Can ‘Practical Magic 2′ Wave a Wand and Save Warner Bros.’ Rough Year at the Box Office?

Warner Bros. faces its worst slump in 25 years as it releases "Practical Magic 2," a legacy sequel to the 1998 supernatural romantic dramedy. The studio has yet to release a film in 2026 that has grossed more than $100 million domestically, a stark contrast to the hits like "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence" and "Training Day" in 2001.

The last successful $100 million domestic release came in December 2001 with "Ocean's Eleven." Warner Bros. has a guaranteed success in December with "Dune: Part Three," but relief may come earlier with the animated "The Cat in the Hat" in November. However, the studio's recent releases, including "The Nun II," "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," and "Practical Magic 2," have struggled to capture audience attention.

"Practical Magic 2" is projected to open domestically with $30-35 million over four days from a $75 million budget and could potentially reach $40 million with independent tracking. Despite mixed reviews and a B- CinemaScore, the film has the potential to attract Gen X and elder millennial women, who have a deep connection to the original, as well as younger women who haven't experienced it before.