The highly anticipated sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, has taken the box office by storm, raking in a staggering $433 million globally after just two weekends of release, as seen in a trending post on r/boxoffice. The film, starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, has become a cultural phenomenon once again, tapping into nostalgia and the excitement of its star-studded cast.
Why it matters: The sequel's impressive performance highlights a resurgence in movie theater attendance, particularly among female audiences. With $433 million in global earnings, it quickly outpaced its predecessor, which earned $326 million worldwide in 2006.
- The Devil Wears Prada 2 earned $77 million in North America and $156.6 million internationally during its opening weekend, making it the fourth-best start of the year.
- Women comprised approximately 76% of ticket buyers, with 74% expressing they would definitely recommend the movie to friends.
- The film's production budget was reported at $100 million, significantly higher than the original's $35 million.
Driving the news: Released by Disney’s 20th Century Studios, The Devil Wears Prada 2 opened in 4,150 theaters across North America. Its box office success has been attributed to a combination of nostalgia and the return of beloved characters.
- The sequel's international box office gross reached $288 million from 51 territories, with the UK and Italy both contributing $28 million each.
- Other top markets included Brazil at $22 million and Mexico at $20 million.
- Director David Frankel noted that the sequel's budget largely went to the cast, emphasizing the star power behind the film.
State of play: The film's opening weekend performance topped the box office and surpassed the original's debut, which started at $27.5 million in 2006.
- With a total of $233.6 million in global sales for the weekend, it secured the second-biggest worldwide debut of 2026, trailing only behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
- In its second weekend, The Devil Wears Prada 2 continued to perform strongly, adding $75 million overseas and $43 million domestically.
- Critics' reviews have been mixed, but audiences have responded positively, awarding it an “A-” grade on CinemaScore exit polls.
The big picture: The resurgence of interest in movie theaters is evident, with The Devil Wears Prada 2 leading the charge. This trend is bolstered by the film's strong female audience.
- Streaming viewership for the original The Devil Wears Prada surged 428% from March to April 2026, indicating heightened anticipation for the sequel.
- As the summer movie season kicks off, this film's success could signal a broader recovery for the industry.
- Comparatively, the original film has remained a cultural touchstone, thanks to its memorable quotes and themes.
What they're saying: Industry experts are optimistic about the film's future performance.
- David A. Gross, who publishes a box office newsletter, remarked, "Very few dramedies do this kind of business once, let alone a second time that’s bigger."
- Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson commented on the success of both The Devil Wears Prada 2 and the competing biopic Michael, stating, "The conventional wisdom that a new giant movie can knock out a movie that has planted itself is constantly proven inaccurate."
- Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Comscore, noted, "It’s this irresistible combination that more than makes up for the fact that there’s not a Marvel movie to kick off the summer movie season."
By the numbers: The box office figures reveal a clear picture of the film's impact.
- The Devil Wears Prada 2 brought in $433 million globally after two weekends, with $144 million coming from North America alone.
- In comparison, Michael, the biopic about Michael Jackson, earned $54 million in its second weekend, bringing its total to $423.9 million worldwide.
- New releases like Mortal Kombat II debuted with disappointing numbers, earning only $63 million globally against an $80 million production budget.
What's next: The success of The Devil Wears Prada 2 sets the stage for potential future installments.
- With its current momentum, analysts predict it could outgross the original film's lifetime earnings in just a matter of weeks.
- The film's strong performance may encourage studios to invest in more sequels and adaptations of beloved properties.
- As summer progresses, audiences will follow closely closely to see if this trend continues, especially with several major releases scheduled for the coming months.
This article is grounded in a discussion trending on Reddit. Claims from the original post and comments may not reflect independently verified reporting.