'Practical Magic 2' conjures a No. 1 box office debut with $30 million

“Practical Magic 2” conjures a box-office victory this weekend, topping the North American charts nearly three decades after its predecessor

LOS ANGELES -- LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Practical Magic 2" conjured a box-office victory this weekend, opening atop the North American charts nearly three decades after its predecessor grew from a modest theatrical performer into a cult favorite.

The Warner Bros. sequel starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman earned an estimated $30 million from 4,146 theaters, according to estimates Sunday from Rentrak. The film knocked “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” out of the top spot after the superhero blockbuster led the domestic box office for six consecutive weekends.

The debut landed at the low end of Warner Bros.’ projected range of $30 million to $35 million. The Susanne Bier-directed film carries a reported $75 million production budget.

“Practical Magic 2” reunites Bullock and Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, members of a family of witches whose love lives have long been haunted by an ancestral curse. The sequel finds them trying to end the curse for good and introduces a younger generation of the Owens family, played by Joey King and Maisie Williams. Lee Pace also joins the cast.

The film is adapted from the work of author Alice Hoffman and arrives 28 years after the original “Practical Magic.” The 1998 film topped out at $46 million during its initial domestic run but gradually developed a devoted following through home viewing, streaming services and social media.

The latest film received two out of four stars from The Associated Press, whose review said the sequel abandons some of the campy fun that helped the original find an unlikely second life, but is buoyed by the strong performances and chemistry of Bullock and Kidman.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” slipped to second with $8.4 million, a 54% drop from the previous weekend. The Sony and Marvel blockbuster starring Tom Holland has now collected roughly $935.2 million domestically.

That puts the film within about $1.4 million of the $936.6 million North American total for 2015’s “Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens” and the top spot on the all-time domestic chart.

Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” followed in third with $7 million during its ninth weekend. The Universal Pictures mythic epic, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, has crossed $600 million domestically.

The movie also passed 2015’s “Jurassic World” to become Universal’s highest-grossing global release.

“Runner” opened in fourth place with $6.7 million. The Angel Studios action-comedy stars Alan Ritchson as a former soldier who joins forces with an unlikely partner, played by Owen Wilson, to complete an organ delivery while being pursued by a ruthless cartel.

Directed by Scott Waugh, “Runner” opened in more than 2,500 North American theaters.

Ketchup Entertainment’s “Coyote vs. Acme” rounded out the top five, collecting $6.2 million in its third weekend. The live-action and animated Looney Tunes feature has now earned about $47.8 million domestically.