the devil wears prada 2
Director: David Frankel
Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Simon Ashley, Kenneth Branagh, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Tracy Thomas and Patrick Bramall
Rating: ★★★.5
The biggest fear with late sequels to iconic movies is that you always wonder what the intention is behind ‘Part 2’. Is this an organic story or just a cash grab to revive the ‘IP’, as the management people call it? And when it’s something as prestigious as this With The Devil Wears Prada returning after two decades, these fears are not unreasonable. Based on that metric alone, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a good sequel. It feels like a story well told and, more importantly, one worth telling. It captures the essence of what made the first part so fun, crisp and fresh, bringing it into 2026 beautifully. And it’s all topped off by some fantastic acting and writing.
Base
It’s been two decades since Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway leaves the runway after her brief stint as assistant to editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). He is now an award-winning journalist. After a surprise layoff, Andy gives an impassioned speech about the importance of good journalism, which quickly goes viral. This has been noted by the owners of Runway, which is facing a PR crisis. And Andy has been brought back to provide ‘credibility’ to the fashion magazine, this time as features editor. But she didn’t count on Miranda not being thrilled by all this. Hint: Torture, Volume 2!
Brace yourself for commentary on modern times
What immediately hooks you about The Devil Wears Prada 2 is how relatable the film is. It talks about the layoffs of journalists, the end of print and the rise of digital journalism, advertisers losing sight of publications, and old-school ‘boomer’ editors trying to adapt to a world that no longer feels familiar to them. This is the story of every publication around the world. And I was thrilled by the realism. After all, motorsport fans didn’t like F1, and space enthusiasts were hardly thrilled about Project Hail Mary. But if a film about journalism can feel real to journalists, it must be doing something right. But then again, the other argument is that it might just limit the appeal of Part 2. I found this relevant because this is my lived reality. But what about the millions of people who never set foot in a newsroom? Will the similarities be enough to entangle them?
But to director David Frankel’s credit, he has created a world that feels real. You can see the Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk of the world here. Runway fits here, as does Miranda, reminding you of the owners of Christmas past! But the world has also evolved. When we met Miranda two decades ago, she was sharp to a fault. Now (seemingly) at 70, he has not lost courage, but has expanded his worldview. The Devil Wears Prada 2 shows character growth in a character that can’t be tampered with, but it’s done with care. That’s why, for a while, Miranda became stuck in time, fossilized. Only when the layers begin to peel away do you see that she has changed, largely against her will. This is something that initially bothered me, the slow pace of the narrative, as if it wanted to invite Miranda’s wrath in order to keep things moving at a faster pace. Thankfully, it picks up the pace before you lose interest.
Meryl Streep + Anne Hathaway + Peak Writing = Almost Phenomenal
While the first film was an introduction to the world of high fashion, Part 2 is a refresher course in the modern publishing business, complete with the eccentricities of the billionaires at the top. Meryl Streep is the glue that holds everything together. She shines in every scene, delivering every line like whiplash, and conveying complex emotions so subtly with a simple raise of the eyebrows. Still, it’s like watching a masterclass unfold before you. Stanley Tucci is another standout performance in a role that has infinitely more depth in the sequel. He balances panache and vulnerability in a way that only a master can. Anne Hathaway makes a good effort to hold her own. She’s grown just like Andy, and it shows. She brings a confidence to the character, but one that the Mirandas of this world could easily shake. Emily Blunt is perfect, because her character has also evolved, and not always for the good. But the actor reminds you why good comedy doesn’t always need to be over the top.
But the writing is the real star of the show, here (sorry, Meryl)! The Devil Wears Prada was known for one-liners that stuck with audiences for two decades. The sequel brings the same energy and delivers line after line, none of which feel forced and all delivered brilliantly. But more than just substance, The Devil Wears Prada 2 also brings heart. It’s a cleverly written story that hits you in the right ways.
But then the film is not perfect. It feels very sophisticated in many ways, makes use of some convenient plot holes, and stretches the suspension of disbelief a little too much for a story that’s supposed to be high-reality. In the end, it’s like meeting an old friend and realizing that, deep down, they’re the same fun person you used to hang out with, they’ve acquired some annoying new habits and they like to show off a little too much for your liking. But just because they’re still so much fun (and good at heart), you’re willing to look past the flaws.