‘Practical Magic 2’ Is Giving ‘90s Kids a New Way To Connect With Their Own Children
‘Practical Magic 2’ Is Giving ‘90s Kids a New Way To Connect With Their Own Children
Jillian PretzelSat, September 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTC
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Nicole Kidman and Sandra BullockCredit: GettyImages/Gilbert FloresKey Takeaways -
Kids may better understand parents and grandparents when they learn about the people they were before becoming caregivers.
Movies shared across generations, such as Practical Magic 2, can help families build empathy and see each other in a new way.
Watching a favorite movie together can open the door to sharing family stories, photos, and memories.
In an interview promoting Practical Magic 2, which hit theaters on September 10, 2026, Nicole Kidman asked Sandra Bullock why now is the right time for a sequel to the 1998 cult classic.
Bullock’s answer was poignant. She said it’s important for people to see family members of older generations as individuals, suggesting that seeing the Practical Magic characters at a new phase of life may help.
“We forget that our mothers and grandmothers were young women with dreams and hopes and desires as well, and we never looked at them as human beings like that,” Bullock says. “You know, they were just ‘Mom’ and ‘Grandma.’”
Her answer hit me hard, because, as a mom of three, I’ve been thinking about this a lot. As I’m getting older, trying to balance motherhood, relationships, and career goals, I’m starting to relate to my mom, and even my grandmothers, a lot more—and understand them a lot better. I understand more about what they went through when they were in this stage of their lives.
I’m realizing how much I missed watching older family members. And I’m realizing there’s so much my kids don’t see, or even know, about me.
Experts say Bullock’s on to something: intergenerational franchises, like Practical Magic, can help foster a sense of empathy across generations, allowing kids to see their parents and grandparents in a new light. And maybe even inspire a stronger bond.
The Magic of Long-Awaited Sequels
When I was a kid, I loved Practical Magic. My childhood best friend and I even saw ourselves as the real-life sisters from the movie.
With her dark hair and responsible nature, my friend was just like Sally Owens, played by Bullock. Meanwhile, my red hair and fun-loving personality more resembled Sally’s wild-child sister, Gillian, played by Kidman. My name even matched the character, only I spell Jillian with a “J.”
We watched the movie on repeat, as if it were our job to memorize every line. We cast Sally and Gillian’s spells on my back patio: mixing “potions” in plastic bowls, using ingredients we got from the spice cabinet. It was our perfect brand of ‘90s girlhood.
Now, I have kids of my own, and I always planned on sharing this beloved movie with my “little witches.” But there’s something extra special about having a new film to bring their generation into the Practical Magic universe.
With stars today’s young people know well, like Joey King and Maisie Williams, and songs from artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Practical Magic doesn’t just seem like a ‘90s throwback, but a new franchise the next generation can relate to.
Plus, something special happens when viewers get to see the same characters evolve.
Dipesh Patel, LCSW, a psychotherapist who specializes in high-conflict relationships and family building, says it’s valuable for kids to see characters, those who serve as the action and romantic leads, in a new phase of life. It’s enlightening to see great, strong, dynamic, and well-written main characters grow up and grow older.
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“Children get a chance to see their parents and grandparents’ generations not only as older authoritative figures but also as people having gone through their own unique lived experiences,” Patel says.
A Way for Different Generations To Connect
Of course, Practical Magic 2 isn’t the only film of its kind to bring generations together. Patel mentions a number of recent sequels, prequels, and remakes from ‘90s and ‘00s movies, including The Devil Wears Prada 2, Elle, and Mean Girls, that can present the same opportunities for understanding different generations.
Patel notes that these intergenerational sequels can encourage empathy to flow in both directions. These movies give younger generations an opportunity to understand older family members, while the older generations also get to see younger ones growing up in a changing world.
For example, Patel says the 2024 version of Mean Girls, which follows the 2004 movie of the same name, presents a great opportunity for older generations to understand new challenges associated with social media. He also recalls having great discussions with his nieces after watching 2026’s The Devil Wears Prada 2, about how workforce pressures have changed since the first movie came out in 2006.
Karen Aronian, EdD, an education and parenting expert at Aronian Education Design LLC, says it’s not uncommon to see intergenerational series serve as inspiration for connection and understanding in families. We’ve seen this for years, she says, with many generations in families bonding over long-running series like Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
“Those kinds of franchises specifically, where a character goes from the lead to more of a mentorship role, can really inspire kids to look at their parents or grandparents and realize they, too, were once like them, just starting out, becoming who they are,” she says.
But Dr. Aronian tells parents that watching these sequels together may be just the beginning of the connection opportunity.
For a parent planning on taking their kids to see Practical Magic 2, Dr. Aronian suggests using this as an opportunity to dust off your old ‘90s photo album or share some favorite Y2K music. She says the movie may even inspire parents to do a craft, like making candles. Parents with grown kids may enjoy making “midnight margaritas”—inspired by the first movie and also highlighted in the sequel.
Maisie Williams, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, and Joey KingCredit: GettyImages/Kate GreenEnjoying ‘Practical Magic’ With My Kids
At the end of the day, I think Bullock’s right. Sometimes it’s hard to see our parents and grandparents beyond that caretaker role. But there’s so much good that can come from seeing them as something more: the strong, interesting, complicated leads in their own movie.
Recently, my daughters and I watched the original Practical Magic movie—though with them being 6 and 3, I did fast-forward some more mature parts.
My oldest especially liked it, saying she loved the magic spells and the great costumes. I told her I watched this movie all the time when I wasn’t much older than her, and she asked to see pictures of me when I was a kid. I was thrilled to show her.
All things considered, I know that maybe, at 6, she’s still too young to see me as anything other than “mom,” at least most of the time. But that’s OK. I just hope that as she grows up, she’ll see me as more than just the lady who packs lunches and sets bedtime.
I like to think she’ll also see me as the fun-loving kid who made up spells and played pretend with friends, just all grown up.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
