The Devil Wears Prada 2: A Fashionably Fun Follow-Up

Ready for a Close-Up

Select a strong outfit and prepare for the spotlight, because one of the most anticipated sequels of the year has finally graced screens after 20 years! The Devil Wears Prada 2, as the title suggests, is a sequel to the iconic 2006 comedy-drama film, The Devil Wears Prada. Originating from a novel by Lauren Weisberger, its big screen adaptation was a massive success when it was released, earning over $100 million at the North American box office and spawning a dedicated fanbase that continues to grow to this day. 

Now, the devil has risen again for a new contemporary outing in what has been one of 2026’s most anticipated films. But could the franchise’s flame still burn strongly, even two decades after its conception? Judging by its positive reception from critics and audiences, along with its weekend box office projections of $70-75 million, the film has already cemented itself as a promising contender to kickstart the summer movie season. But though it has garnered many supporters, I was somewhat skeptical upon this feature’s announcement. 

Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy the first Devil Wears Prada, especially with its cast and characters. But despite much of that film’s creative team returning for this sequel, I could not help but feel like this movie was not entirely necessary. I was worried that it would be one of those sequels that’s just made for a quick buck rather than to actually expand on the predecessor’s story. However, I was still opting to give the film a shot, especially once I saw how much traction surrounded it, leaving me optimistic as I strolled to the theater to check it out.

With an open mind, I attended a screening of the film at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield on Thursday, April 30, just in time to cap off my senior year. As the credits rolled, I was left with one question: did this movie exceed my expectations and stand as a satisfying sequel, or would it have been better if this devil had never resurfaced?

Illuminating the Isle

Set 20 years after its predecessor, The Devil Wears Prada 2 puts the spotlight back on journalist Andy Sachs, who finds herself stuck at a roadblock after suddenly losing her job. She eventually finds her way back to fashion magazine Runway—and its domineering director, Miranda Priestly—which is currently stuck in a conflicting position with its consumers. With the magazine’s future in jeopardy, Sachs must work together with her colleagues and foes to reinvigorate the brand and keep it relevant during its darkest hour. 

Directed by David Frankel—who also did the first film and Marley & Me—the movie features a talented ensemble including Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Justin Theroux, Kenneth Branagh, and Lucy Liu among others. 

I am delighted to say that this movie exceeded my expectations and proved to be a great time at the theater. In fact, I'd even argue that this is one of the biggest surprises of the year so far, especially given my initially skeptical feelings towards it. This largely stems from how well the film manages to tell a coherent story. At its core, this movie centers on Runway as it struggles to maintain consistency in a continuously evolving media landscape, and the questionable status of Priestly's future with the company.

Not only does this allow for fantastic character development—which I’ll touch on more in a second—but it also allows the movie to effectively explore relevant concepts. Namely, it provides commentary on the current state of journalism, how it reaches its audiences, and the ever-evolving world of technology—even touching on concepts like artificial intelligence. It not only makes the movie relevant, but it gives it an important message which is expressed to the audience through insightful commentary. I was very impressed by how the film managed to delve into timely concepts, while still making room for an engaging primary plot.

The film puts Sachs and Priestly back into the spotlight, but with updated personalities compared to how they were in the predecessor. Namely, Sachs has become much more confident and passionate about journalistic craft, while Priestly is less tyrannical and more open-minded, while still sporting her trademark ego. Their authentic dynamic and dialogue keeps the main story engaging throughout the entire runtime, especially when combined with the relevant conflict of Runway’s unclear fate, leaving viewers on edge as they root for the magazine’s success.

The writing benefits from telling an engaging story at a consistent pace, allowing the film’s plot structure to move steadily throughout the two hour runtime. However, that does not mean the script is without its faults, which primarily stem from the numerous subplots the film mixes in. These include a romantic side-story involving Sachs, the relationship between Runway and a rich billionaire, and Priestly’s right-hand man Nigel Kipling finding his true voice in the company. On paper, these side stories all have a great deal of potential which could serve as a focal point of the movie’s plot. 

But when thrown in with the numerous onscreen events devoted to resolving Runway’s image and future, it just makes the film feel overstuffed. This is be evidenced by many of these subplots earning very little recognition throughout the runtime, often being established, dropped for a substantial amount of time, and suddenly revisited at the ending. There’s still a lot of charm to be found in these storylines, especially with the cast’s efforts, but most of them do very little to leave an impact or stand out when compared to the primary conflict. 

The script still has merit by being consistently engaging and moving at a steady pace, but the subplots make it feel more crowded when compared to the first film. As such, though not the worst-balanced screenplay I’ve ever seen, it still serves as the movie’s biggest trip on the catwalk. 

A Rightful Runway

A primary part of what makes this movie so enjoyable is its cast of characters, who are just as lively and charming as ever. The original cast slips back into their shoes flawlessly, maintaining their classic personality traits while finding new ways to experiment with them.

Namely, Hathaway is fantastic as Sachs, especially in how much she has evolved since the first film. Though still occasionally nervous and off-put by certain business practices, she has a clear passion for journalism and goes to great lengths to prove herself to Priestly and the rest of Runway. All the while, she maintains the optimistic and bubbly personality that made her character enjoyable in the first place, and even has a few solid emotional moments in the second half. It makes her a worthy protagonist, as she is simultaneously full of life and energy while deeply caring for her profession.

Other members of the supporting cast also perform well, with Blunt acting in an uptight and self-righteous way as Emily Charlton and Tucci being expertly subtle-yet-passionate as Kipling. The two are faithful to their original performances while finding effective ways to modernize them, and provide more in-depth motivations as to why they act the way they do. Plus, these two also have some of the funniest line deliveries in the entire feature, with Tucci especially standing out in this. 

But without a doubt, my favorite performance of the movie came from Streep as Priestly, who flawlessly returns to one of her most iconic roles. In the previous movie, Priestly was an antagonistic figure, who took every chance she could to belittle Sachs and make her original experience as difficult as possible. However, this film takes the opportunity to explore her character more in-depth, giving her a personal set of stakes to allow audiences to gravitate more towards her. She’s much more open-minded and eager in this movie, while still maintaining her classic overbearing ego.

Through Streep’s expert line delivery, Priestly’s passion for Runway shines through the screen, allowing viewers to gravitate towards her as she comes to terms with the company’s role in an evolving media landscape. In fact, I even found myself rooting for Priestly to succeed, which I wasn’t expecting after she played a more villainous role in the first movie. That’s how great her character dynamic is, and how effectively Streep portrays her. 

The characters all have distinct personalities and arcs, while also interacting authentically with one another. As such, their screen presences keep this film enjoyable from the moment it starts until it ends, keeping viewers entertained with their energies the whole way through.

Satanic Style

Surrounding the script and character dynamics is a number of dramatic and technical aspects, which work efficiently with the film’s script and characters. In fact, they also work really well with the tone the movie establishes, which effectively balances out its slower character-driven scenes with a prominent sense of energy and humor, contributing to the film’s steady pacing by flowing between different scenes seamlessly. 

Granted, some of the film’s jokes also serve as a weaker point of the final product. Not to say that all of the humor is rough, as a decent amount of them still managed to make me chuckle—especially from Blunt and Tucci. However, the film does have a decent amount of stumbles, whether it be through dated punchlines or occasionally cringeworthy dialogue. Though I don’t blame the cast for these jokes, I still feel like the movie works better with its dramatic beats than its comedic ones.

Still, the tone is well-balanced and keeps a consistently prominent sense of energy, which coincides really well with the film’s technical aspects. Namely, the cinematography and camera work is gorgeous, as it allows the scenery and its colors to truly pop. Whether it’s a rich house in the Hamptons, a luxurious office building, or the gorgeous scenery of Italy, the film explores beautiful locations while allowing bright colors to shine through the screen. It makes for a great variety of eye candy, which makes this a worthwhile film to catch on the big screen. 

Additionally, the costume design is just as stunning, with a variety of ensembles seen throughout the runtime. Each "fit" reflects their subsequent character effectively—whether it be a multicolored dress worn by Sachs about midway through the runtime, or the more subdued white and grey suits often worn by Priestly and Kipling. It's only fitting that a movie with Prada in the title has such great costume design, giving the film another pop to add to its visual appeal.

Even the music is strong, in both the score and soundtrack. On one hand, Theordore Shapiro's composed tracks evoke feelings of wonder, accomplishment, and uncertainty, acting as a strong companion piece to the onscreen events. Meanwhile, the soundtrack features big names like Lady Gaga, SZA, and Dua Lipa, who all provide songs with high energy and an overall uplifting tone, working flawlessly with the movie's more exuberant scenes, especially during the third act. 

The film's technical aspects stand out in how well they mesh everything together, keeping its sense of energy prominent while ensuring the tone is balanced the whole way through.

Designer Domination

Overall, though the story is overcrowded and the humor is inconsistent, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a highly satisfying sequel thanks to its charming characters, strong performances, steady pacing, vibrant style, and effective examination of important themes. I enjoyed this film much more than I was originally expecting to, resulting in one of this year's biggest surprises so far and one of its best legacy sequels. 

If you're a fan of comedic dramas, the first film, or the previous works of the cast, you'll thoroughly enjoy this feature. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is currently strutting across theaters nationwide, including locally at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield. If you want to see a sequel that's equal parts fun and glamorous, this is the perfect film for you!

It may not be without its issues, but as far as legacy sequels go, this is a highly satisfying film capable of appealing to angels and devils alike. 

My Rating