‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Shows the Legacy-quel Is Alive (and Fashionable) at the Box Office
The sequel to the 2006 fashion hit made $233.6 million worldwide, marking the second-biggest opening of the year
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, “Top Gun: Maverick” was not the first “legacy-quel”—a nostalgia-driven sequel released years or decades after the original to attract a younger audience—but it remains the gold standard for the genre. With a $1.5 billion global haul, it stands as perhaps the only example of a legacy sequel that not only matched but surpassed the original’s impact.
This success explains why audiences will continue to see titles like “The Devil Wears Prada 2” until these films stop performing at the box office. The sequel to the 2006 classic earned $233.6 million worldwide this past weekend, securing the second-highest opening of the year, trailing only “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” While it performed exceptionally well internationally, it opened slightly below domestic expectations with $77 million in North America. Even without adjusting for inflation, the sequel has already recouped 72 percent of the original’s $326.5 million lifetime global earnings.
The success of “Prada 2” was not a certainty, despite the massive growth in the star power of Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt since the first film. Last year, Disney’s legacy-quel “Freakier Friday” performed decently but capped at $153.1 million—a figure “Prada 2” beat through international sales alone. Meanwhile, last year’s “Tron: Ares” struggled significantly, earning just $142 million against a $220 million budget.
Clearly, the nostalgia factor was potent, and strong word-of-mouth helped the film meet the hype. It earned a respectable A- CinemaScore and solid reviews. Theaters also played a role in the film’s success; chains like Alamo and Cinemark hosted costume screenings, while Regal offered “Glam Stations” and EVO Entertainment featured luxury claw machines where guests could win designer handbags.
Streaming services also contribute to the endurance of the legacy-quel. According to Nielsen, streaming of the original “Devil Wears Prada” surged by 428 percent between March and April as viewers refreshed their memories before the sequel’s debut. Such data is vital for studio executives calculating the profitability of films in the modern era.
Rival studios are watching these results closely. Upcoming legacy-quels include Paramount’s “Scary Movie,” Warner Bros.’ “Practical Magic 2,” Universal’s “Focker-in-Law,” and Amazon MGM’s “Spaceballs: The New One.” Warner Bros., in particular, will likely view “Prada 2” as a benchmark for “Practical Magic 2,” given that the original 1998 film also gained a cult following years after a modest theatrical run, alongside the soaring fame of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
When will Hollywood tire of the 20-years-later sequel? While some may question the necessity of new installments for “Gladiator” or “Happy Gilmore,” the answer is straightforward: the industry will continue producing them as long as audiences keep buying tickets.
