‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Opens in Box Office Heaven With $75M–$80M U.S. Launch, $180M Global Start

The 20th Century sequel reunites Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci for a massive $75M–$80M domestic debut, marking a rare female-led summer box office kickoff.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is delivering exactly the kind of opening Hollywood studios dream about — a nostalgic franchise revival powered by star power, female audiences, and cross-generational appeal.

The 20th Century and Disney sequel opened to $32.5 million on Friday in North America, including a strong $10 million in Thursday previews, and is now tracking toward a domestic opening weekend between $75 million and $80 million. Nearly two decades after the original became a sleeper hit and cultural touchstone, the sequel is proving the franchise still carries significant box office weight.

The film’s performance places it among one of the strongest female-driven launches in modern box office history, particularly in the post-pandemic era, and positions it just behind recent major releases such as Michael and Project Hail Mary in early momentum comparisons.

Industry observers have pointed to the film’s unusually broad demographic reach, with strong turnout from both adult women and younger audiences, as well as continued interest in legacy ensemble casting. The return of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci has been a central driver of the film’s marketing campaign, alongside the return of director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna.

Critical and audience response has also helped fuel its momentum. The film is currently sitting at strong exit polling, including an A- CinemaScore, indicating positive word-of-mouth heading into the remainder of its opening frame.

One of the more notable box office benchmarks is that The Devil Wears Prada 2 is already outperforming the original film’s entire opening weekend domestically — which debuted at $27.5 million in 2006, not adjusted for inflation. That comparison has become a key talking point for analysts tracking legacy sequel performance in the current theatrical landscape.

Internationally, the film is performing even more aggressively. Through Friday, it has generated $82.1 million overseas, bringing its global total to approximately $114 million. The sequel posted the strongest opening day of the year in several territories, including Brazil and Italy, underscoring its continued international brand recognition.

The film is also notable within the current theatrical calendar as one of the few female-driven releases positioned to anchor the start of the summer box office corridor — a slot historically dominated by superhero franchises and action tentpoles. Its performance suggests continued appetite for character-driven studio films anchored in established IP with strong ensemble recognition.

Meanwhile, in parallel box office news, Lionsgate’s Michael is expected to cross the $400 million global milestone this weekend, further strengthening the studio’s awards-season and commercial momentum heading into the summer cycle.

Joanthan P. Moustakas

Jonathan P. Moustakas founded The Cinema Group in 2020 during the challenges of the pandemic, after losing the vital ability to find community in theaters and escape through the captivating magic of cinema. Feeling profoundly cut off from the vibrant film community he cherished, he sought to create a welcoming home for dedicated cinema fans while providing engaging, daily curated content that resonates with their passions. Years later, The Cinema Group has blossomed from a small collective of loyal fans into a thriving brand that reaches millions of audiences every month across a diverse array of platforms and mediums.

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