“The Devil Wears Prada 2” has taken the global box office by storm, vastly exceeding initial projections with a remarkable $233.6 million in its opening weekend. This includes an impressive $77 million from domestic screenings and an additional $156.6 million from international markets. The film's success underscores a significant return for theatrical releases, particularly for dramedies, and highlights the enduring appeal of its iconic story and characters. The substantial financial investment by Disney’s 20th Century Studios into this sequel appears to be yielding excellent returns, suggesting a strong run ahead for the film.

Released on May 3, 2026, the Disney-backed sequel showcased a formidable performance, securing the fourth-best opening of the year. It surpassed the original film's 2006 domestic debut of $27.5 million by a significant margin, demonstrating heightened audience anticipation. The film's robust opening weekend is particularly noteworthy when compared to other major releases of the year, including “Michael” ($97.5 million), “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” ($131 million), and “Project Hail Mary” ($80 million). Industry analysts, such as David A. Gross of FranchiseRe, note that such high earnings for a dramedy, especially a sequel outperforming its predecessor, are exceptionally rare and attribute much of this success to a dedicated female audience.

The narrative picks up two decades after the events of the first film, with Anne Hathaway’s character, Andy Sachs, returning to Runway magazine as a features editor, once again under the formidable leadership of Miranda Priestly, portrayed by Meryl Streep. Despite a mixed critical reception, audience scores, particularly an “A-” grade on CinemaScore exit polls, indicate strong viewer satisfaction. The sequel capitalized heavily on a wave of nostalgia and the much-anticipated reunion of its beloved original cast, including Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, in addition to Streep and Hathaway. The first film, which grossed $326 million globally, has maintained its cultural relevance over the years, largely due to its memorable dialogue and compelling characters.

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” was the sole major new release this weekend, allowing it to dominate the charts. Other films held strong in their respective positions; “Michael” continued its impressive run, securing second place with $54 million in its second weekend, bringing its North American total to $183.8 million and a global haul of $423 million. Universal’s animated “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” placed third, adding $12.1 million to its domestic gross of $402.67 million and exceeding $900 million globally. “Project Hail Mary” maintained a solid presence in fourth, grossing $8.5 million in its seventh weekend, with total earnings of $318 million domestically and $638.4 million worldwide. Neon’s indie thriller “Hokum” debuted at fifth with $6.4 million, a strong showing for the horror genre, while “Animal Farm,” an animated Orwellian remake, opened at sixth with $3.3 million, despite mixed reviews.

This remarkable box office performance not only highlights the enduring popularity of the franchise but also signals a vibrant period for the film industry, with audiences eager to return to theaters for compelling and star-studded cinematic experiences. The substantial worldwide earnings of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” indicate that the charm and wit of its characters continue to captivate viewers across the globe.