--- title: "Practical Magic: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/practical-magic/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/practical-magic" critics_score: 51 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Practical Magic (1998): what the critics said Critics' score 51 from 9 reviews: 4 positive, 1 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews split almost down the middle, and even those who enjoy Practical Magic call it fluff. Most critics agree the cast is the best thing in it: Bullock and Kidman keep it moving, and the senior witches played by Wiest and Channing draw praise from admirers and detractors alike. The soft, glossy photography is noted on both sides, not always as a compliment. The two most recent reviews are among the kindest, which suggests its standing has improved with time. The reservations cluster on tone. Nearly every critic notes that it is three films at once, a sisterhood drama, a horror picture and a romance; the disagreement is whether that is charming or a muddle. Roger Ebert finds it too frightening for children and too childish for adults, and objects to soundtrack songs doing the story’s emotional work. Time Out goes furthest, calling the performances hammy and the story heartless. The scores run from 20 to 80. ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 August 2026. The critic finds the 1998 Griffin Dunne film still enchants on its big-screen re-release ahead of a sequel. They single out its romcom quirk, buttery cinematography and stabs of black comedy as making it a zany gem. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/aug/06/practical-magic-review-nicole-kidman-and-sandra-bullocks-90s-witchy-fantasy-still-enchants) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 71/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 1998. Maslin calls the film a bouncy, bubble-brained guilty pleasure with a transcendently silly story line and excessive froufrou touches. She singles out the stars' svelte charm and the delightful comic support from the senior witches as the elements that still provide escapism. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/16/movies/film-review-in-a-super-cute-coven-a-witches-brew-for-men.html) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic describes the film as an uneven chick movie that shifts between cute fluff, sisterhood drama, and supernatural elements, calling it a no-brainer with ruffles. Bullock and Kidman are praised for making it fly along with strong comic support, while Dunne is noted for directing prettily in service of fanciful romantic escapism. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/practical-magic-review/) ## Variety — Emanuel Levy Fi1m's normalised score 52/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 1998. Levy describes the film as slight and undernourished, a hodgepodge that is not entirely satisfying on any level due to conflicting script sensibilities. He singles out the strong ensemble, particularly Nicole Kidman's sexy performance and the supporting turns by Wiest and Channing, as the picture's best asset. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/practical-magic-2-1200455534/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 1998. Ebert finds the film tonally uncertain, veering between horror, laughs and romance in a way that makes it too scary for children and too childish for adults. He singles out the intrusive soundtrack songs that are used to force emotional cues and segues the story cannot support on its own. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/practical-magic-1998) ## Los Angeles Times — Jack Mathews Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 1998. Mathews finds the movie has no more practical magic than a souffle chef, with the filmmakers concentrating on emotional trappings rather than cheap tricks. He singles out the big stars' inability to conjure enough to make the witchcraft story work despite the hype. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-16-ca-32891-story.html) ## Sight and Sound — Kevin Maher Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). The film attempts to update the women's picture genre with supernatural elements but fails to explore the tensions of its matriarchal world. Dunne prioritizes saccharine emotions and glossy visuals over dramatic substance. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/15) ## Time Out — CO'Su Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The film substitutes set pieces and music for drama and genuine emotion. Performances are hammy and the story lacks heart or mind. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/practical-magic) ## Paste — Kenneth Lowe Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2018. The critic views the film as three different movies in one—sisterhood drama, horror, and romance—praising its blend of whimsy, magic, and character dynamics while noting its tonal shifts and initial commercial failure. He highlights the strong female cast and the film's enduring appeal as a seasonal favorite for its themes of belonging and independence. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/practical-magic/autumn-classics-practical-magic) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/practical-magic.md