It was a moment of celebration for Emily Blunt on Sunday as her latest film, The Devil Wears Prada 2, achieved an extraordinary $223 million opening weekend at the global box office. The sequel to the 2006 classic, featuring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Stanley Tucci reprising their iconic roles, more than doubled the debut of its predecessor.
A Stellar Opening Weekend
Released globally on May 1, the highly anticipated sequel drew massive crowds worldwide. It garnered $77 million in North America and $156.6 million internationally, culminating in a $233.6 million global opening. This figure is more than double the original film's U.S. debut and already represents 72% of its total worldwide gross. The first The Devil Wears Prada, released in June 2006, earned over $326 million globally, unadjusted for inflation.
In the U.S. and Canada, the sequel pushed the Michael Jackson biopic Michael to second place. According to PostTrak exit polls, women comprised approximately 76% of ticket buyers.
Record-Breaking Achievements
The film marks the biggest international and global launch for Emily Blunt, surpassing her 2023 film Oppenheimer's $180.4 million worldwide opening weekend. It also represents the highest opening weekend for a Meryl Streep film, exceeding the $90 million global debut of Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again in 2018.
Plot and Cast
Set 20 years after the events of the first film, the story follows Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), a take on Vogue powerhouse Anna Wintour, as she grapples with the decline of traditional print media while facing off against Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), now a powerful executive controlling crucial advertising dollars. Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is lured back to Runway to help save the magazine, with the storyline transporting the group from New York to Milan.
The sequel also introduces a host of new faces, including Justin Theroux, Kenneth Branagh, and Lucy Liu.
Critical Acclaim
The film has garnered widespread praise from critics, with many dubbing it "a glorious, glamorous tribute to the Noughties." The Independent, Daily Mail, Telegraph, and Times all awarded the sequel four stars, while the lowest reviews were a respectable three stars. Critics noted, "It's a savvy circular touch that brings Weisberger's book back into play."
Review Highlights
- The Independent (Four Stars): "The main quartet were so well-suited to their original roles that all Streep needs to do is play thoughtfully with a beaded necklace and, instantly, it's like Miranda never left us. Blunt happily walks away with some of the best line deliveries."
- Empire (Three Stars): "Hathaway maintains plucky affability despite her character becoming more world-weary, while Blunt's comedic timing and flashes of vulnerability save the film from feeling too serious."
- The Guardian (Three Stars): "This follow-up is fun, though let down by Andy's bafflingly dreary and chemistry-free romance... This is good-natured, buoyant entertainment."
- The Telegraph (Four Stars): "An avalanche of fashion-world cameos and a crack returning cast turn this sequel into a millennial nostalgia bath. The film is a glorious, glamorous tribute to the noughties."
- The Times (Four Stars): "It's a savvy circular touch that brings Weisberger's book back into play and provides the drama with that most elusive of modern film accessories: satisfying closure."
- Daily Mail - Brian Viner (Four Stars): "Smart and funny, with plenty of satisfying one-liners indicating how the world has changed in 20 years."
- Daily Mail - Aleandra Shulman (Four Stars): "Endlessly self-referential, harking back to the best jokes in the original while uncannily predicting situations the new order throws up. High-voltage, sparkling fun."
- Variety: "Not willfully enshittified. A sequel made with intelligence and respect... buoyed by game performances that nonetheless steadfastly fail to surprise."
- Financial Times: "Magazines may have passed their heyday, but the spicy put-downs endure."
Emily Blunt's Night Out
Emily Blunt, 43, was in high spirits as she stepped out in New York City with her husband, John Krasinski, on Sunday night. Mirroring her character's sense of style, she wore a white draped shirt with a matching pencil skirt, complemented by towering Louboutin heels. John, 45, coordinated with his wife in a double-breasted white blazer and striped tie. The couple attended the 41st Annual Lucille Lortel Awards, which honor excellence in Off-Broadway productions.
