Warner Bros. and Alcon’s Practical Magic 2 has begun its box office run with an estimated $3.5 million to $4 million in Thursday previews, according to source estimates, after showtimes started at 2 p.m.
The early number gives the Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reteam a sturdy launch heading into the weekend, with the preview range coming in ahead of several recent adult-skewing comparisons cited in the marketplace. Sandra Bullock’s romantic adventure Lost City posted $2.5 million in previews before a $31 million three-day opening, while the George Clooney and Julia Roberts romantic comedy Ticket to Paradise drew $1.1 million in previews on its way to a $16.5 million opening.
Practical Magic 2 is also tracking above the $3 million Thursday preview figure for Warner Bros./MRC’s Wuthering Heights, which went on to open to $32.8 million over three days. The new sequel carries a $70 million net production cost, and even an opening in the $30 million to $35 million domestic range would keep it in solid territory against those comps. Alcon financed 50% of the film.
The sequel will also have premium large format support this weekend, including Dolby Cinema, a factor that could help bolster its domestic gross as weekend play gets underway.
Critical response, however, has been chilly. Practical Magic 2 is at 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, according to the source material. That puts it in the same general critical weather system as the original Practical Magic, which was at 29% Rotten. The first film opened at No. 1 with $13.1 million over Oct. 16-18, 1998, and finished with $46.7 million domestic and $94.4 million worldwide. It also received a B- CinemaScore.
Internationally, Practical Magic 2 is expected to open in 77 territories, not including China, with an outlook between $18 million and $23 million.
Other New Openers Enter the Frame
NEON’s Hope, the sci-fi alien invasion film written and directed by Na Hong-jin, opened yesterday to $1.1 million from 1,506 theaters. That total included $305,000 from previews. The film is expected to land in the mid-single digits across its five-day debut.
Hope arrives after a strong run in South Korea, where it grossed more than $36 million and ranked No. 1 for two weekends in a row. Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander play aliens in the film.
Also opening this weekend are Disney’s documentary Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger and Angel Studio’s Runner.
What Happens Next?
The Practical Magic 2 preview figures are currently estimates from sources. Warner Bros. is expected to report the actual figure in the morning, which will give the weekend box office picture a clearer starting point.