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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SMURFS features an all-star voice cast including Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña with Kurt Russell and John Goodman.
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Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero BLUE BEETLE.

Starring alongside Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) are Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”). Soto (“Charm City Kings,” “The Farm”) directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (“Miss Bala”), based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.

The director’s creative team behind the scenes includes director of photography Pawel Pogorzelski (“Midsommar,” “Hereditary”), production designer John Billington (“Bad Boys for Life”), editor Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2,” “The Lost City”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo (“Jojo Rabbit,” the “Thor” films), visual effects supervisor Kelvin McIlwain (“The Suicide Squad,” “Aquaman”) and composer Bobby Krlic (“Midsommar,” the “Snowpiercer” series).

A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, a Safran Company Production, “Blue Beetle” soars into theaters only internationally beginning August 2023 and in North America August 18, 2023. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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