After two decades of fans begging for a return to the cutthroat halls of Runway magazine, 20th Century Studios finally delivered The Devil Wears Prada 2 this weekend. Audiences responded by dressing in their absolute best and swarming theaters across the globe, generating a massive theatrical turnout that proves the cerulean sweater hasn’t lost an ounce of its cultural power.
Fast-Tracking to a Billion: The Global Numbers
Box office analysts knew the legacy sequel was going to be a hit, but very few predicted it would be a certified juggernaut straight out of the gate.
- Global Domination: The film raked in a massive $233.6 million worldwide over its opening three-day weekend.
- Domestic Success: In North America alone, the fashion-forward comedy debuted to a stellar $77 million, easily taking the number one spot and leaving the weekend’s competition in the dust.
- Chasing the Original: To put this phenomenal opening into perspective, the original The Devil Wears Prada grossed a total of $326.5 million globally during its entire theatrical run back in 2006. In just three days, the sequel has already earned 72% of the original film’s entire lifetime gross.
Given the incredibly positive word-of-mouth and the robust 76% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, industry insiders expect the film to have incredibly strong legs throughout the month of May.
A Historic Milestone for Meryl Streep
It is hard to believe that an actress with three Academy Awards and a career spanning half a century still has major cinematic milestones left to cross, but Miranda Priestly just handed Meryl Streep a brand-new personal best.
The $77 million domestic debut officially marks the biggest opening weekend of Streep’s entire career. It shatters her previous opening weekend records, easily surpassing the debuts of massive musical hits like Into the Woods ($31 million) and Mamma Mia! ($27.7 million).
It is a profound testament to Streep’s enduring star power. She stepped back into one of the most iconic, terrifying, and beloved roles of the 21st century and successfully commanded an audience size that is typically reserved for major superhero blockbusters.
The Power of the Perfect Reunion
So, why did The Devil Wears Prada 2 succeed where so many other legacy sequels have stumbled?
The answer lies in the cast. The studio miraculously managed to secure the core four—Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci—ensuring that the sequel wasn’t just a reboot in name only. Audiences weren’t just showing up for the designer clothes; they were showing up to witness the unmatched, razor-sharp chemistry between Miranda, Andy, Emily, and Nigel one more time.
With the sequel heavily addressing the modern, tumultuous reality of digital journalism and the decline of print media, the film managed to feel both incredibly nostalgic and surprisingly timely.
As the box office receipts continue to roll in, one thing is abundantly clear: Miranda Priestly still dictates exactly what the world consumes.
That’s all.
