The dark side behind Practical Magic which the iconic movie ignores - including 14 executions

After nearly 30 years, Practical Magic fans have been treated to a sequel reuniting Hollywood icons Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman once again.

The first Practical Magic film hit our screens way back in 1998, and today (11 September), Practical Magic 2 finally hits cinemas.

Now, Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip are not returning to Practical Magic 2, as their original roles have been recast with Joey King and Maisie Williams, respectively.

The new film follows the notorious Owens sisters, Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman), 25 years later, as they try to destroy their family's lethal love curse for good

Check out the official Practical Magic 2 trailer here:

Now, while Practical Magic may be at the top of many people's go-to comfort film list, the story behind the blockbuster smash-hit is pretty dark indeed.

OK, so the film doesn't revolve around the infamous Salem Witch Trials - but it makes a heavy reference to it.

The opening scene of the 1998 flick reveals to audiences that Owens family matriarch Maria Owens managed to escape the Salem Witch Trials, where she was condemned to death after being caught having an affair with a married man.

There's a pretty dark story behind the Practical Magic movies (Warner Bros.)

Maria fortunately survived the ordeal and instead accepted banishment to a remote island.

She waited for her lover, but he never showed up, resulting in her casting a spell on herself to never fall in love again.

This set off a generational curse upon any man who loves an Owens woman in her family line.

The first Practical Magic film makes reference to the gory Salem Witch Trials (Warner Bros.)

While Maria arguably got off lucky, many women didn't during the brutal Salem Witch Trials.

A shocking 14 women were hanged, and several more died in prison during this dark period in American history.

While the film specifically mentioned the Salem Witch Trials, an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 people were executed during the peak of the European witch trials, which lasted roughly from 1300 to the late 1700s.

While the Salem trials are famous in pop culture, they were a much smaller, late echo of a much larger, centuries-long European phenomenon driven by religious wars, climate crises, and social anxiety.

Practical Magic 2 hits cinemas this weekend (Warner Bros.)

Roughly 80% of those accused were women, with victims frequently being older, widowed, poor, or otherwise marginalised in society.

The trials slowly faded during the 18th century as the Enlightenment brought stricter legal standards for evidence and judges began rejecting torture-coerced confessions and spectral claims. The last legally sanctioned execution for witchcraft in Europe took place in Switzerland in 1782, when Anna Göldi was executed.

Practical Magic 2 is currently available to watch in cinemas.

Read more: How to get two Practical Magic 2 tickets for £10.