, Calls Original Press Tour a ‘Bumpy Road’

Meredith WilshereSun, September 6, 2026 at 6:59 PM UTC

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Sandra Bullock in ‘Practical Magic’.Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock -

Sandra Bullock recalls the initial poor reception of Practical Magic, citing criticism of its tone and female-led cast

Nicole Kidman says fans created a “groundswell of sisterhood,” helping the film become a cult classic over time

Practical Magic 2, featuring returning and new cast members, hits theaters on Sept. 10

Practical Magic wasn’t always the cult classic that it is today.

In an Entertainment Weeklyinterview with the cast of Practical Magic 2, Sandra Bullock reflected on how hard it was to promote the original 1998 witchy film.

“When we first came out, it was a bumpy road for us,” she shared. “Like we knew what we were making and why we were making it. The response wasn’t what it is now.”

At the time, Bullock recalled being constantly questioned about why they had so many women in the movie, which follows sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, two witches descended from generations of women with magical abilities, whose male lovers are doomed to die due to a family curse.

However, the film’s message of sisterhood and support was always especially important to Bullock, who noted that all the negativity was “surprising.”

Sandra Bullock and Nichole Kidman in “Practical Magic”Credit: Warner Bros./Getty

“I don’t want to say I had shame, but I was sad at how it sort of was received initially,” she admitted.

However, when it finally did find its audience, it just made the reaction that much more gratifying.

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“When it caught its wave with those who were supposed to find it, and they were able to coven and communicate with social media, everyone found each other, and we didn’t realize how big that audience was,” Bullock, 62, recalled.

Nicole Kidman chimed in to say that fans “championed it together completely, which was amazing.”

“It was sort of like this groundswell of sisterhood that just went, ‘No, this is our film. We love it. We rewatch it over and over again, and you have to make it,’” Kidman, 59, shared.

In the same interview, Kidman shared that “there was a calling” to continue the story of the Owens witches.

“I have a girl that works with me who is a super fan and so she was watching over it always, and I know a number of people that I know who are who are just uber fans, and that was kind of lovely because they know every detail,” Kidman said.

Practical Magic 2 sees the return of Kidman, Bullock, Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing and introduces newcomers Lee Pace, Joey King and Maisie Williams to the franchise.

Practical Magic 2 is in theaters on Sept. 10.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”