The cast of “Practical Magic”: Where are they now?

Based on Alice Hoffman's novel of the same name and directed by Griffin Dunne, Practical Magic made a minor impact commercially and critically when it hit theaters in October 1998, with EW's critic even uncharitably writing, "A witch comedy so slapdash, plodding, and muddled it seems to have had a hex put on it." And yet, the film is now heralded as a seasonal favorite 25 years later.

Born into a witch-rich bloodline and raised by aunts Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest), sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman) managed to avoid their powers for most of their lives, growing into nominally carefree women who drift their separate ways in adulthood. But after Sally's beloved husband Michael (Mark Feuerstein) dies unexpectedly, as does Gillian's abusive boyfriend (Goran Višnjić), the two siblings must join magical forces to outwit a cunning detective (Aidan Quinn) who's onto their tricks.

Practical Magic has no excuse for working as well as it does. Yet it's to Dunne's eternal credit as a filmmaker that it does work so beautifully. The character arcs are satisfying and well-defined, the autumnal production design is almost swoon-inducing, and the sisters' descent into witchcraft is wittily characterized by the evolving shooting style.

With its singular blend of comedy, horror, and tragedy, Practical Magic has endured for a quarter century and shows no sign of aging. It's a not-so-guilty pleasure film that feels both quintessentially '90s and utterly timeless.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, EW caught up with the cast of Practical Magic to see where they are now.

Sandra Bullock (Sally Owens)

Sandra Bullock broke out in 1994's Speed and rose to further prominence with plum roles in a variety of dramas and comedies, such as While You Were Sleeping (1995), Hope Floats (1998), and, of course, Practical Magic.

The actor reminisced to PEOPLE in 2019 about the famous scene in which the Owens women do a drunken dance around their manse. "We weren't drunk when we shot these parts or when we did our close-ups. But we had to reshoot a scene where it was far away and we were on our backs and Nicole just put the bottle on the table and said, 'You know what? There's no reason we shouldn't be drunk here.' And I said, 'You know what? That's true.'"

Bullock soon hit box office gold and became America's sweetheart with 2000's Miss Congeniality. She further solidified her acting chops with a role in 2009's The Blind Side, which won her an Academy Award for Best Actress. She went on to star in a wider variety of films, taking on more dramatic character parts (Gravity) as well as more genre roles (Ocean's 8, Bird Box), while still appearing in the kinds of comedies that made her successful.

Bullock was previously engaged to actor Tate Donovan and has been romantically linked to Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Gosling, amongst others. She married Jesse James in 2005 and divorced him in 2010, after multiple women revealed they had had affairs with him during their marriage.

Bullock was in a relationship with photographer Bryan Randall from 2015 until his death from ALS in 2023.

Nicole Kidman (Gillian Owens)

Aussie star Nicole Kidman got her start in TV and movies down under before finding international success opposite Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder (1990). She went on to star in Batman Forever (1995) and To Die For (1995) before acting alongside Cruise again in Stanley Kubrick's final film, Eyes Wide Shut (1999).

She's been nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars five times: for 2002's Moulin Rouge, 2011's Rabbit Hole, 2017's Lion, 2022's Being the Ricardos, and winning once in 2003 for playing Virginia Woolf in The Hours. She received further acclaim for her Emmy-winning turn in HBO's Big Little Lies and inspired countless memes with her overly sincere AMC commercial.

Kidman married Cruise in 1990. The couple adopted a son and daughter before their highly-publicized divorce in 2001. She was engaged to Lenny Kravitz at one point, but they reportedly called it off. The actress met Keith Urban in 2005 and they married in 2006. They share two daughters.

Kidman and Bullock reunited on the red carpet of the 2018 Oscars, where they recalled their bond while filming Practical Magic. "This is a woman I love!" Kidman said of Bullock, before revealing: "I love that movie, I showed that movie to my kids. It's a little above them, we were really good sisters!"

Stockard Channing (Frances Owens)

Stockard Channing was a decorated theater actor before coming to silver screen stardom in her 30s. She broke out opposite Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty in 1975's The Fortune before landing her signature role as Rizzo in Grease (1978). She raked up multiple Tony nominations (and one win in 1985), earned an Oscar nod for Best Actress for Six Degrees of Separation (1993), and won three Emmys, including one for her turn on The West Wing. You might also recognize her from Where the Heart Is (2000), Woody Allen's Anything Else (2003), and The Good Wife.

Channing has been married and divorced four times. She met her long-term partner, cinematographer Daniel Gillham, in 1990 on the set of A Time of Destiny (1988). They remained together until his death in 2014. As of 2019, she was living in London.

In a 2020 interview with Vulture, Channing noted that Practical Magic's impact on young women was particularly rare for the time. "It's very unusual," she said. "My recollection, which may or may not be accurate, is that it had a greater life after it first opened. I couldn't tell you if it made money; I wouldn't be aware of that at all. But I am aware that, over the years, a lot of people have been crazy about it," she continued. "So it's lived on, which is interesting."

Dianne Wiest (Bridget "Jet" Owens)

Dianne Wiest is best known for her collaborations with Woody Allen, two of which (1986's Hannah and Her Sisters and 1994's Bullets Over Broadway) won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She's also well known for her roles in Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Birdcage (1996), and Rabbit Hole (2010) opposite her Practical Magic costar Nicole Kidman.

Wiest received further acclaim for her television turns on In Treatment and Road to Avonlea, with each winning her an Emmy. She's currently starring opposite Jeremy Renner in the Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown.

Reese has two adopted daughters, Emily and Lily.

Aidan Quinn (Special Investigator Gary Hallet)

Aidan Quinn was born in Chicago and made his feature film debut in Reckless (1984) opposite Daryl Hannah. He went on to appear in '80s and '90s classics such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Benny and Joon (1993), Legends of the Fall (1994), and Michael Collins (1996). Recently Quinn has appeared in a recurring role on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as in the film Daughter of the Bride (2023) with Marcia Gay Harden.

Quinn married his Stakeout costar Elizabeth Bracco in 1987. The couple has two daughters, Mia and Ava. He's a noted philanthropist, having supported causes such as testicular cancer awareness and autism research.

Goran Višnjić (James "Jimmy" Angelov)

Prior to Practical Magic, Croatian-American actor Goran Višnjić appeared in small roles in The Peacemaker (1997) and Rounders (1998). After being dispatched by the Owens sisters, his career began in earnest. Višnjić went on to voice Soto in Ice Age (2002), played the male lead in Elektra (2005), and appeared as Christopher Plummer's younger lover in Mike Mills' Beginners (2010). As for television, he's carried supporting roles in series like ER, Santa Clarita Diet, This Is Us, Doctor Who, and The Boys. Most recently, the actor appeared in 2023's Hellraiser reboot.

Višnjić married his wife, Eva, in 1999. They have four children together and live in Los Angeles while also spending time in Croatia.

Evan Rachel Wood (Kylie Owens)

The year before appearing in Practical Magic, Evan Rachel Wood starred opposite Kevin Bacon in her film debut, Digging to China (1997). She then starred in a series of mid-aughts favorites like Thirteen (2003) and Across the Universe (2007) before segueing into more adult projects like The Ides of March (2011). More recently, Wood starred in Westworld in addition to appearing in Miranda July's Kajillionaire (2020) and as Madonna in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022).

The actress admitted on a 2022 episode of Watch What Happens Live that she was in love with her Practical Magic co-star during filming. "I had such a crush on Sandra Bullock. But I didn't realize it until later on in life. It's like, 'Oh you were in love with her.'"

Wood had an on and off again relationship with fellow actor Jamie Bell, with whom she shares a child. In 2016, Wood came forward with allegations of abuse against her ex, Brian Warner, better known as defunct shock-rocker Marilyn Manson. In March 2022, the HBO docu-series Phoenix Rising chronicled Wood's relationship with the volatile musician, who is 18 years her senior.

Margo Martindale (Linda Bennett)

Margo Martindale's first film appearance was opposite Nicole Kidman in Days of Thunder (1990). She spent the next decade or so in memorable supporting roles, much like her part as eccentric shopgirl Linda in Practical Magic, and notably reunited with Sandra Bullock in 28 Days (2000) and with Kidman in The Human Stain (2000). But her true breakout film was Million Dollar Baby (2004). Since then, Martindale has essayed a series of increasingly large projects across a variety of genres, including Paris, je t'aime (2006), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), August: Osage County (2013), and The Hollars (2016). Her most recent film role was in 2023's Cocaine Bear.

The actress has also made excellent strides in television, with an Emmy-winning performance in Justified, plus turns in The Americans, The Good Wife/The Good Fight, and Mrs. America. Her latest success is the underrated Peacock series Mrs. Davis.

Martindale married musician Bill Boals in 1986. They share a daughter, Margaret.

Mark Feuerstein (Michael)

Mark Feuerstein made his film debut in Practical Magic, though he had roles on sitcoms like Caroline in the City and Fired Up beforehand. He appeared on season 2 of Sex and the City and in the romantic comedies What Women Want (2000), and In Her Shoes (2005) before taking on his most famous role as Dr. Henry "Hank" Lawson on Royal Pains (where he eventually served as a producer and writer).

The actor's other television projects include The West Wing, Nurse Jackie, and Prison Break. Most recently, he appeared on the series The Baby-sitters Club and Power Book II: Ghost.

Fierstein married writer Dana Klein in 2005. The couple has three children together.

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