The Devil Wears Prada 2 Review: Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway Return — But Does the Sequel Earn Its 20-Year Wait?

Twenty Years Later, Miranda Priestly Is Back — And She Hasn't Softened

It's been nearly two decades since The Devil Wears Prada first hit theaters in 2006, and the fashion world — and Hollywood — has been begging for a sequel ever since. Well, The Devil Wears Prada 2 finally arrived on May 1, 2026, bringing back the iconic quartet of Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton, and Stanley Tucci as Nigel Kipling. Director David Frankel returns to the helm, and the result? It's stylish, it's nostalgic, and it's dividing audiences.

The Fashion World Has Changed — Has the Story?

The sequel picks up twenty years after Andy quit her dream job at Runway magazine. Now a successful journalist and media executive, Andy finds herself pulled back into the orbit of Miranda Priestly, who is facing a new threat: the digital disruption of print media and a younger generation of editors who don't care about legacy. Enter Emily Blunt's Emily Charlton, now a powerhouse fashion consultant, caught between loyalty to Miranda and her own ambitions.

Critics have been mixed but generally positive. The film currently holds a solid score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many reviewers praising Streep and Hathaway's chemistry. Christopher Nolan — yes, that Christopher Nolan, currently riding high from directing The Odyssey — publicly praised both Hathaway and Blunt's performances, calling them "career-defining." That's not nothing.

However, some critics argue the sequel recycles too much from the original. The Guardian called it "a glossy knock-off" that "recycles the old plot with style," while the Associated Press compared it to a "fashion world Succession" — but with better clothes and fewer curse words. The debate is real: is this a worthy follow-up, or just a cash grab dressed in couture?

What Works (And What Doesn't)

Here's the honest breakdown:

• Streep is still Miranda. There isn't a single scene where Meryl Streep doesn't command the screen. Her Miranda Priestly remains one of the greatest characters in modern cinema, and this sequel proves it.
• Hathaway and Blunt share incredible chemistry. Their scenes together crackle with the same energy that made the first film so memorable.
• Stanley Tucci gets less screen time than fans would want, but every moment with Nigel Kipling is gold.
• The plot feels familiar. This is the biggest criticism. The story beats closely mirror the original, swapping magazine politics for a new era of digital media.
• The fashion is stunning. Costume design is spectacular — the sequel leans into contemporary fashion houses while paying homage to the original's iconic looks.

Is It Worth Watching?

If you loved the 2006 original, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is absolutely worth your time. It won't revolutionize the sequel genre, and yes, it relies heavily on nostalgia. But seeing Streep, Hathaway, Blunt, and Tucci together again on screen is an experience in itself. The film is currently playing in theaters worldwide and is expected to hit streaming platforms later this summer.

Whether it's the Succession-level drama some hoped for or a comfortable, well-tailored trip down memory lane, one thing's for sure: Miranda Priestly still runs the room. And honestly? We wouldn't want it any other way.