When Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock First Made Magic

A sequel is brewing for Practical Magic despite the original seeming a bit cursed when it launched 28 years ago. After making his feature directorial debut with 1997’s Addicted to Love, Griffin Dunne — whose acting credits include An American Werewolf in London — was hired to direct Warner Bros.’ adaptation of Alice Hoffman’s 1995 novel about two witch sisters. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman starred as Sally and Gilly Owens, who were raised by their aunts in a small town before facing a curse that threatened to prevent them from finding love. Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing and Aidan Quinn rounded out the cast. The film’s team constructed the Owens’ Victorian home on San Juan Island in Washington as a hollow facade that was later torn down, while interior filming took place in L.A. Dunne hoped to maintain the book’s darker tone; screenwriter Akiva Goldsman once recalled that the director assembled a cut before reshoots that was “stunningly beautiful” and “more of a ghost story” before the studio pushed to go lighter. “It was darker and really more intense,” actress Caprice Benedetti, who played the sisters’ ancestor Maria Owens, tells THR about that early version. She also emphasizes how much fun was had on set. Bullock, Kidman and their co-stars imbibed real booze while filming the memorable midnight margaritas scene. “We all drank tequila and shot that scene,” Dunne has noted. “Then we wrapped the scene but kept drinking and dancing to ‘Lime in the Coconut.’ ” Practical Magic was released Oct. 16, 1998, and even though it topped the box office chart, the $75 million feature earned mixed reviews and collected $68.3 million globally. “The movie was not considered a success at the time, and I took a bit of a hit as a director,” Dunne reflected in 2017 about the film that has since cemented a cult following. Director Susanne Bier’s Practical Magic 2 hits theaters Sept. 10, adding Joey King and Maisie Williams as Sally’s daughters. At its London premiere, Bullock recalled the first movie’s criticism: “We weren’t [praised] when we came out — we were ridiculed for motherhood, sisterhood and too many tones.” The star added about the ensuing fan support: “It’s overwhelming and really beautiful.” This story appeared in the Sept. 2 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up