‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Makes Disney the First Studio to Cross $2 Billion in 2026

Hollywood has been riding a wave of nostalgia for years, but few films have showcased the commercial power of that trend as effectively as ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’. Two decades after Miranda Priestly first demanded her cerulean presence be felt across pop culture, the fashion world’s most feared editor is back, and audiences have welcomed her return in staggering numbers.

The sequel brings together original director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, along with stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, all reprising their beloved roles. Newcomers Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, and Kenneth Branagh join the cast. The film debuted on May 1, raking in $77 million domestically and $233 million worldwide during its opening weekend, marking the biggest opening of Meryl Streep’s career and the highest domestic debut for a traditional comedy since ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ in 2015.

This kind of momentum is rare and shows no signs of slowing down. In its second weekend, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ added $43 million domestically and an impressive $75 million overseas across 51 territories, bringing its global total to $433 million after just two weekends. The sequel maintained the number one spot at the domestic box office despite facing competition from three major new releases, including the video game adaptation ‘Mortal Kombat II’.

This sustained success has led to a significant achievement for its studio. Disney has become the first major motion picture studio in 2026 to surpass the $2 billion mark at the global box office, with ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ being the key film that pushed it over that threshold. Other films contributing to this milestone include ‘Hoppers’ with $371.6 million, ‘Send Help’ with $94 million, and the strong performances of ‘Zootopia 2’ and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ from 2025.

The achievement is even more remarkable considering the long wait for the sequel. For years, cast members had expressed skepticism about the possibility of a follow-up. As recently as early 2024, Blunt mentioned on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that there had been “never” any serious discussions about a sequel, stating the cast was “good” without one and that “sometimes things should be cherished and preserved in this bubble.” That skepticism has now transformed into one of the year’s most celebrated cinematic reunions.

Critics and audiences have largely embraced the return, with ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ achieving a 78% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes alongside an 86% audience approval rating. The sequel has already surpassed the entire global lifetime gross of the original 2006 film, which earned $326.5 million worldwide over its theatrical run.

The film’s success is attributed not only to its status as a sequel but also to a rare convergence of factors: the original cast, director, and writer all returning together, something that is increasingly rare in modern Hollywood. In a release calendar filled with franchise installments and remakes, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ has demonstrated that the right reunion, handled with genuine care, can still resonate with audiences in meaningful ways.

Let us know in the comments whether you believe ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ deserves its blockbuster status, or if Miranda Priestly should have stayed retired.