The Devil Wears Prada 2 First Reactions: What the Critics Are Saying

Critics who caught early screenings of The Devil Wears Prada 2 have revealed how the sequel has turned out. The sequel has been in the making for twenty years and sees the original stars, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprise their roles.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 will be released in cinemas on May 1, 2026. The responses have been positive so far, with many praising the stars’ performance and the commentary on journalism. Here are the first reactions for the sequel.

Movie	The Devil Wears Prada 2
Director	David Frankel
Release Date	May 1, 2026
Cast	Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Kenneth Branagh, Lady Gaga, Justin Theroux
Production	Wendy Finerman Productions
Rotten Tomatoes (As of April 30, 2026)	79% (Tomatometer)

Does The Devil Wears Prada 2 Skip the Sequel Curse?

Legacy sequels are always a hit or a miss. Hollywood has become mostly about franchises now, with cult classics like Road House also getting a sequel. However, they have not always worked for the audience. The sequel curse is real, but The Devil Wears Prada 2 seems to have beaten it.

Critics who caught early screenings and premieres have given their verdict. The film has a 79% score on Rotten Tomatoes as of April 30, 2026, with most mentioning that the sequel lives up to the quality of the original. They praised the performances of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Stanley Tucci, with the latter getting special mentions.

Many agreed that it was better than most legacy sequels.

David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter mentioned that the film would please fans and put the main trio into new conflicts and scenarios that test them well. He wrote, “The movie is best when it sticks to fluffy, fun nostalgia rather than shooting for substance.”

The Nerdist‘s Rotem Rusak called the sequel well-written and praised the costume department, the jokes, and the commentary. He wrote that the movie walks the audience through “so many of the main issues that threaten not only an entire industry, but also all those who it informs and shapes, the very truth of public consciousness itself.”

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian said that it was a pleasure to see all of the actors return as well as the director and screenwriter of the original.

Some have criticized the sequel for following similar beats to the original and being nostalgia bait, while most of the reviews have appreciated it for commenting on the current state of journalism. 

How Will The Devil Wears Prada 2 Fare at the Box Office?

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is one of the most anticipated sequels of the year. The original is a cult classic and deals with the problems in the fashion industry. Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly was the perfect embodiment of the toxic bosses in the industry. Since its release, it has become one of the most popular comedies of the era.

With a sequel that has been so hyped and most of the original cast returning, predictions for its opening weekend are high. Variety reported that the film is projected to earn $80 million on its opening weekend domestically and $100 million internationally, rounding up to a $180 million opening worldwide.

The movie still faces stiff competition from last week’s Michael, which is going strong, earning $237.6 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo, as of April 30, 2026). Romantic comedies have always been big earners, with this year’s The Drama earning $113.8 million (via Box Office Mojo, as of April 30, 2026) worldwide and You, Me, & Tuscany earning $21 million (via The Numbers, as of April 30, 2026).

The legacy of The Devil Wears Prada 2 is sure to rake in bigger numbers. The film is getting released alongside the animated feature Animal Farm, the horror film Hokum, and the action thriller One Spoon of Chocolate. The romantic comedy is the biggest crowd puller now, due to the original’s legacy and the star-studded cast.

Do you think The Devil Wears Prada 2 will be good? Comment below.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 will release in cinemas on May 1, 2026.