The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) Review: Miranda Holds Court

Is The Devil Wears Prada 2 worth watching?

Yes, with reservations. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a glossy, genuinely enjoyable reunion that gives its stars plenty to play, even if it never recaptures the knife-edge satire of the original. Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly remains a magnificent comic creation, and the chemistry between the returning cast is the film’s biggest asset. The reservation is bite: this sequel is warmer and more forgiving than its predecessor, and its corporate-takeover plot is functional rather than inspired.

What is The Devil Wears Prada 2 about?

Nearly two decades after her year as Miranda Priestly’s assistant at Runway magazine changed her life, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) has built a career of her own. But when Miranda’s fashion empire faces a hostile takeover and a generational reckoning, Andy is pulled back into the orbit of her former boss (Meryl Streep). Emily (Emily Blunt), once Miranda’s fiercely loyal first assistant, and Nigel (Stanley Tucci), Runway’s quietly brilliant creative mainstay, are also caught up in the struggle over the magazine’s future.

The central question is whether Andy truly escaped Miranda’s influence all those years ago, or simply swapped one uniform for another.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 was directed by David Frankel, who also made the 2006 original. It is an American production in English, running 119 minutes, set once again in the New York fashion world.

Streep’s Miranda, recalibrated

Streep slips back into Miranda’s skin with apparent ease, and the performance is a pleasure from her first entrance. The deadpan delivery, the precisely withheld approval and the withering glance are all intact, but the sequel gives her new notes to play. With her position under threat, Miranda must negotiate rather than simply command, and Streep finds comedy and even a hint of vulnerability in a woman unused to asking for anything.

That shift is the film’s smartest idea. Where the original was about a young woman learning to survive a tyrant, this one is about an ageing power broker facing an industry that may no longer need her. Streep makes the stakes feel real without softening Miranda into sentimentality.

Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci pick up where they left off

Hathaway’s Andy is now a confident professional, and the change alters every exchange with Miranda; the two meet closer to equals, which gives their scenes a new, more combative energy. Hathaway plays that growth with warmth and a touch of steel.

Emily Blunt remains a scene-stealer. Emily’s brittle comic energy was a highlight of the first film, and the sequel gives her a more rounded role, including some of its most honest emotional moments. Stanley Tucci’s Nigel provides a graceful, kind presence amid the maneuvering, and his scenes are a reminder of how much the original depended on its supporting cast. The reunion never feels like obligation; these actors clearly enjoy one another.

Where the sequel plays it safe

The weakness is the story. The takeover plot supplies boardroom set pieces and a ticking clock, but it rarely surprises, and the film’s view of the fashion industry is more affectionate than critical. The original’s sharpest pleasures came from its cruelty and its skewering of ambition; this sequel is gentler, more interested in reconciliation than in cutting remarks. Some viewers will welcome the warmth, but others will miss the danger.

The fashion itself, however, is lavish and lovingly shot, and the film treats clothes as a language of power, as the original did.

Who should watch The Devil Wears Prada 2?

It is made for fans of the 2006 film, and they will get the most out of it; seeing the original first is strongly recommended, since the sequel draws heavily on shared history. It also suits anyone who enjoys glossy workplace comedies and fashion-world fantasy. The content is mild, with some language and adult themes, and at just under two hours it moves along comfortably.

Two films that make interesting companions:

• Birdman, another comedy-drama about a figure fighting to stay relevant in an industry that is moving on.
• La La Land, a glossy story about ambition and what career success costs personal relationships.

The verdict

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a polished, crowd-pleasing sequel that delivers the reunion fans wanted, with Streep in commanding form and a cast that still sparks. It lacks the bite and freshness of the original, but as an entertaining return to Runway, it earns its place.