Practical Magic 2, the Warner Bros and Alcon sequel reuniting Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, generated an estimated $3.5m-$4m in Thursday preview screenings ahead of its weekend release. The figures outperform previews for comparable star-led romantic titles, suggesting the $70m production could open strongly despite a lukewarm critical reception, making it a notable test of whether nostalgia-driven sequels can still draw crowds nearly three decades after the original.

The preview haul beats Bullock's The Lost City ($2.5m previews) and Clooney/Roberts' Ticket to Paradise ($1.1m), and edges past Warner Bros' Wuthering Heights ($3m), both of which went on to open above $30m domestically. Analysts expect Practical Magic 2 to open between $30m-$35m in the US, with $18m-$23m internationally across 77 territories excluding China; it holds a 36% Rotten Tomatoes score, similar to the 1998 original's 29%, which nonetheless grossed $94.4m worldwide. Elsewhere at the box office, Neon's South Korean-set sci-fi film Hope, starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, opened to $1.1m, while Disney's Oasis documentary and Angel Studios' Runner are also new in cinemas this weekend.