‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Achieves Record-Breaking Box Office Debut Just Behind 2026’s Biggest Hit

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ has made a spectacular entrance into the box office arena, raking in an impressive $233.6M globally during its opening weekend, with $77M coming from domestic sales. This remarkable debut has redefined expectations, marking it as the second biggest opening of 2026, just trailing the ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’.

Nearly twenty years after Miranda Priestly popularized the phrase “That’s all,” the sequel has shown that ‘Runway’ magazine remains a vital part of pop culture.

This opening weekend has set a new record for Meryl Streep, surpassing her previous high of $90M from ‘Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again’. It also marks the highest international and global opening for Emily Blunt, outpacing the $176M worldwide launch of ‘Oppenheimer’.

The scale of these achievements highlights the anticipation surrounding the film. Nielsen reported a staggering 428% increase in streaming viewership for the original ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ between March and April this year, indicating a dedicated fanbase eagerly rewatching every iconic moment before the sequel’s release.

In just its opening weekend, the sequel has already earned 72% of the original film’s total lifetime gross of $326.5M. This trajectory suggests that ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ could surpass its predecessor in just a matter of weeks. The first film debuted to $27.5M domestically in 2006, competing against ‘Superman Returns’. This time, however, there was no comic-book competition; the sequel stands as the main attraction.

Internationally, Italy led the box office with $16.6M, a remarkable feat for a Hollywood release, largely due to the film’s Milan-set scenes featuring Lady Gaga.

In Italy, the sequel has achieved the fourth-highest opening ever for a Hollywood film. Gaga’s involvement stems from a connection she formed with Streep during ‘SNL 50’ last February. Director David Frankel asked Streep to reach out, and Gaga agreed immediately, despite being in the midst of her sold-out Mayhem World Tour. She contributed significantly to the film, providing three original songs for the soundtrack.

The film received an A- CinemaScore, surpassing the original’s B grade, with premium large formats accounting for about a third of the domestic box office. The teaser trailer garnered 185M views within its first 24 hours, making it the most-viewed trailer in 20th Century Studios history, while the second trailer achieved 222M views in the same timeframe. The marketing efforts for the sequel have reached unprecedented levels for the franchise.

Perhaps the most notable milestone is its cultural significance. This is the first time a female-led film has opened the summer season, a slot traditionally dominated by Marvel blockbusters. Vogue editor Anna Wintour, the inspiration for Miranda Priestly, has fully embraced the sequel, even appearing alongside Streep on the cover of her magazine. This marks a full-circle moment for a film that initially faced different Hollywood norms regarding female-led projects. It turns out, fashion is always in season.

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