Practical Magic 2 has claimed the top spot at the North American box office, almost three decades after its predecessor grew from a modest theatrical release into an enduring cult favourite.
The Warner Bros sequel, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, grossed an estimated $30 million across 4,146 cinemas, according to figures released on Sunday by Rentrak. Its arrival ended a six-week reign at the summit for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The opening weekend landed at the lower end of Warner Bros’ projected $30 million to $35 million range. Directed by Susanne Bier, the feature carried a reported $75 million production budget.
Practical Magic 2 reunites Bullock and Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, members of a witch family haunted by a curse on their romantic lives. The sequel sees them attempting to break the curse permanently while introducing a younger generation played by Joey King and Maisie Williams. Lee Pace also joins the cast.
Adapted from author Alice Hoffman’s work, the film arrives 28 years after the original 1998 release. That initial entry took $46 million domestically before gradually building a devoted following via home video, streaming platforms and social media.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day fell to second place with $8.4 million, representing a 54 per cent drop on the previous weekend. The Sony and Marvel blockbuster starring Tom Holland has now grossed roughly $935.2 million domestically.
That total leaves the film within about $1.4 million of the $936.6 million domestic record set by 2015’s Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens for the top spot on the all-time chart.
Christopher Nolan’s mythic epic The Odyssey took third place with $7 million in its ninth weekend. The Universal Pictures release, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, has now crossed $600 million in North America.
The film has also overtaken 2015’s Jurassic World to become Universal’s highest-grossing global release in studio history.
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Angel Studios’ action-comedy Runner opened fourth with $6.7 million. Directed by Scott Waugh across more than 2,500 locations, it stars Alan Ritchson as an ex-soldier pairing up with an unexpected partner, played by Owen Wilson, to transport a human organ while being pursued by a ruthless cartel.
Ketchup Entertainment’s Coyote vs. Acme finished fifth, taking $6.2 million in its third weekend to reach a domestic total of roughly $47.8 million.
Buddy finished sixth with $3.5 million for a $21.3 million total, while Sony’s Insidious: Out of the Further took seventh with $3.4 million, reaching roughly $60.5 million after four weeks.
South Korean sci-fi thriller Hope opened eighth with $3.3 million from 1,560 locations. Directed by Na Hong-jin and starring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Hoyeon, it focuses on a remote village thrown into chaos by a mysterious creature.
Historical action drama The Uprising, directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Andrew Garfield, opened ninth with $3.25 million, depicting a commoners’ revolt against King Richard II in medieval England. By Any Means rounded out the top 10 with $2.5 million in its second weekend.
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak:
1. “Practical Magic 2,” $30 million.
2. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” $8.4 million.
3. “The Odyssey,” $7 million.
4. “Runner,” $6.7 million.
5. “Coyote vs. Acme,” $6.2 million.
6. “Buddy,” $3.5 million.
7. “Insidious: Out of the Further,” $3.4 million.
8. “Hope,” $3.3 million.
9. “The Uprising,” $3.25 million.
10. “By Any Means,” $2.5 million.