'The Devil Wears Prada: 2'--A Sequel Worth Watching Or Not?

If you're reading this, you're one of three types of people: the one debating whether to spend your money on this movie, the one who already loved it and wants validation, or the one who absolutely hated it and is here to make sure no one else makes the same mistake. Whichever one you are, your thoughts and concerns will be addressed.

I went to watch The Devil Wears Prada 2 with some of my friends, and all of us had opinions that were POLES APART.

If you haven't watched it yet, here's the trailer:

My Opinion

I left the theatre jumping around talking about how amazing the movie was, and then there were others who said, “what a waste of time, 0/10.”

The wave of nostalgia that washed over me in that theatre NEEDS to be studied. It felt like a blast from the past, a heartwarming, feel-good movie that leaves you with pure serotonin. I was super excited to see Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway (they’re literally so iconic, I’m internally screaming) and I am so glad I ditched my assignments to watch this movie in the theatres.

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The Plot

Don’t be afraid. I’m only discussing the first film. So, part 1 revolves around Andy Sachs, an aspiring journalist who gets hired as an assistant for Miranda Priestly, the editor-in-chief of Runway magazine.

Andy initially doesn’t quite care for fashion (who remembers the iconic blue belt scene?), and struggles to fit in with the fast-paced, demanding environment. What I loved about the movie though is that Andy realises she’s turning into someone she doesn’t like and chooses to leave Runway to pursue a career that aligns more with her values.

A Comparison

To help you decide if you really want to watch the second film. The original worked because it had a clear emotional core. Beneath the fashion and glamour, it was really about ambition, identity, and the pressure to succeed. The sequel still has the iconic outfits, witty dialogue, and dramatic tension, but it lacks some of the emotional sharpness that made the first film unforgettable.

At the same time, I think comparing the sequel too heavily to the original is a little unfair. The first film balanced fashion and emotional depth more effectively, while the sequel tries to focus on one too many themes at once; AI, corporate greed, social media, fashion journalism, and nostalgia, without fully developing them, so some storylines felt incomplete.

Expectations for the sequel were extremely high because the first movie became a cultural phenomenon, and even though the sequel may not be as socially impactful as the original, it still works as a fun and entertaining experience, especially for long-time fans.

The Pros

I loved that they used the same director (David Frankel) and all the original cast; it really helped keep the tone consistent. The performance was honestly mind-blowing; every step of the way I was able to feel exactly what the actors and director wanted.

In an age where everybody’s attention span is practically underground, the sequel was perfectly paced to keep one captivated throughout. It moved from one frame to another, jumping through conversations and outfits, and giving new information exactly when it was needed.

SPOILER ALERT!!! I absolutely loved the scene where AI-generated memes were made about Miranda Priestly. What I love even more though is that the film used a real human artist to make something that looked AI-generated. In a world that is suddenly relying on AI, this shows that there are people out there who are against the use of it.

They also had cool pop-ups all over the world that really helped create excitement. Here is the one in Mumbai! (This was near Carter Road in Bandra in case someone wants to visit.)

Image Credit: Dhritti Jain

The Cons

The “Netflix look” is a huge complaint that multiple sources mention – flat lighting, washed out colours, and no depth. Especially for a fashion film filled with vibrantly coloured outfits, the white hospital lighting really ruined the aesthetic. It’s like a fashion movie out of fashion.

The storyline is all over the place. The movie touches a variety of topics, from the rise in AI and corporate greed, to the decline in media, but they drop talks of substance quickly in favour of pretty outfits and nostalgia. This leads me to the question: Did they play it too safe?

Was this a good movie or a good rerun? Some critics say that the movie leaned too hard towards what the audience wants that it forgot to be its own thing. They tried to address important societal issues but eventually abandoned them for fashion, and even that was ruined by the lighting.

Should You Watch It?

Well, I wish I had a straight answer for this. If you’re someone who loves simplicity and enjoys most movies, you’ll probably love this. But if you analyse and look at the tiny details, you might just find it a waste of your monthly budget.

To the people who've already watched this, what are your thoughts? I'd love to know!

Image Credit: Dhritti Jain

All I know is, I’m glad I watched it.