The sequel to the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada earned $77 million in North America and $156.6 million internationally during its opening weekend, for a global total of $233.6 million, according to studio estimates from 20th Century Studios and Disney. The film opened in theaters on May 1, 2026.
Box Office Performance
Domestic Opening
- Opening weekend (North America): $77 million, the fourth-best start of 2026.
- Friday opening day: $32.5 million.
- Thursday previews (starting 2:00 PM): $10 million.
- Projection range: Estimates prior to opening ranged from $73 million to $90 million.
- Theater count: The film was released in 4,150 locations, including 1,000 premium large-format screens.
International Opening
- International total: $156.6 million.
- Top overseas markets (cumulative):
- Italy: $5.9M | Brazil: $3.2M | Germany: $3.1M
- Mexico: $3M | Australia: $2.7M | France: $2.7M
- China: $2.4M | Korea: $1.5M | Argentina: $1M | Spain: $1M
Comparison to Original
The original The Devil Wears Prada (2006) opened to $27.5 million domestically and ultimately grossed $124.7 million in North America and $326.5 million worldwide. It was produced for approximately $40 million. Adjusted for inflation, the original's $27.5 million domestic opening equates to approximately $45 million in current dollars.
Production and Costs
- Production budget: Approximately $100 million, not including marketing costs.
- Director's statement: David Frankel stated that most of the budget went to the cast.
Cast and Crew
- Director: David Frankel
- Screenwriter: Aline Brosh McKenna
- Returning cast: Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton, Stanley Tucci as Nigel, Tracie Thoms as Lily, Tibor Feldman as Irv Ravitz.
- New cast members: Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, and Conrad Ricamora.
- Cameo appearances: Donatella Versace, Lady Gaga, Ciara, Calum Harper, and Ashley Graham.
Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt each received a base salary of $12.5 million under a favored nations agreement. Each actress has box office bonus clauses that could bring total compensation above $20 million.
Plot Summary
The story follows Andy Sachs, who returns to New York after 15 years as a foreign correspondent. After her news organization closes, she is hired as a features writer at Runway magazine to help restore its credibility following a controversy involving sweatshop labor. She also plans to write a biography about her former boss, Miranda Priestly.
The narrative explores corporate power dynamics and includes a trip to Lake Como. Emily Charlton now works as an executive at Dior, and Miranda Priestly is depicted navigating pressures from her own superiors. The film addresses the decline of print journalism, the influence of wealthy heirs and tech entrepreneurs on legacy media, and the fashion industry's labor practices.
Key Milestones
- Development: Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna stated that development began after discussions with Meryl Streep and producer Wendy Finerman, and was not initiated by Disney or based on commercial calculation.
- Release date: May 1, 2026.
- Filming: New York City, from June to October 2025.
- Premiere: World premiere at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 20, 2026, live-streamed on Disney+ and Hulu. European premiere in London on April 22.
- Budget: Sequels produced for $100 million, compared to original's $40 million.
Marketing and Promotions
- Trailer: A teaser trailer released in November 2024 accumulated 185 million views.
- Music: New single "Runway" by Lady Gaga and Doechii was released on April 27, 2026, and accrued 3.1 million YouTube views.
- Promotional partners: L'Oréal, Dior, Mercedes-Benz, and Diet Coke.
- Cast appearances: Stars promoted the film in Tokyo, London, and New York.
- Anna Wintour: Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour appeared on the Oscars stage with Anne Hathaway and on the cover of Vogue with Meryl Streep.
Reception
- Rotten Tomatoes: Critics' score of 78% "certified fresh"; audience score of 88%.
- CinemaScore: "A-".
- PostTrak exit polls: 76% of ticket buyers were women; 74% of viewers said they would "definitely recommend" the film.
Selected Critical Responses
Some critics described the film as "fun and fierce," "phenomenal" with a "sharp and witty" script, and a "biting media parody." Other critics used the terms "one of the best sequels we've had in years," "fabulous & dare I say better than the original," and "the right to be as good as it is."
Some reviewers offered mixed assessments, describing the film as "a little frictionless," "more tedious and far less interesting," and "not really necessary or worth the wait."
Fashion Criticism
A review by fashion editor Damien Woolnough criticized the costumes as dated and lacking the groundbreaking style of the original, stating that the outfits feel similar to spring 2025 ready-to-wear collections.
Artwork
The film features an AI-style image of Miranda Priestly created by human artist Alexis Franklin, which was commissioned by director David Frankel. Franklin shared a time-lapse video of her creative process on Instagram.
Audience Demographics
Women accounted for 76% of ticket buyers, according to PostTrak exit polls.
Subsequent Weekend Box Office
In its second weekend, the film earned approximately $43 million domestically, a 44% drop from its opening weekend. After 12 days of release, its global total reached $433.2 million.
In its second weekend, the film competed with the opening of Mortal Kombat II, which earned $40 million domestically. By its second Friday, The Devil Wears Prada 2 had surpassed $300 million globally and $100 million domestically.
Other Box Office Results
- Michael (Lionsgate): Earned $54 million in its second weekend, a 44% decline. Domestic total after two weeks: $183.8 million. Global total: $423.9 million.
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: Earned $12.1 million in its fifth weekend; domestic total: $402.67 million.
- Project Hail Mary: Earned $8.5 million in its seventh weekend; domestic total: $318 million.
- Hokum (Neon): Opened to $6.4 million.
- Animal Farm (Angel Studios): Opened to $3.3 million from 2,500 theaters (29% Rotten Tomatoes score).
- Deep Water (Magenta Light Studios): Opened to $2.2 million.
Industry Context
The North American box office for 2026 is running approximately 14% ahead of 2025, with approximately $2.8 billion in domestic ticket sales to date as of the film's opening weekend. The combined performance of The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Michael marked the start of Hollywood's summer movie season.