Get Your Reps In: “Practical Magic” Hopped Genres Before It Was Cool

Practical Magic (1998)

There’s a particular exhilaration to movies that veer off-road without announcement or apology—the “midnight margaritas” interlude in Practical Magic being one of the all-time joyful examples.

Apropos of nothing, we’re witness to a witch family tradition as sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) get plastered during a midnight kitchen dance party with their aunts (Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing).

But that’s basically how Practical Magic rolls the whole time. The 1998 chemistry extravaganza appears to ad-lib its incantations and evolves from rom-com hijinks to farcical crime cover-ups to credibly dark supernatural drama.

Go early for herb sales and a talk on herb sourcing by Clary Sage Herbarium. Tomorrow Theater, Oct. 12.

Also Playing:

5th Avenue: Wings of Desire (1987), Oct. 11–13.

Academy: Scream (1996), Oct. 11–17. Frankenstein (1931), Oct. 11–17. Alice, Sweet Alice (1976), Oct. 11–17.

Cinema 21: Basquiat (1996), Oct. 11–12 (in black and white). Touchez Pas au Grisbi (1954), Oct. 12.

Cinemagic: Full Contact (1992), Oct. 9.

Clinton Street: Strangler vs. Strangler (1984), Oct. 9. Glen or Glenda (1953) and Necromania: A Tale of Weird Love! (1971), Oct. 10 (double feature). The Lost Boys (1987), Oct. 11. Mandy (2018), Oct. 12. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Oct. 12. Zombie for Sale (2019), Oct. 13. One Cut of the Dead (2017), Oct. 13. Possession (1981), Oct. 14. Raw (2016), Oct. 15.

Hollywood: Pulp Fiction (1994), Oct. 10. Fresh Kill (1994), Oct. 10. An American Werewolf In London (1981), Oct. 11–17. Dreamin’ Wild (2022), Oct. 11. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) and House of Frankenstein (1944), Oct. 12–13 (double feature). The Convent (2000), Oct. 12. The Ghost Galleon (1974), Oct. 14. Fright Night 2 (1988), Oct. 15. Tomorrow: The Craft (1996), Oct. 11. Hocus Pocus (1993), Oct. 13. Jennifer’s Body (2009), Oct. 13.