Movie theaters are eagerly anticipating the release of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” this weekend, a highly-anticipated sequel from 20th Century Studios. The film has already generated significant buzz, securing $10 million in box office previews. Projections for its opening weekend range between $75 million and $80 million, with some analysts suggesting it could reach even higher, potentially hitting $90 million to $100 million. This optimism is fueled by the enduring popularity of the original film and the recent strong performance of other releases, such as Lionsgate’s “Michael,” which exceeded its own opening estimates.

Internationally, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” has also made a substantial impact, grossing $40.5 million in its first two days across 45 markets. This strong global start, coupled with the domestic projections, positions the sequel to follow in the footsteps of the successful Michael Jackson biopic, which debuted with a surprising $97.2 million. The film’s budget is reported to be $100 million, not including marketing costs, a significant increase from the original’s $40 million. Industry experts predict that the sequel will quickly surpass the original movie’s lifetime gross, which stood at $125 million domestically and $326 million worldwide after an initial opening of $27.5 million.

The film brings back the beloved original cast, with Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprising their iconic roles two decades after the first “Devil Wears Prada” solidified its status as a pop culture phenomenon. The plot sees Andy Sachs (Hathaway) taking on the role of features editor at Runway magazine, which leads to her reunion with her formidable former boss, Miranda Priestly (Streep), and fashion director Nigel Kipling (Tucci). Their paths also cross with Emily Charlton (Blunt), another of Priestly’s past assistants, who has since become a senior executive at Dior.

Variety’s film critic Guy Lodge highlights the movie’s chief strengths in his review, noting, “The film’s chief pleasures are those of practiced professionals doing their job, and doing it well.” Lodge praises the stars’ dedication and their easily rekindled chemistry, which contributes to the sequel’s feeling of