Movie theaters are experiencing a resurgence, underscored by the sensational blockbuster turnout for Disney’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” The star-studded sequel significantly surpassed box office expectations, raking in an impressive $77 million domestically during its opening weekend. This figure dwarfs the original film's $27.5 million domestic launch in 2006 and positions “Prada 2” as the fourth-best opening of the year, trailing only “Michael” ($97.5 million), “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” ($131 million), and “Project Hail Mary” ($80 million). Globally, the film garnered an additional $156.6 million at the international box office, bringing its worldwide debut total to $233.6 million.

Disney’s 20th Century Studios invested heavily in the sequel, with a production budget of approximately $100 million, excluding global marketing. This is a substantial increase compared to the first film’s around $40 million cost (not adjusted for inflation). Director David Frankel revealed to the New York Times that the majority of the sequel’s budget was allocated to the cast. This investment is already proving fruitful, as “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is on track to outgross the original's lifetime haul within a few weeks. Box office analyst David A. Gross noted, “Very few dramedies do this kind of business once, let alone a second time that’s bigger,” attributing the success to a predominantly female audience that “can’t get enough.”

The first film was based on Lauren Weisberg’s 2003 novel, a roman à clef inspired by her experiences as an assistant to Vogue editor Anna Wintour. The sequel, which saw the return of original director Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, continues the story two decades later. Anne Hathaway reprises her role as Andy Sachs, who returns to Runway magazine as a features editor, once again under the formidable editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep. Despite mixed critical reviews, audiences were highly receptive, awarding the film an “A-” grade on CinemaScore exit polls.

The success of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” can be largely attributed to both nostalgia and the excitement generated by the original cast—Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci—reuniting in their iconic roles after 20 years. The first film, a commercial success with $326 million globally, has solidified its status as a generation-spanning cultural touchstone, recognized for its endlessly quotable lines like “gird your loins!” and a memorable monologue about a cerulean-colored sweater. Emily Blunt herself remarked on the lasting impact, noting how her lines from the movie are still quoted to her regularly.

As “The Devil Wears Prada 2” was the sole major new release this past weekend, holdover titles comprised the remainder of the box office charts. “Michael” secured second place, bringing in a robust $54 million in its second weekend, experiencing only a 44% drop from its debut. Lionsgate’s musical biopic about Michael Jackson has emerged as a significant draw, accumulating $183.8 million in North America and $423 million globally. Universal’s animated “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” landed in third place with $12.1 million, pushing its domestic total to $402.67 million and its global earnings to over $900 million after four weekends. “Project Hail Mary” held strong in fourth place with $8.5 million in its seventh weekend, generating $318 million in North America and $638.4 million worldwide.

Additional new releases included Neon’s indie thriller “Hokum,” which debuted in fifth place with $6.4 million across 1,855 theaters. Starring Adam Scott, the film centers on a writer in an Irish inn unknowingly haunted by an ancient evil. It earned a “B” grade on CinemaScore, a strong indicator for the horror genre, as box office expert David A. Gross noted that a B score is excellent given the typical audience agitation after a horror movie. Finally, Angel Studios’ animated Orwellian remake, “Animal Farm,” opened at No. 6 with $3.3 million, but was met with poor reviews and a weak “C-” grade on CinemaScore.