Two decades after its initial release, "The Devil Wears Prada" has maintained its status as a cultural phenomenon, achieving a global box office success of $326 million against a $35 million budget and earning Meryl Streep an Oscar nomination. Its critical and audience reception, with 75% from critics and 76% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, solidified its place as one of the most profitable films of the 2000s, making the delay of a sequel all the more surprising. Now, "The Devil Wears Prada 2," set to release on May 1, 2026, with a runtime of 120 minutes, brings back Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) and Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) for a highly anticipated new chapter, with fans eager to see if it can live up to the original's lofty expectations.

Directed by David Frankel, who helmed the original, and written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Lauren Weisberger, the sequel smartly brings the beloved characters back into the fold. The narrative picks up with Andy, an aspiring journalist, living her dream as a "serious journalist," only to be abruptly laid off via text along with her entire team. Concurrently, Runway magazine faces a crisis after publishing a glowing piece on a sketchy fast-fashion brand, jeopardizing Miranda Priestly's reputation and a major promotion. Irv (Tibor Feldman), the head of Runway’s parent company, offers Andy a Features Editor position, tasking her with helping Miranda and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) clean up the mess. This involves navigating angry advertisers, including Dior, where Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt) has ascended to a senior executive role. The plot thickens with power struggles between Irv’s son, Jay (B. J. Novak), and Emily’s billionaire boyfriend, Benji (Justin Theroux), each vying for different visions for Runway’s future, often at the expense of its dedicated employees and brand legacy. The film meticulously explores how fashion, journalism, and the zeitgeist are rapidly evolving, forcing everyone to adapt or fall behind.

Initial critical reception for "The Devil Wears Prada 2" has been largely positive, debuting to a solid 75% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes based on 60 reviews. Taylor Gates of Collider lauded it with an 8/10, describing it as a “near-perfect blend of nostalgia and newness.” Brandon Zachary from ScreenRant gave it a respectable 7/10, noting it “delivers more than just sleek looks.” Julian Roman for MovieWeb offered a slightly harsher 3 out of 5, suggesting that while “fans of the original will be pleased,” “casual viewers might not find the film as endearing.” Reviewers noted that while it might not be as sharp or clever as the first film, it successfully blends humor and fun with unexpected emotional depth, particularly resonating with entertainment journalists.

The performances from the returning cast are a significant highlight. Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway seamlessly slip back into their iconic roles, demonstrating an effortless chemistry. Their characters, Miranda and Andy, remain consistent with their core essences while showing believable growth and evolution in their relationship over two decades. Emily Blunt, who was a breakout star in the original, continues to shine, stealing nearly every scene with her enhanced comedic skills. Her portrayal of Emily Charlton is full of savage surprises and a surprising vulnerability beneath her vain exterior. The integration of new characters also proved successful, with Simone Ashley standing out as Amari, Miranda’s snarky first assistant, who skillfully pays tribute to Blunt’s original performance while making the role her own. Caleb Hearon as Miranda’s overworked second assistant and Helen J. Shen as Andy’s eager right-hand woman also bring fresh energy and shine without overshadowing the original cast members.

A central and unexpectedly nuanced theme of "The Devil Wears Prada 2" is the challenging state of modern journalism. The film delves into the pressures faced by the industry, including the rise of AI, tech conglomerates, and the demand for clicks over substantive storytelling. It acts as a "love letter to journalists," much like the first film was to fashion. While the setting shifts from Paris to Milan, the film retains its glamorous aesthetic and features a feast of cameos. The sequel also skillfully addresses how culture has changed over 20 years, lightheartedly poking fun at different generations and drawing inspiration from contemporary figures and events like Elon Musk and the Bill Gates/Melinda French Gates divorce, without resorting to shallow parody. For fans who sought justice for Nigel after Miranda’s past betrayal, Stanley Tucci’s character receives a profoundly satisfying arc, making him the “heart and soul” of the film and eliciting genuine emotion.

However, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" isn't without its criticisms. The romantic subplots, particularly Miranda’s scenes with her husband Stuart (Kenneth Branagh) and Andy’s fling with contractor Peter (Patrick Brammall), were generally found to be less compelling. Miranda’s personal life scenes were deemed non-additive, detracting from her compelling mystique, while Andy’s romance felt underbaked and forgettable, lacking real heat. Critics suggested that the time devoted to these romantic threads could have been better spent developing workplace dynamics. Additionally, some felt there were one or two too many callbacks to the original film, and the sequel, while strong, was not quite as sharp or clever as its predecessor. Despite these minor flaws, the film’s cohesive cast chemistry and its successful tackling of crucial, relevant issues for 2026 ensure it avoids relying solely on nostalgia. It preserves the magic of the original while forging a new, relevant path, making it a worthy legacy sequel and a potential contender for an epic double-feature in the future.