Film & Culture · May 2026
By Roa — Roasted Almond North America | April 30, 2026 | 6 min read
The Short Answer: Yes, The Devil Wears Prada 2 Is Worth Seeing
If you loved the original The Devil Wears Prada (2006), the sequel delivers exactly what fans have been waiting nearly 20 years for — and then some. The Devil Wears Prada 2 opens in North American theaters on May 1, 2026, and with a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 156 reviews) and a 62/100 on Metacritic, early reviews confirm it earns its place as a genuine sequel — not just a nostalgia cash-in. Critics agree it’s a sharp, funny, and surprisingly timely story about who holds power in modern media, and what happens when that power shifts.
“Meryl Streep still wears Miranda Priestly like a finely-tailored suit in this sinfully enjoyable sequel, which is dressed to the nines in off-the-rack wish fulfillment and some trenchant observations about the state of modern media.” — Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why This Sequel Feels Relevant — Not Just Nostalgic
The original Devil Wears Prada was a coming-of-age story: a wide-eyed journalism graduate thrown into the brutal glamour of fashion media. Twenty years later, the world has changed — and the sequel knows it.
The survival of print media is the film’s beating heart. Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), once the undisputed queen of fashion, now fights to keep Runway magazine alive in a landscape dominated by influencers, digital platforms, and algorithm-driven content. The Guardian aptly described this dynamic as “the end of the gatekeeper” — the era of one editor deciding what’s fashionable is over, and Miranda must reckon with that reality.
The film also weaves in thoroughly modern anxieties: AI in the workplace, labor ethics (including sweatshop controversies in fast fashion), and the generational clash between legacy institutions and the disruptors replacing them. Critics note the film handles these themes with wit rather than lectures — it’s entertaining, not preachy. As The Atlantic put it, the film has “plenty of breezy fun probing the dilemmas of modern media, without abandoning the glitz that made the original so enduring.”
5 Reasons The Devil Wears Prada 2 Is Generating Serious Buzz
① The Power Reversal You’ve Been Waiting For
This is the scene everyone’s talking about. Emily (Emily Blunt) is no longer Miranda’s put-upon assistant — she’s now a senior executive at a major luxury brand, with Miranda coming to her for advertising dollars. Watching Emily hold power over her former boss is, by all accounts, enormously satisfying. Early audiences at the Lincoln Center premiere described it as Emily’s long-overdue moment of triumph.
② All Four Original Stars Return
Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci — all four are back. Director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna also return, making this a genuine reunion rather than a reboot. Andy Sachs (Hathaway) is now a seasoned journalist at Runway, navigating her own moral compass in a compromised industry. The dynamic between all four characters picks up with the ease of people who never really left.
③ A Star-Studded New Cast
The sequel expands its universe with Kenneth Branagh as Miranda’s new husband, Simone Ashley as Miranda’s confident new assistant (described as “a voice of the new generation”), plus Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, and Pauline Chalamet. Cameos include Donatella Versace, Naomi Campbell, and Lady Gaga — who recorded the original song “Runway” with Doechii for the film’s soundtrack.
④ Miranda Gets More Depth — and a Worthy Opponent
One of the most consistent critical observations: Miranda Priestly is given more humanity this time. She’s still withering and devastating — but we see the vulnerability behind the fortress. As The Boston Globe noted, the film gives audiences “a bigger villain to hiss at,” making it easier — and more emotionally complex — to root for Miranda’s survival.
⑤ Record-Breaking Trailers — Before a Single Frame Screened
The first teaser (November 2025) drew 181.5 million views in its first 24 hours. The full trailer (February 2026) reached 222 million views within a day — breaking 20th Century Studios’ all-time record. The anticipation built over months, and the film’s 78% Rotten Tomatoes score suggests it has largely delivered on it.
Premiere Audience Reactions — Lincoln Center, April 20, 2026
Following the New York premiere at Lincoln Center on April 20, 2026, early audience reactions have been rolling in. The consensus? Fans who loved the first film will leave happy — though expectations should be calibrated accordingly.
- “Play the hits” satisfaction: Audiences widely note the film delivers what fans want — Miranda’s iconic one-liners, Nigel’s warmth, and the absurd glamour of Runway. Tucci’s Nigel remains a crowd favorite, and his scenes draw consistent praise.
- General scores around 7–8/10: The prevailing verdict is “I wasn’t sure we needed a sequel, but I’m glad we got it.” Not a reinvention, but genuinely enjoyable — which, for a film this anticipated, counts for a lot.
- Some reservations: A portion of viewers feel certain plot turns feel convenient, and some miss the rawer tension of the original. The Seattle Times called it “flat Champagne: maybe worth drinking in a pinch, but unsatisfying.” The original is a tough act to follow, and not every critic thinks the sequel fully gets there.
- The luxury price reaction: A recurring theme in audience chatter — comparing the brands featured in the original film to their 2026 prices. Fashion inflation, it turns out, is very real.
Professional critics lean similarly positive, with the film sitting at 78% on Rotten Tomatoes — notably close to the original’s 75% score. The New Yorker captured the spirit best: the film is “selling a truckload of preposterous goods, but it sells them awfully well, with unfeigned assurance, conviction, and the appropriate ratio of cynicism to hope.”
Tips Before You Go: Get the Most Out of the Sequel
- Rewatch the original first. The sequel rewards fans who remember the details — character arcs, specific moments, and the dynamics between Andy, Emily, Miranda, and Nigel. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
- Listen to “Runway” by Lady Gaga & Doechii. The original song is featured in the film’s soundtrack and is a good primer for the film’s energy before you walk into the theater.
- Go in with an open mind about the story. This isn’t a remake — it’s a sequel set 20 years later, with characters who have genuinely grown and changed. Meeting them where they are now is part of the pleasure.
- Watch for the fashion. Shot partly in Milan, the costume design is reportedly spectacular. If the clothes in the original made you want to overhaul your wardrobe, budget accordingly.
- Stay through the credits. Cameo appearances from Donatella Versace, Naomi Campbell, and others are spread throughout — don’t be the person who leaves early.
The Bottom Line
With a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and a cast that reunites every major name from the original, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is the rare sequel that earns its existence. It doesn’t simply coast on the goodwill of the original — it uses the 20-year gap purposefully, asking what power and ambition look like when entire industries collapse around the people who built them.
Whether you’re a longtime fan who still quotes Miranda Priestly in daily life, or someone who simply loves a sharp, stylish story about women navigating impossible systems — The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a genuinely rewarding time at the movies.
It opens everywhere on May 1, 2026. The cerulean era is back.
📋 Quick Facts
| Release Date | May 1, 2026 (North America) |
| Director | David Frankel |
| Screenplay | Aline Brosh McKenna |
| Main Cast | Streep, Hathaway, Blunt, Tucci |
| Studio | 20th Century Studios (Disney) |
| Filmed In | New York, Milan, Newark |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 78% (156 reviews) |
| Metacritic | 62/100 |
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© 2026 Roa — Roasted Almond North America. All rights reserved.
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