It’s been nearly 25 years since Practical Magic first hit theaters. And while it’s true that the film wasn’t exactly a box office hit, its bewitching appeal has helped to cement it as a cult classic.
Below is a list of 15 facts that fans probably didn’t know about Practical Magic . So dust off your spellbook, prune those broomsticks, and prepare for a heavy helping of ’90s nostalgia that’s sure to leave you barking at the moon.
1. Barbra Streisand really wanted to buy the beautiful Victorian home seen in the film.
There was only one problem — the house wasn’t real ! Unfortunately for the iconic singer, the house we see on-screen was nothing more than an architectural shell that was built during production.
2. Stockard Channing wasn’t the studio’s first choice for Aunt Fran.
Very early on, the studio had its sights set on Oscar-winning actress, Vanessa Redgrave for the part of Aunt Fran. Unfortunately for Vanessa, she and the studio execs weren’t able to work out a deal that made sense for both parties.
3. Sandra Bullock was convinced to appear in the film after the failure of ‘Speed 2’.
Up until that point, Sandra’s main goal was to make blockbuster movies . After Speed 2 , she began to shift her focus toward interesting projects that would allow her to grow as an actress.
4. Many of the locals who were hired on to be extras wound up quitting their jobs.
You don’t become an extra because it pays well, that’s for sure. Once the citizens of Coupeville realized that they were only going to be paid $40 a day , many of them decided that they had better things to do.
5. The film is a hit with “real” witches.
A self-professed Wiccan named Phyllis Curott was asked to assess Practical Magic from an authenticity standpoint. She said that the film perfectly captured the essence of a love spell and that overall — the movie was both powerful and accurate.
6. Jenna Dewan claims that ‘Practical Magic’ is her favorite movie.
“I think that’s kind of one of the best movies ever made,” Dewan said in an interview with SheKnows . “It’s one I put on when I need to make my day a little better or cheer myself up. It’s such a great movie.”
7. The movie is actually based on a book.
The novel was written in 1995 by the author Alice Hoffman . While it’s true that the similarities between the two stop and start at the title — it’s still worth the read for diehard fans.
8. Nicole Kidman wouldn’t accept a half-measure for her exorcism scene.
“She wanted to bang her head on the floor,” Director Griffin Dunne explained during an interview with Yahoo Entertainment . “And I just remember her, take after take, slamming her head. She looked totally possessed.”
9. The much-anticipated prequel series is finally coming to HBO Max!
The series is called Rules of Magic and it’s been in various stages of production for the past four years. The prequel series is set to portray younger versions of the aunts from Practical Magic — originally played by Stockard Channing and Dianne West.
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10. Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks wrote two songs for the film.
The two tunes that Stevie wrote were ” If You Ever Did Believe ” and “Crystal” — the former would eventually go on to be hailed as the film’s unofficial theme song.
Stevie was recruited for two distinct reasons:
The first is that she is a Rock n’ Roll legend. The second (and far less obvious) reason has to do with a rumor that began circulating back in the 1980s. In a nutshell, fans were convinced that Stevie Nicks was, in fact, a witch .
11. During the margarita scene, everyone was drunk — including the director!
“We all drank tequila and shot that scene,” Dunne told Yahoo Entertainment . “Thank God the DP didn’t have any — but we shot it and they all went nuts, and we all danced around.”
12. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman had a ‘Practical Magic’ reunion during the 2018 Academy Awards.
While Sandra was in the middle of answering questions about Ocean’s 8 , Nicole Kidman began to worm her way into the scenery. As soon as Sandra noticed, she exclaimed “Nicole Kidman always butts into my stuff!”
13. The film was cursed by a “real” witch.
To help deliver a more authentic feel, the production team hired a woman claiming to be an actual witch as a consultant. She wound up threatening to curse the entire production, as well as the director unless she was paid an additional $250,000.
14. Director Griffin Dunne had a priest perform a real exorcism on him.
Being cursed by someone claiming to be a real witch would be enough to unnerve anyone. Although Griffin said he didn’t put much stock into it, he was more than happy to shell out $100 to have his aura cleansed.
15. Aidan Quinn got the role because he reminded the producer of another celeb.
The producer, Denise Di Novi, told the Chicago Tribune:
“We wanted a Gary Cooper kind of guy — quiet, taciturn. He radiates goodness, but he’s manly too.”
There you have it! Some gorgeous facts about a movie that we all adore.
I can tell you one thing, I will definitely be watching the new show when that comes out. I am SERIOUSLY looking forward to it.
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