In the early morning of Christmas Eve, the village was abuzz with excited whispers and cheerful laughter. The villagers were preparing for their annual magical Christmas celebration, a tradition that had been passed down through generations. The air was filled with an aroma of freshly baked cookies and the sound of traditional Christmas carols. The village square was adorned with colorful lights, sparkling ornaments, and a towering Christmas tree that stood proudly in the center. Children ran around, their eyes filled with wonder and anticipation, as they made snow angels and threw snowballs at their friends. Laughter echoed through the village, creating a joyful atmosphere.

The Sandra Bullock Cult Classic That Is Keeping Fans Under Its Spell

Everyone has their collection of movies they watch around Halloween time, and Practical Magic is one that should always make the list. After more than 20 years, an article from Elle had much to say about why the movie still makes a repeated impact on movie lovers each year.

Practical Magic, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, is streaming on Hulu.

If not for the fabulous fashion choices made by its two lead characters (Sally and Gillian, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman), the witchy, fall-centered vibe of the movie keeps people coming back for more. Though the movie was considered a financial flop when it first premiered in theaters in 1998, the time since its release has morphed this film into a cult classic.

Produced on a $75 million budget, the box office presentation of Practical Magic only brought in around a little more than $68 million in proceeds worldwide. After a decent opening weekend, the film’s theater attendance quickly tanked.

Critics weren’t too happy with the film either. Some said that Practical Magic just seemed like a bunch of different snippets of various movie genres smashed together in hopes of becoming a whole movie.

Rotten Tomatoes only gives the movie a 24 percent rating on the Tomatometer, but the audience rating is much higher at 73 percent with more than 100,000 individual ratings, proving that moviegoers found more merit in the film than the critics.

Produced on a $75 million budget, the box office presentation of Practical Magic only brought in around a little more than $68 million in proceeds worldwide.

If you’re not familiar with the story of Practical Magic, the film centers around the lives of the Owens sisters, Gillian (Nicole Kidman) and Sally (Sandra Bullock). The Owens women have lived under a dark spell for hundreds of years.

Whenever an Owens woman falls in love, whomever they love ends up dying. Ultimately orphaned by the spell, Sally and Gillian are raised from childhood by their aunts Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Weist), who are also witches (of course). The aunts purpose themselves to teach the young girls Practical Magic as they grow.

After witnessing a woman who comes to the aunts for a powerful love spell, Sally decides she never wants to fall in love and casts a spell that she can only fall in love with a man who can ride a pony backward, has one blue eye and one green eye, can flip pancakes in the air, is marvelously kind, and whose favorite shape is a star.

With such a ridiculous list of must-haves, Sally is sure she won’t ever have to deal with the woes of love or, worse, losing the man she loves. However, her story in Practical Magic doesn’t quite go as planned, as she soon finds out that such a man does exist.

Practical Magic isn’t simply a movie about magic but a movie about women.

Of course, there’s much more to the story than just Sally and her strange requirements for love. Gillian, who chose to throw herself into love every chance she got along the way, has picked up an abusive lover who turns into quite a large problem for the Owens sisters as the movie progresses.

Throughout the film, the connection and strength of the lead women drive the story forward. Practical Magic isn’t simply a movie about magic but a movie about women. The story highlights the power of togetherness, and in the end, everyone except the abusive lover seems to find a happy ending.

If you want to keep the vibe alive this year and feast your eyes on this gem of a movie once more, you can find Practical Magic streaming on Hulu for those who have a subscription to the channel.

What to Watch on Hulu: Here’s the list of top 7 movies to stream in August 2023

Hulu added all three films from the original Jurassic Park trilogy to their catalog on the first day of August, giving you a chance to indulge in a nostalgic summer-night marathon if you were fortunate enough to experience these movies in theaters.

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Hulu is constantly updating its movie collection, making sure you have plenty of entertainment during the upcoming heat waves. Among the summer movie classics is Jurassic Park, released 30 years ago in June 1993. Excitingly, Hulu added all three films from the original Jurassic Park trilogy to their catalog on the first day of August, giving you a chance to indulge in a nostalgic summer-night marathon if you were fortunate enough to experience these movies in theaters.

Adding to the charm, Hulu will also include the witchy classic from 1998, Practical Magic. While not a typical "Halloween season" movie, it will evoke the feeling of cooler autumn temperatures and remind you that Halloween is just around the corner. Alongside these classics, Hulu has a variety of contemporary movies lined up for its streaming service in August, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Laughter echoed through the village, creating a joyful atmosphere. As the sun began to set, the village people gathered around a bonfire, their faces illuminated by its warm glow. The village elders, dressed in festive attire, stepped forward to share stories of Christmas miracles and the importance of spreading love and kindness during the holiday season.

Sweetwater (2023)

Coming to screens on August 4, this captivating biographical sports film, directed by Martin Guigui, takes viewers back to the 1940s, where it unveils the remarkable story of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, portrayed by Everett Osborne. Clifton makes history as the first African-American man to secure a contract with the NBA. Initially a star player for the Harlem Globetrotters, Clifton catches the attention of Ned Irish (Cary Elwes), an executive for the New York Knicks, as well as the team's coach, Joe Lapchick (Jeremy Piven). With the support of NBA President Maurice Podoloff, they set out on a journey to achieve a groundbreaking integration of the two teams, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the sport. Alongside an impressive cast, including Richard Dreyfuss and Kevin Pollack, this film promises to celebrate the inspiring tale of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton's pioneering journey in basketball.

After the heartwarming storytelling session, a group of children dressed as angels began to sing carols, their sweet voices harmonizing in perfect unity. The village people joined in, their voices creating a symphony that echoed throughout the countryside. The twinkling stars above seemed to shine even brighter as their music filled the night sky. Following the carols, the village children performed a magical play reenacting the birth of Jesus. The villagers watched with awe and amazement as the young performers brought the story to life, their innocence and talent shining through each scene. As the play concluded, the village people, young and old, formed a circle around the Christmas tree. Holding hands, they closed their eyes and made heartfelt wishes for themselves and their loved ones. Their wishes floated up into the night, carried by the gentle wind, and it seemed as though the stars were whispering their blessings in return. With the wishes made, it was time for the most awaited part of the evening - the arrival of Santa Claus. Suddenly, bells chimed in the distance, and the village people could hear the faint jingling of reindeer hooves. Excitement filled the air as the sleigh appeared, pulled by majestic reindeer with bells adorning their necks. Santa Claus himself, rosy-cheeked and filled with merriment, gracefully landed his sleigh in the village square. Children rushed forward, their hearts brimming with joy and hope, eagerly awaiting their turn to sit on Santa's lap and share their Christmas wishes. Santa Claus, with his kind eyes and warm smile, listened attentively to each child, promising that their wishes would come true. He handed out small gifts and candy canes, spreading Christmas cheer to every corner of the village. As the evening came to an end, the village people bid farewell to Santa Claus, knowing that their magical Christmas celebration had created memories to cherish for a lifetime. The village sparkled with love and joy, an enchanting atmosphere that would linger long after Christmas had passed. And so, the village people embraced the spirit of Christmas, togetherness, and generosity, carrying it with them throughout the year. The magical Christmas celebration had not only brought happiness to their village, but it had also reminded them of the true meaning of Christmas - the spirit of love and giving..

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