Also returning are Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the elder Owens, and the youngsters are now played by Joey King and Maisie Williams. The story revolves around the family curse that means any family member who falls in love will see their partner die a horrible and early death. This is such a buzzkill that Sally (Bullock) has gone out of her way to keep the family secret (that they are witches) and the curse from her two daughters. She has also stopped her practice of magic.

The free-spirited sister Gillian (Kidman) has stuck to her guns and kept the practice of magic alive. Her extroverted and playful approach gives the film a lighter, more accessible feel, so when the danger arrives, it is in stark contrast and makes things feel more ominous. When Sally’s daughter Kylie (King) falls in love with Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), it sets off a chain of events that shakes the family to the core. It also leads to some continent-jumping and includes a trip to England.

For a film with magic in its name, the prestidigitations take a mostly back seat to the human activities and the emotions that they create. The main joy in the film is the on-screen camaraderie between the members of its cast, with Bullock and Kidman riffing off each other in a most pleasing way. The female sensibilities make it a work that women of all ages should enjoy, and there is enough of a male presence to satisfy other members of the audience as well. The story does take a bit of a back seat to the drive of the characters, but it’s a pleasing mix.
Rob Hudson
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Starring along with Bullock and Kidman in PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 are Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, Solly McLeod, with Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing. Susanne Bier directs from a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman and Georgia Pritchett and Kelly Marcel, based on the novel entitled The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman. It is produced by Denise Di Novi, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The executive producers are Donald Sabourin, Alice Hoffman, Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson.

Bier has assembled an esteemed group of film artisans to join her, including director of photography Simon Duggan, production designer Tom Burton, editor Sam Williams, music supervisors Season Kent and Gabe Hilfer, composer Rupert Gregson-Williams, costume designer Alexandra Byrne, and casting director Jina Jay.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, In Association with Alcon Entertainment, A Di Novi Pictures / A Fortis Films / A Blossom Films Production, A Susanne Bier Film: PRACTICAL MAGIC 2. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, only in Australian cinemas on September 10, 2026.
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Then when his ex-schoolmate and now sworn enemy Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) and his girlfriend Valentina (Sofía Vergara) escape from incarceration and vow lethal revenge, it turns Gru and his family’s life upside down. They are soon whisked off into witness protection and relocated to a posh neighbourhood where they do anything but fit in. Add to this the sycophantic next-door neighbour Poppy Prescott (Joey King) who forces Gru back into the life.

With a more mature storyline for the characters to indulge in, the film relies on those irrepressible Minions to provide most of the humour and they do it well. Those in yellow have a series of running gags that show juvenile pranks are always good for a laugh or two and they are as cute as ever. There is one gag about being trapped in a snack vending machine that is consistent in the laugh-generating stakes.

Riffs on the class system and the recidivist nature of criminals add a bit of gravitas to the story but things are mostly kept light and frothy. After three other successful chapters in the franchise, the formula has proven to be effective and remains in place for number four. There are no real surprises in store for the audience, which would have been nice but the entertainment factor remains high as does its relevance for the enjoyment of all ages.
Rob Hudson
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Following the 2022 blockbuster phenomenon of Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru, which earned almost $1 billion worldwide, the biggest global animated franchise in history now begins a new chapter as Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) and Lucy (Oscar® nominee Kristen Wiig) and their girls —Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad.

Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Emmy winner Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.

The film features fresh new characters voiced by Joey King (Bullet Train), Emmy winner Stephen Colbert (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and Chloe Fineman (Saturday Night Live). Pierre Coffin returns as the iconic voice of the Minions and Oscar® nominee Steve Coogan returns as Silas Ramsbottom.

Packed with non-stop action and filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor, Despicable Me 4 is directed by a co-creator of the Minions, Oscar® nominee Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets), and is produced by Illumination’s visionary founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Brett Hoffman (executive producer, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Minions: The Rise of Gru). The film is co-directed by Patrick Delage (animation director Sing 2 and The Secret Life of Pets 2), and the screenplay is by the Emmy winning creator of White Lotus, Mike White, and the veteran writer of every Despicable Me film, Ken Daurio.
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Following the 2022 blockbuster phenomenon of Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru, which earned almost $1 billion worldwide, the biggest global animated franchise in history now begins a new chapter as Gru (Oscar® nominee Steve Carell) and Lucy (Oscar® nominee Kristen Wiig) and their girls —Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad.

Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Emmy winner Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.

The film features fresh new characters voiced by Joey King (Bullet Train), Emmy winner Stephen Colbert (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and Chloe Fineman (Saturday Night Live). Pierre Coffin returns as the iconic voice of the Minions and Oscar® nominee Steve Coogan returns as Silas Ramsbottom.

Packed with non-stop action and filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor, Despicable Me 4 is directed by a co-creator of the Minions, Oscar® nominee Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets), and is produced by Illumination’s visionary founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Brett Hoffman (executive producer, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Minions: The Rise of Gru). The film is co-directed by Patrick Delage (animation director Sing 2 and The Secret Life of Pets 2), and the screenplay is by the Emmy winning creator of White Lotus, Mike White, and the veteran writer of every Despicable Me film, Ken Daurio.
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The set-up reads simply on paper but in practice continues to reveal multiple plot lines and characters until the very last moments of the film. It first focuses on Brad Pitt’s character Ladybug, a reluctant criminal who spouts a stream of zen-like sayings that wouldn’t look out of place on someone’s kitchen tea towel.

As things progress we meet an ever eclectic mob of killers and crooks and each has something new to offer backstory-wise. There is also a peppering of cameos that add to the variety. The violence is comic-book-like and increases in both gore and humour.

The pacing is supercharged with kinetic energy and ever-increasing in outrageousness and the two hours fly by. The final showdown when it happens brings things to a satisfying conclusion yet leaves you still wanting more. It’s been a while since a film of this type has left behind that feeling.
Rob Hudson
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Getting back on the job is never as easy as you think… especially with the world’s deadliest assassins on board.

Take a ride with Brad Pitt in #BulletTrainMovie, exclusively in cinemas August 4, 2022

In Bullet Train, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe – all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives – on the world’s fastest train. The end of the line is just the beginning in this non-stop thrill-ride through modern-day Japan from David Leitch, the director of Deadpool 2.

Starring Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A Martínez Ocasio
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Competition will be drawn August 3, winners will be notified by mail.

Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe – all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives – on the world’s fastest train…and he’s got to figure out how to get off.

From the director of Deadpool 2, David Leitch, the end of the line is only the beginning in a wild, non-stop thrill ride through modern-day Japan.

Starring Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A Martínez Ocasio and Sandra Bullock, Bullet Train will be released in Australian cinemas August 4!
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An original movie event, Bullet Train is a fun, delirious action-thriller from the director of Deadpool 2, David Leitch. Brad Pitt headlines an ensemble cast of eclectic, diverse assassins – all with connected yet conflicting objectives – set against the backdrop of a non-stop ride through modern-day Japan.

Starring Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A Martínez Ocasio

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When one of the girls goes mysteriously missing, they begin to suspect that she is, in fact, his latest victim.

Starring Joey King, Julia Goldani Telles, Jaz Sinclair, Annalise Basso, and Javier Botet and directed by Sylvain White, Slender Man is in Australian Cinemas August 23!
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