Since the 2020s, Hollywood has run out of ideas. Lately, they have been pumping out cash-grab sequels, taking a classic movie and creating a low effort, “nostalgic” film. Prime examples of this include Happy Gilmore 2 and Disenchanted, examples of sequels that rely on pure nostalgia to make up for their bland plots.
The Devil Wears Prada is a 2000s classic. It follows Andy Sachs, an aspiring journalist who ends up as the second assistant to the infamous Runway fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly. There’s one issue一Andy doesn’t know a lick about fashion. Andy, having to navigate her way through the strict environment of the fashion industry while establishing a work-life balance, the movie successfully puts a relatable character in a difficult situation, striking home for many viewers. Whether you’re a fashion fanatic or a comfort movie lover, this movie is perfect for both, which is why it quickly became a fan favorite. So, when the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada was announced, many were worried it would suffer the same fate as other recent sequels.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 follows the same characters, but they have resurfaced in the year 2025. Andy has landed a job as a journalist, but is laid off due to budget cuts. This coincides with a scandal at Runway, where Miranda accidentally promotes a fast fashion brand. Irv Ravitz, Miranda’s boss, hires Andy as damage control. Reigniting their old tensions, they work together to save Runway from money-hungry billionaires. The sequel attempts to achieve the fashion-workplace-satire concoction of the original, but does it succeed?
The Devil Wears Prada 2 had high expectations, but many were disappointed by the movie. Some thought it was missing something, while others thought it was an overall waste of time and money. From the fashion choices to the forced incorporation of new characters, much about the sequel can’t compare to the iconic first movie. For instance, many of the outfits from the first movie are considered timeless classics, an inspiration for many fashion connoisseurs. In the second movie, they attempt to make the outfits align with modern times. Instead of incorporating modern high fashion, many of the outfits looked like they were taken out of an Amazon Basics Store.
Junior Tigran Akopyan, a fan of the original comfort movie, has expressed similar concerns. “The movie lacked character development compared to the first. Instead of waiting for characters to simmer on their decisions, the movie was all happy-go-lucky, with everyone being like ‘Oh, this person ruined my life? Let’s be best friends!’ On top of that, for a movie about fashion, the outfits were mediocre at best,” Akopyan said.
However, many still gave the movie its roses for addressing issues in modern society, rather than being a copy-paste 2000s sequel. “The movie has its flaws, but I wouldn’t boil it down to a cash grab. It covered important topics affecting today’s culture, like the first movie, from the death of journalism to the impending threat of losing your job to AI, no matter the profession; it’s very impactful,” Akopyan said.
When it comes to 2000s sequels, many seem to be just for the money. However, within their sense of what they consider “high fashion,” The Devil Wears Prada 2 distinguishes itself as more than a cash grab, signifying relevant issues in our culture. It may never beat its predecessor, but it’s a decent second.
