'Practical Magic 2' Posts Estimated $3.5M-Plus in Thursday Previews
Warner Bros and Alcon Entertainment's legacy sequel kicked off theatrical play with early receipts outpacing recent star-driven romantic comedies.
By Marcus Bell · September 11, 2026 · 1 min read
Published by Hollywood Tomorrow
Warner Bros and Alcon Entertainment generated an estimated $3.5 million to $4 million from early domestic screenings of *Practical Magic 2*, according to box office figures reported by Deadline.
Showtimes for the fantasy sequel commenced at 2 p.m. on Thursday across North American theaters, setting the pace for its wide opening frame.
## Comparison Points
The preliminary intake outpaces several notable star-driven comps targeting similar adult audiences. Sandra Bullock's 2022 release *The Lost City* posted $2.5 million in Thursday previews before closing its first weekend with a $31 million domestic haul.
The early figure also positions the title favorably against other recent older-skewing romantic comedies, including the George Clooney and Julia Roberts vehicle *Ticket to Paradise*.
## Why It Matters
For studio executives, the weekend performance serves as an important test of whether late-arriving nostalgia properties can still mobilize theatrical moviegoers outside of traditional action franchises. Mid-budget, female-skewing titles have faced an uneven marketplace post-pandemic, making early tracking benchmarks critical for theatrical viability.
Final weekend totals will determine whether this early preview turnout reflects broad four-quadrant appeal or a front-loaded surge driven by core devotees of the 1998 original.
Reported from the originating source.
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