Everything You Need to Know Before Watching Practical Magic 2

It’s finally happening.

Almost three decades after Practical Magic first gave us midnight margaritas, witchy sisters, the most iconic 90s house and a soundtrack we still haven’t recovered from, the Owens women are back.

Practical Magic 2 arrives in cinemas this September, bringing Sally Owens, Gillian Owens and the next generation of the Owens family back into the world of magic.

But if it’s been a while since you last watched the original, there are a few things you’ll definitely want to remember before settling in for the sequel.

Spoilers for the original Practical Magic ahead.

First things first: who are Sally and Gillian Owens?

Sally and Gillian Owens are sisters, witches and the heart of Practical Magic.

They were raised by their eccentric aunts, Frances and Jet, after losing their parents. The sisters grow up knowing they come from a long line of Owens women with magical abilities but they have very different relationships with their magic.

Sally is the more cautious one. She wants a normal life and is terrified of the family curse.

Gillian? Not so much.

She is adventurous, impulsive and completely unafraid of falling in love - even though that is exactly what the Owens women have been warned against.

And honestly, that difference between them is what makes Sally and Gillian so good. They might be complete opposites, but when it comes down to it, they always choose each other.

Okay, but what actually is the Owens curse?

This is probably the biggest thing to remember.

Centuries earlier, an Owens ancestor named Maria was abandoned by the man she loved. Heartbroken, she cast a spell to prevent herself from ever falling in love again.

Unfortunately, the magic didn't quite go to plan. Instead, it became a curse passed down through the Owens family: any man an Owens woman truly loves is destined to die.

It's the reason Sally is so afraid of love. And it's also why the sisters' stories become so complicated when they grow up.

Sally falls in love anyway

Despite everything she's been taught about the curse, Sally meets Michael and falls in love.
They marry and have two daughters, Kylie and Antonia.

For a while, Sally gets the normal life she always wanted. Until the death-watch beetle appears. Michael dies suddenly, leaving Sally devastated and convinced that the Owens curse has taken him from her. She returns to the Owens house with her daughters and becomes even more determined to keep them away from magic.

And then Gillian comes home.

Gillian's return changes everything

Gillian has spent years travelling and falling in and out of relationships.

Unfortunately, one of those relationships is with Jimmy Angelov, an abusive man who becomes dangerous. Gillian calls Sally for help, and Sally goes to rescue her.

What follows is basically where Practical Magic goes from witchy girls' night to full supernatural chaos.

Sally accidentally kills Jimmy using belladonna in his tequila. The sisters then attempt to resurrect him using forbidden magic - which, unsurprisingly, goes horribly wrong. Jimmy comes back, and the sisters are forced to kill him again. But they haven't actually got rid of him. Because Jimmy's spirit is still around.

Enter Gary Hallet

Gary Hallet arrives from Arizona investigating Jimmy's disappearance. He's also, rather inconveniently for Sally, the man she wished for as a teenager.

When Sally was young, she cast a spell describing the impossible man she would fall in love with - including some very specific characteristics.

And Gary fits the description. The problem? Sally believes that if she falls in love with him, the Owens curse will eventually kill him too.

Gary, however, isn't convinced. His belief is essentially that a curse only has power if you believe in it.

And eventually, Sally has to decide whether she's going to keep running from magic or accept it.

The moment everything changes

Jimmy's spirit possesses Gillian, and Sally realises that she can't save her sister by pretending she isn't a witch.

So she does something she has spent most of her life avoiding. She embraces her magic.

Sally calls on the women of the town - the same women who have spent years judging and shunning the Owens family - and together they form a coven to help save Gillian.

The final exorcism becomes about much more than defeating Jimmy. It's Sally and Gillian's bond that ultimately breaks the curse.

The sisters join hands, their blood oath is invoked, and Jimmy's spirit is finally banished. The Owens curse is broken. And the women of the town finally accept the Owens family for who they are.

What do we know about Practical Magic 2?

The sequel brings back Sandra Bullock as Sally and Nicole Kidman as Gillian, alongside Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing as Aunt Jet and Aunt Frances. The new generation also takes centre stage, with Joey King, Maisie Williams and others joining the cast.

The official synopsis promises that the Owens sisters will once again face a dark ancestral curse threatening their family, bringing the next generation of Owens women into the story.

So, after nearly 30 years, we're heading back to the Owens family and this time, Sally and Gillian aren't the only ones carrying the magic.

Bring Que Rico to the cinema

If you're planning to see Practical Magic 2 when it arrives in cinemas, don't forget the snacks.

Que Rico's luxury Spanish olive oil crisps are made for movie night, with flavours including Spanish Sea Salt, Smoked Paprika Pimentón, Serrano Ham & Rosemary and Manchego Cheese.

Pick your flavour, grab your ticket and settle in for the sequel. Just don't forget to check the cinema's food policy before bringing your own snacks.