You Won't Believe How 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Raked in $77 Million—Is This the End for Fashion?

The highly anticipated sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, has made a striking entrance at the box office, raking in an estimated $77 million during its opening weekend across the U.S. and Canada. This impressive figure not only underscores the enduring appeal of the original 2006 film but also highlights the significant spending power of female moviegoers.

Returning beloved stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, the film outperformed Lionsgate’s Michael, which is a biopic about Michael Jackson. This film garnered $54 million in its second weekend, bringing its total to $183.8 million domestically and $423.9 million globally.

Worldwide, 20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Co., reported that The Devil Wears Prada 2 amassed $233.6 million in total revenue, exceeding studio expectations. Already, this sequel has garnered 72% of the total revenue that the original film generated, which was $326 million.

The original The Devil Wears Prada has cemented its status as a cult classic, with memorable quotes like Streep’s “that’s all” and Tucci’s “gird your loins” becoming catchphrases among millennials. Its popularity has endured through frequent screenings on cable television and platforms like Disney+.

“Nostalgia is a big driving factor for movies like this,” said Andrew Cripps, head of theatrical distribution for Walt Disney Studios. “It’s just one of those movies that got into the zeitgeist.”

The fashion-centric sequel comes with a production budget of approximately $100 million and has received a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a warm reception from audiences and critics alike. Notably, women made up a dominant 71% of the audience during its opening weekend, according to data from EntTelligence.

This robust turnout for The Devil Wears Prada 2 shines a light on Hollywood's ongoing struggle to produce films that resonate with female viewers. Despite the massive success of female-centered hits like Barbie in 2023, the industry has largely failed to consistently roll out significant projects aimed at women. Analysts and studio executives alike are recognizing that this gap represents a missed opportunity—essentially, money left on the table.

In the past, similar films to The Devil Wears Prada 2 included titles like Mamma Mia (2008) and the Sex and the City film, but such projects have become increasingly rare. Recent female-focused offerings such as Wicked: For Good and Taylor Swift’s The Official Release Party of a Showgirl have gained traction, though Wicked benefits from being rooted in a popular Broadway musical.

“There haven’t been enough movies for females,” Cripps remarked. “When you can give them a good movie, as long as the movie plays well—and I think this one plays brilliantly—there’s a big audience out there.”

Following The Devil Wears Prada 2 at the box office, Universal Pictures, Nintendo, and Illumination’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie secured a third-place finish with $12.1 million. Other films in the weekend top five included Project Hail Mary from Amazon MGM Studios and the horror film Hokum from Neon.

As the success of The Devil Wears Prada 2 demonstrates, there is a vibrant market for films that speak to female audiences. As more studios recognize this potential, it could pave the way for a new era of films that not only entertain but also empower women.