Twenty years ago, as the lyrics of Madonna’s “Vogue” filled theaters, moviegoers witnessed the insurmountable expectations placed upon Andy Sachs, assistant to fashion magazine mogul Miranda Priestly at Runway in The Devil Wears Prada. The film, which starred Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, achieved immense financial success having grossed over 300 million dollars on a 37 million dollar budget, establishing itself as an instant cult classic.
However, as Hollywood moves towards producing more and more action and animated movie sequels (Scream 7, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and Zootopia 2), there has been a push for follow ups to the quintessential drama movies of the same era. The idea for The Devil Wears Prada 2 emerged after Lauren Weisberger, the author of the novel the original film was based on, published Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns. Members of the original cast were reportedly uncertain about reprising their original roles, but in an effort to keep the movie fresh and new, producers brought in several new members for the cast, such as Lucy Liu, and even had Lady Gaga and Doechii write their own original song together for the movie titled “Runway.”
The highly anticipated sequel to this hit film released in theaters across the U.S. on May 1, 2026, and many are wondering if it has any chance of coming close to the comedy and excellence of the original. Lila Turnamian (’27) loved the original film, admiring how it “blended fashion trends and the industry to create an interesting story with a meaningful message behind it as well.” Similarly, she noted that she was “very excited to see how they incorporate today’s fashion trends into the sequel and how they’ll continue such a beloved storyline.” Many MHS students who hold the original film close to their hearts have high hopes that the sequel will recreate that magic and connect back to the best parts of the original. On the other hand, some are more doubtful of the sequel and the need for it.
Many still criticize a sequel’s capacity for greatness. Elyse Murdoch (’27) commented that “The Devil Wears Prada is a classic movie anyone can enjoy. That said, I’m skeptical about Devil Wears Prada 2 because it feels like it might rely too much on nostalgia instead of bringing something new.” Despite worries, early reviews have noted that the sequel does a good job of bringing back some of the nostalgia of the original film without overdoing it, exceeding expectations.
Considering the mixture of both positive and negative feedback, the Devil Wears Prada 2 emphasizes the current Hollywood trend of revisiting and amplifying existing films, but its impact and success in the long run is to be determined. Will it live on as an appeal to nostalgia, or, instead, will it act as evidence that many movies should be left alone without revivals or sequels?
