I just walked out of the theater and honestly, I'm buzzing with a weird mix of nostalgia and mild disappointment. The original 'Devil Wears Prada' is one of my comfort watches, so I went in with that familiar excitement. Walking out, I kept thinking about Miranda Priestly's final scene—it's still playing in my head. There's a certain magic in seeing these characters again, but part of me wonders if some stories are better left as single, perfect gems. I'm glad I saw it, but I'm not rushing to buy another ticket.
🎬 Watch the Official Trailer
What's The Devil Wears Prada 2 About?
The sequel picks up years later, with Miranda Priestly fighting to keep Runway relevant as print media crumbles. The twist? Her main adversary is Emily Charlton, her former assistant, now a corporate shark controlling the advertising purse strings Miranda desperately needs. It's a battle of wills between two women who know each other's playbooks, set against the glossy, cutthroat backdrop of a changing fashion industry.
What Works in The Devil Wears Prada 2
- ✓ Meryl Streep slipping back into Miranda Priestly like a second skin. Her first icy line delivery gave me chills—it was like no time had passed at all.
- ✓ The production design and costume porn are still spectacular. I caught myself staring at the wardrobe, forgetting the plot for a second.
- ✓ Stanley Tucci as Nigel. Every scene he's in is pure gold. His wit is the movie's reliable heartbeat.
- ✓ The core theme about legacy and adaptation in a digital age felt surprisingly relevant and grounded the drama.
What Doesn't Work
- ✗ Anne Hathaway's Andy feels oddly sidelined. Her cameo is fun but brief, and I missed her dynamic with Miranda.
- ✗ The plot relies heavily on corporate boardroom maneuvering, which sometimes drags and lacks the original's fizzy energy.
- ✗ A few jokes felt like retreads of the first film's greatest hits, lacking the same sharp, surprising bite.
Standout Moments & Performances
Two moments really got me. First, a silent scene where Miranda is alone in her office, surrounded by magazine covers. The camera just holds on Streep's face, and you see the weight of an era ending. It felt profound. Second, the first face-to-face showdown between Miranda and Emily in a minimalist, terrifyingly quiet restaurant. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Blunt's cool smirk versus Streep's glacial stare—I was holding my breath.
Main Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Kenneth Branagh
Direction, Music & Visuals
David Frankel's direction is slick and competent, maintaining that polished, high-gloss look we expect. The cinematography is beautiful, especially in the fashion show sequences which are bursts of color and movement. The score tries to echo the original's themes, which works for nostalgia but doesn't feel new. Performance-wise, it's the Meryl and Emily show. Streep is, predictably, masterful, finding new layers of vulnerability in Miranda. Emily Blunt is the standout for me, though—she completely owns the screen, transforming Emily Charlton from a snarky sidekick into a formidable, nuanced antagonist. Their chemistry is the engine of the film.
Director: David Frankel
Who Should Watch The Devil Wears Prada 2?
If you're a die-hard fan of the original who's always wondered 'what happened next,' you'll get a kick out of this. It's also perfect for anyone who loves sharp, performance-driven dramas about powerful women, or just enjoys the visual spectacle of high fashion. You need to appreciate character dynamics over fast-paced plot.
Who Might Want to Skip?
If you're looking for the fresh, effervescent charm of the first movie with Andy's fish-out-of-water journey, you might feel let down. Also, skip if you have zero interest in the business side of media or fashion.
Final Verdict
Look, it's not the classic the original is, and it never could be. But as a late-in-the-game sequel, it's better than I feared. The pleasure of seeing these actors inhabit these iconic roles again is real. The Miranda-Emily power struggle is compelling enough to carry the film, even when the plot meanders. I'd recommend it to fans for a one-time watch, maybe with lowered expectations. Would I watch it again? Probably not, but I don't regret the experience. It's a decent epilogue to a story I love.
