The Devil Wears Prada 2: Miranda Priestly Faces a Print Media Crisis, What Are the Reviews?

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The Devil Wears Prada 2, finally officially hit theaters on May 1, 2026.

The film immediately topped the North American box office.

In its opening weekend, The Devil Wears Prada 2 grossed an estimated $233.6 million worldwide.

This figure includes $77 million domestically and $156.6 million internationally.

This achievement placed it among the strongest theatrical debuts of 2026, earning 72% of the original film's $326 million box office total, against a production budget of approximately $100 million.

The financial success of Devil Wears Prada 2 in its opening weekend is a strong testament to the franchise's appeal.

With a global gross of $233.6 million, the film not only cemented its position as one of the highest-grossing films of early 2026, but also demonstrated that the story of the fashion world and its intrigues remains highly relevant to audiences.

Aline Brosh McKenna, the screenwriter of the first film, returned to write the script for this sequel, ensuring continuity of narrative and character.

Producers Wendy Finerman and Karen Rosenfelt also returned, along with director David Frankel, who once again helmed the project.

Filming took place in iconic locations like New York City and Italy.

Streaming viewership for the first film increased by 428% from March to April 2026.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 takes place twenty years after the original film, placing Miranda Priestly in a very different situation.

This time, she faces the decline of the print media industry, with Runway magazine on the verge of an existential crisis.

Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), now an award-winning investigative journalist, returns to work under Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) as Runway's new features editor following the magazine's PR crisis.

Andy is hired to help manage the declining Runway magazine's crisis, bringing his twenty years of journalism experience to the table.

Meanwhile, Miranda's former assistant, Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), is now a high-ranking executive at a luxury fashion group and is competing fiercely with Miranda for advertising revenue.

Miranda must adapt to the ever-changing media landscape to keep her business afloat.

Meryl Streep returns as Miranda Priestly, portrayed with cool composure and sharp authority, but with a new layer of vulnerability beneath her haughty exterior.

Miranda now has a new husband, a musician played by Kenneth Branagh.

Anne Hathaway reprises the role of Andy Sachs, now a seasoned journalist with 20 years of investigative journalism under her belt, and in a romantic relationship with an Australian contractor named Peter (Patrick Brammall).

Emily Blunt returns as Emily Charlton, now a high-ranking executive at a luxury fashion conglomerate and engaged to Benji Barnes (Justin Theroux).

Stanley Tucci also returns as Nigel Kipling, the smart and stylish soul of Runway, though older and a little weary, but still committed to fashion and the magazine's legacy.

Critics and audiences agree #TheDevilWearsPrada2 is the stylish sequel fans have been waiting to see. https://t.co/tS3QMRN4E1 pic.twitter.com/lhg8b18aN3

— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) May 1, 2026

The Devil Wears Prada 2 received "fairly good" reviews from critics, although some felt it lacked the "pizazz" of the original, but it was still enjoyable.

The film holds a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 87% score from verified audiences.

A PostTrak score of 4.5 out of 5.0 and a CinemaScore of "A-" represent strong audience metrics.

Some reviews noted that the plot felt a bit "silly" or "bland," particularly regarding Andy's attempt to take over Runway behind Miranda's back.

Several critics felt that The Devil Wears Prada 2 lacked a profound commentary on the issues it addressed, such as the state of journalism or corporate greed.

However, the film was praised for reuniting the original cast, providing a chance to spend time with beloved characters.

The film also successfully revitalized the fading publishing landscape, a far cry from its heyday two decades ago, and was considered a rare example of a female-oriented film leading the summer box office.