Practical Magic (1998)
Practical Magic is a romantic fantasy-drama film directed by Griffin Dunne, based on the novel by Alice Hoffman. It stars Sandra Bullock as Sally Owens and Nicole Kidman as her sister Gillian Owens—descendants of a long line of witches cursed in matters of the heart.
The Owens family has lived under a dark legacy for generations. Due to a curse placed on their ancestor Maria Owens, any man who falls in love with an Owens woman is doomed to die. Raised by their eccentric aunts—Jet (Dianne Wiest) and Frances (Stockard Channing)—in a charming coastal town, Sally and Gillian grow up aware of their magical heritage but affected differently by it. Sally, quiet and practical, yearns for a normal life, while the wild and impulsive Gillian embraces adventure.
Tragedy strikes early when the curse kills Sally’s beloved husband, leaving her devastated and fearful of love. Gillian, meanwhile, runs off with Jimmy Angelov, a dangerous and abusive man. When Gillian calls for help, Sally rushes to rescue her, but a confrontation ends with Jimmy’s accidental death. In a panic, the sisters try to resurrect him using magic, only to discover that some things are better left dead.
Jimmy’s vengeful spirit begins haunting them, forcing the sisters to reckon with both their past and their powers. As they try to hide the truth, Detective Gary Hallet (Aidan Quinn) arrives to investigate Jimmy’s disappearance. Complicating matters, Sally and Gary begin falling in love—putting him in danger due to the family curse.
With tensions rising, Sally and Gillian unite their powers—and those of the town’s previously wary women—to confront Jimmy’s ghost in a dramatic exorcism. This act of unity and sisterhood breaks the isolation the Owens women have long endured.
In the end, Sally embraces her magic and her love for Gary, defying the curse through genuine connection and self-acceptance. Gillian, too, finds healing and returns home, closer to her sister than ever.
Practical Magic is a blend of fantasy, romance, and dark family legacy, underscored by themes of female empowerment, love, grief, and the importance of embracing who you truly are.
