Box Office Showdown: The Devil Wears Prada 2 Holds Off Mortal Kombat II on Mother’s Day Weekend

The Devil Wears Prada 2, a sequel from 20th Century Studios/Disney, opened on May 1, 2026 and entered its second weekend during Mother’s Day (May 8-10). Warner Bros. released Mortal Kombat II, a $80 million sequel directed by Simon McQuoid, on the same weekend. Both films shared the market with Lionsgate’s *Michael*, Amazon MGM’s *The Sheep Detectives*, and Paramount’s *Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft* concert film.

Deadline Hollywood

Domestic earnings for *The Devil Wears Prada 2* were $43 million, raising its U.S. total to $144.8 million and its worldwide gross to $433 million. *Mortal Kombat II* earned $40 million domestically (reports range $38.7 million-$42 million) and $23 million-$28 million overseas, for a global total of $63 million-$73 million. The weekend’s overall box office reached $161 million, up 92 % year-over-year. *Mortal Kombat II*’s audience was 75 % male, with strong 18-34 turnout (44 % of viewers) and diverse ethnic representation; *The Devil Wears Prada 2* saw a near-even gender split, reflecting Mother’s Day positioning.

Variety Magazine

Disney highlighted the Mother’s Day timing, noting a modest 44 % second-week drop. Warner Bros. emphasized the premium-format rollout, with IMAX and large-screen venues delivering nearly half of *Mortal Kombat II*’s opening. Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian said the weekend’s 92 % growth “signals a strong start to the summer” and that “pure, escapist entertainment” is driving audience choices.

Associated Press

*Mortal Kombat II* holds a 65 % Rotten Tomatoes rating and a CinemaScore of B, lower than the 2021 predecessor’s B+. PostTrak shows a 72 % definite-recommend rate, but reviewers flagged weak overseas performance and questioned the shift from an October release, suggesting the crowded Mother’s Day slate limited its box-office upside.

Mortal Kombat II Box Office Might Beat Devil Wears Prada 2, But There’s an Asterisk

Opening totals for *Mortal Kombat II* vary: Deadline reports $38.7 million, Variety $40 million, and ComicBookMovie $41 million-$42 million. International grosses are listed as $23 million (Variety) versus $23 million-$28 million (ComicBookMovie). Global totals range from $63 million to $73 million, and no studio has disclosed marketing spend.

Variety Magazine

• “Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends for Comscore, said Mother’s Day might have helped “Prada” get the advantage over the newcomer and have such a modest 44% dip in weekend two.” — Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore

Associated Press

• “The release date was perfect,” — Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore

Associated Press

• “This may be the new blueprint for how to start a summer.” — Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore

Associated Press

*The Devil Wears Prada 2* is on track for a $500 million worldwide run, while *Mortal Kombat II* will need stronger domestic legs and future overseas rollouts. The upcoming Star Wars-linked *The Mandalorian and Grogu* film and Pixar’s *Toy Story 5* are set to shape the next weekend’s rankings.

Summer 2026's Box Office Is Officially Off To A Great Start