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Practical Magic poster

Movies that feel likePractical Magic (1998)

Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.

If you loved Practical Magic, the closest films we have are The Mermaid (2016), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) and Bedazzled (1967). All three share Practical Magic's romantic and dreamlike feel, which is what we rank on before quality.

Seen the big three already? The under-the-radar pick below is Truly Madly Deeply (1991).

πŸ… 31% Rotten Tomatoesβ˜… 6.4 IMDb β†—TMDB β†—dir. Griffin Dunneromanticdreamlikewittyplayful
6 of 12 streaming nowNetflix Β· Amazon Prime Video Β· FlixFling

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If Practical Magic hit the spot, these will too

Looking for the series itself? Also in this series: Practical Magic 2 (2026)

The Mermaid poster
The Mermaid
2016 Β· dir. Stephen Chow
πŸ… 95%β˜… 6.2comedy Β· fantasy Β· romance

Romantic and dreamlike in the same breath

The difference: Critics rated this one higher still

When Xuan's real estate project threatens the home of mermaids, Shan is sent to stop him. When they fall in love, he is encouraged to cancel the project. However, he must save them from bigger danger.

The Purple Rose of Cairo poster
The Purple Rose of Cairo
1985 Β· dir. Woody Allen
πŸ… 93%β˜… 7.6fantasy Β· comedy Β· romance

The same mix in both: wit, then play

Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey, living a dreary life during the Great Depression. Her only escape from her mundane reality is the movie theatre. After losing her job, Cecilia goes to see 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' in hopes of raising her spirits, where she watches dashing archaeologist Tom Baxter time and again.

Bedazzled poster
Bedazzled
1967 Β· dir. Stanley Donen
πŸ… 74%β˜… 6.7fantasy Β· comedy Β· romance

Romantic romance, and it commits to that

The difference: Made in the 1960s, in a different era of the craft

A hapless loser sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for seven wishes, but has trouble winning over the girl of his dreams.

Being John Malkovich poster
Being John Malkovich
1999 Β· dir. Spike Jonze
πŸ… 94%β˜… 7.7comedy Β· drama Β· fantasy

One thread runs through both: witch

The difference: Leans harder into drama than Practical Magic does

One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.

Groundhog Day poster
Groundhog Day
1993 Β· dir. Harold Ramis
πŸ… 93%β˜… 8romance Β· fantasy Β· comedy

Both lean on dream logic more than on fantasy

A cynical TV weatherman, along with his idealistic producer and his sardonic cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over.

Bruce Almighty poster
Bruce Almighty
2003 Β· dir. Tom Shadyac
πŸ… 48%β˜… 6.8fantasy Β· comedy

Comedy built on wit, twice over

Bruce Nolan toils as a "human interest" television reporter in Buffalo, NY, but despite his high ratings and the love of his beautiful girlfriend, Bruce remains unfulfilled. At the end of the worst day in his life, he angrily ridicules God β€” and the Almighty responds, endowing Bruce with all of His divine powers.

The Invention of Lying poster
The Invention of Lying
2009 Β· dir. Ricky Gervais
πŸ… 56%β˜… 6.4comedy Β· fantasy Β· romance

Playful romance in both cases

Set in a world where the concept of lying doesn't exist, a loser changes his lot when he invents lying and uses it to get ahead.

Shallow Hal poster
Shallow Hal
2001 Β· dir. Peter Farrelly
πŸ… 49%β˜… 6comedy Β· fantasy Β· romance

Fantasy with a pulse of romance, in both cases

After taking his dying father's advice, Hal dates only the embodiments of female physical perfection. But that all changes after Hal has an unexpected run-in with self-help guru Tony Robbins. Intrigued by Hal's shallowness, Robbins hypnotizes him into seeing the beauty that exists even in the least physically appealing women. Hal soon falls for Rosemary, but he doesn't realize that his gorgeous girlfriend is actually a 300-pound-not-so-hottie.

When We First Met poster
When We First Met
2018 Β· dir. Ari Sandel
πŸ… 45%β˜… 6.4comedy Β· romance Β· fantasyNetflix

Comedy with a pulse of dream logic, in both cases

Using a magical photo booth that sends him back in time, Noah relives the night he met Avery over and over, trying to persuade her to fall for him.

Dark Shadows poster
Dark Shadows
2012 Β· dir. Tim Burton
πŸ… 35%β˜… 6.2comedy Β· fantasy

Both keep coming back to the same thing: halloween

Vampire Barnabas Collins is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate and family have fallen into ruin.

Beauty and the Beast poster
Beauty and the Beast
2014 Β· dir. Christophe Gans
πŸ… 41%β˜… 6.4fantasy Β· romancePrime Video

Two things both keep coming back to: magic and love

The difference: Easier on the wit than Practical Magic

Forced to face the cruel side of life, a devastated, bankrupt merchant chances upon the enchanted castle of a hideous creature, the mere sight of it chills the bone to the marrow. There, a fate worse than death awaits the poor father-of-six, who, after plucking a sweet-scented rose from the repulsive master's verdant garden, must do the impossible: permit his compassionate daughter, Belle, to take his place and pay for the sins of her parent. Now, an impenetrable mystery shrouds the haunted mansion, and, as repugnance gradually turns into affection, only true love could break the spell.

Truly Madly Deeply poster
Truly Madly Deeply
1991 Β· dir. Anthony Minghella
πŸ… 76%β˜… 7.2fantasy Β· drama Β· comedy

The same preoccupation in both: love

Nina is totally heartbroken at the death of her boyfriend Jamie, but is even more unprepared for his return as a ghost. At first it's almost as good as it used to be – hey, even the rats that infested her house have disappeared. But Jamie starts bringing ghostly friends home and behaving more and more oddly.

In the mood for more romantic?

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The best-reviewed films that share Practical Magic’s defining feeling.