“Floral? For spring? Unprecedented!”
“By all means, go faster. You know how much it thrills me.”
It’s been 20 years since these dialogues first appeared on the silver screen. But they still convey the icy sarcasm of Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep in the iconic fashion-drama. the devil Wears Prada.
Centering on the story of a young Andrea ‘Andy’ Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway), the film became a cultural touchstone and sparked a passion for journalism and fashion in many people, including this writer. It begins with bleary-eyed Andy getting a job as a junior assistant to the editor routeThe terrifying Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep). Through the course of the film, Andy undergoes both physical and mental changes, eventually quitting his job and moving on in hopes of kinder pastures.
From Hermès scarves flying off the street in New York to unpublished Harry Potter memoirs, the film is a whirlwind of haute couture and the demands of a cut-throat industry. In May this year, millions of people around the world will watch the highly anticipated sequel, the devil wears prada 2The quintessential Razor-ship promises wit and bold fashion statements.
But more than just dazzling satire, the film has become a cultural phenomenon, beloved even by those who were born years after its release. Let’s find out the reason through fans’ opinions.
lasting legacy
Meryl Streep’s controlled anger and Anne Hathaway’s nervous acting make the first film thrilling to watch. Like a tiger messing with its food, Miranda often gives Andy impossible tasks, knowing full well that he will not be able to complete them.
Why has this pair stood the test of time?
Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Photo Credit: 20th Century Studio
“I think the film worked because it’s largely about a very universal experience, which is entering a world you admire, only to realize that it runs on compromises – which many viewers related to. Fashion was the backdrop, and the real story was about power, ambition and the unspoken rules of success. Most people have been ‘Miranda’ at some point in their careers, and many have been ‘Andy’. Almost everyone, whether Whatever industry they are in, they recognize the Miranda – Andy equation, the thrill of being chosen, the fear of falling short, the struggle in maintaining personal boundaries,” says Sudeep, a forty-year-old business professional.
Sarada Das, a 22-year-old student, says, “The idea of constantly proving your worth, adjusting your personality, sacrificing personal relationships and everyday routines to get attention at your job like Andy does, all this hasn’t changed much since the movie came out…”
Everyone wants to be Miranda?
Streep’s portrayal of Miranda has received praise, criticism for being overly harsh, and grudging approval by many who have had a boss like her. A leader who doesn’t care. But somehow everyone wishes that they too have confidence and energy like him.
A scene from ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Photo Credit: 20th Century Studio
“She (Miranda) doesn’t explain herself unless she wants to, and that restraint is charming. She represents a generation of women who understand that competence alone is never enough, and that authority has to be claimed, protected, and constantly defended. Miranda rarely raises her voice, yet she dominates every room and that quiet strength is very relatable to anyone who has had to lead in places where softness is mistaken for weakness. Goes,” Sudeep says about the character’s ‘winters’.
“For me, Miranda represents a special kind of professional power, a person who has survived for years in a brutal, fast-paced industry and has learned to protect her position by being emotionally distant and overly demanding. The film makes it clear that her behavior is not accidental, but rather she maintains control in a system that constantly undervalues women in leadership,” says Saradha, a student.
cute newbie
Anne Hathaway’s character Andy Sachs is a constantly struggling and low-confidence person routeStrive to make your personal life functional and your professional life useful. This under-confidence is something that Andy does not seem to have in the sequel. But the first film was a portrayal of how a newbie navigates working life in the real world. This makes the character a hit, especially among the younger generation, who still relate to ‘feeling like a kid’ in the ‘big, bad corporate world’.
“She certainly represents a woman who accepts a demanding and even destructive job in order to get good references and advance her career. Unfortunately, I think there are many similar situations in today’s working world. Even though Andrea is qualified, she accepts exploitation and goes through a period in which she does everything except actual journalism,” says Evelyn Modica, a 23-year-old master’s graduate.
There’s a queer icon in the movie but it’s not a gay person
Stanley Tucci plays Nigel Kipling, Miranda’s sharp-tongued but lovable side-kick. He is an outspoken queer character, with impeccable fashion sense, and is known for taking the ‘gay best friend’ image and adding depth and emotional maturity to it.
But, as many gay people have pointed out, the film’s enduring gay icon is not Kipling but Priestley himself.
Stanley Tucci and Meryl Streep in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Photo Credit: 20th Century Studio
“Nigel is warm, talented, and deeply empathetic, but he’s also ultimately constrained by the system. Miranda, on the other hand, defies the system. She bends the world to her will, defines taste, and denies emotional legibility. I think this kind of unapologetic authority resonates more with queer audiences. Being a gay icon isn’t just about literal representation, but about power, defiance, and self-definition. There is also,” says Sudeep.
“I think Miranda is a symbol of autonomy, strength, and resistance to traditional gender expectations in leadership, not because of her sexuality,” says Lipsa, a 22-year-old student.
waiting for the sequel
20th Century Studios confirmed on social media that the sequel’s trailer has garnered a record-breaking 222 million views in the first 24 hours of its release.
This has placed it in the top 10 most watched movie trailers of all time, discussing everything from Andrea Sachs’s “Eyebrows” to Miranda Priestly’s ‘Memory-Loss’ in detail.
Fans, across all generations, have been eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel, prompting the filmmakers and the first film to revisit it. route To investigate the world.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is set to be released in theaters on May 1st