Full Breakdown
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Leads Summer Box Office, Spotlighting Female-Driven Market Power
5/4/2026, 3:57:43 AM
Box Office Performance
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” opened in 4,150 U.S. and Canada theaters on May 1, 2026, earning $77 million domestically and $156.6 million overseas for a $233.6 million worldwide debut, overtaking “Michael,” which fell to $54 million.
Impact: Female-Driven Summer Kickoff
The sequel is the first female-skewing blockbuster to open the summer season, a slot usually held by Marvel titles, and its pairing with “Michael” gave the 18-week summer window a strong start.
Cast, Crew, and Studio
Director David Frankel returns with writer Aline Brosh McKenna and the original leads—Streep, Hathaway, Blunt, Tucci. Disney’s 20th Century Studios financed the film with a $100 million budget, up from the first film’s $35 million.
Key Numbers and Audience
The opening delivered $77 million domestic, $156.6 million overseas, $233.6 million worldwide, and a $100 million production cost. Women comprised roughly three-quarters of ticket buyers (71-76 % across sources) and about 60 % of the audience was 35 years or older; preview screenings added $10 million.
Official Statements
Disney’s release called the $233.6 million debut the second-largest opening of 2026 and noted the film has already recouped 72 % of the original’s total. Disney’s distribution chief cited nostalgia as a demand driver. Frankel said paying top talent left the production budget similar to the first film. Lionsgate’s Adam Fogelson expressed confidence the movie would hold strongly.
Criticism & Opposition
Rotten Tomatoes gave the sequel a 77 % approval rating; critics noted uneven storytelling. Audience polling showed an A-grade CinemaScore and a 74 % “definitely recommend” rate, higher than the original’s B rating.
Audience Profile
PostTrak exit polls reported women made up about three-quarters of ticket buyers; EntTelligence data listed a 71 % female share. Roughly 60 % of viewers were 35 or older.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the female-audience share (71 % vs. 76 %) and on the overseas total ($156.6 million vs. $157 million). Worldwide opening is reported as $233 million in some outlets and $233.6 million in others.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a really solid weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Comscore. “It’s this irresistible combination that more than makes up for the fact that there’s not a Marvel movie to kick off the summer movie season.” — Paul Dergarabedian
- “Nostalgia is a big driving factor for movies like this,” — Andrew Cripps, Walt Disney Studios
- “Very few dramedies do this kind of business once, let alone a second time that’s bigger,” — David A. Gross, FranchiseRe
- “As it turns out, you know, by the time you finish paying all the biggest movie stars in the world, you still end up with basically the same budget for making the movie as we did the first one.” — David Frankel, Director
Outlook
The sequel should maintain strong weekly holds; the upcoming “The Mandalorian and Grogu” Memorial Day release is its next major competition. Industry analysts say the film’s profitability will influence future green-lights for female-driven projects this summer.
