The Devil Wears Prada 2 Claims Top Spot at the Box Office
The highly anticipated sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, has taken the No.1 spot at the domestic box office this weekend, surpassing Mortal Kombat II and securing a strong opening with $14.9 million in sales on Saturday. This performance positions the film to potentially reach $41 million by the end of Sunday, according to reports.
The film, which stars Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway as journalists for Runway magazine, has proven to be a major hit, especially during the Mother’s Day holiday. It outperformed the King of Pop biopic Michael and the sequel Mortal Kombat II, which earned an estimated $12.7 million on its opening day. According to Deadline’s projections, Mortal Kombat II is expected to have an opening weekend of $38.7 million, while Michael is set to earn $36.5 million over its third weekend.
Analysts had predicted a close competition for the top spot during the holiday, with Mortal Kombat II initially seen as the favorite due to its fresh release. However, the timing of Mother’s Day played in favor of The Devil Wears Prada 2, helping it dominate the box office. The film’s two-week run has already brought in an impressive $141 million domestically.
Strong Performance and International Appeal
The film opened to $77 million in North America, with international earnings reaching $156.6 million. In the U.S. and Canada, it pushed Michael to second place, with the musical biopic earning $54 million in its second weekend—a drop of only 44 per cent.
The original The Devil Wears Prada was released in June 2006 and went on to earn more than $326 million worldwide. Its sequel continues the story of Miranda Priestley (Meryl Streep), a ruthless fashion editor, who finds herself in conflict with her former assistant-turned-rival executive, Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), over limited advertising dollars in the declining world of print journalism.
Anne Hathaway reprises her role as Andy Sachs, now working for the prestigious paper New York Vanguard, while Stanley Tucci returns as Miranda’s right-hand man, Nigel Kipling.
Other Box Office Contenders
Other films competing for attention this weekend included Sheep Detectives, a British animated movie from Amazon MGM Studios/Working Title. The film about a flock of sheep trying to solve their shepherd’s murder earned $5.2 million on Saturday, with projections pointing to a $14.8 million opening weekend in the U.S.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s 3D concert movie of Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard & Soft tour made $1.6 million on Saturday, with an estimated opening weekend of $7.4 million.
Critical Reception and Audience Reactions
The Devil Wears Prada 2 has received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its portrayal of modern media, while others criticized its cold cinematography and meandering subplots.
In a four-star review, The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey commended the return of the original cast, stating that “Streep needs to do is play thoughtfully with a beaded necklace and, instantly, it’s like Miranda never left us.”
However, The Independent’s Adam White pointed out what he considered the film’s most egregious plot hole: Anne Hathaway’s on-screen boyfriend, Peter, an Australian real estate contractor. He wrote that Peter “doesn’t enhance or evolve Andy as a character, and the new film doesn’t seem interested in giving their relationship much of anything for us to latch onto.”
Conclusion
Despite the mixed critical reception, The Devil Wears Prada 2 has proven to be a commercial success, capturing the attention of audiences and dominating the box office during a competitive holiday weekend. With its strong performances both domestically and internationally, the film is setting the stage for a successful run in the coming weeks.
