Beyond the Fashion, The Devil Wears Prada 2 Is About What It Means To Be a Journalist Today
The Devil Wears Prada isn’t just considered one of the best modern rom-coms, but it’s also a definitive fashion movie that depicts fashion media in a way audiences had yet to see at that time. When most think of working at a magazine, the film is a top example of what comes into mind. So, twenty years later, the filmmakers had the unenviable task of planning what the sequel to the beloved film would be about.
They could have gone the easy route and mined the nostalgia for box office success. But impressively, especially for a legacy sequel, the movie isn’t just good but also actually has something to say. More than just slipping back into a world that has been rewatched at countless movie nights,The Devil Wears Prada 2 tells a poignant story of the evolving modern media landscape and why, even in the era of social media and AI, media, journalism, and art still have a place today.
Slight spoilers ahead for The Devil Wears Prada 2
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It’s a Good One
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is set twenty years after the original and finds Andy Sachs as a successful journalist in New York City. But things go south when Andy and the rest of her fellow writers at the newspaper where they work are all fired via text during a journalist awards night. At the same time, Runway and particularly Miranda Priestly find themselves in a firestorm when they’re called out for featuring an e-commerce fashion site that actually uses sweatshops to make its clothes.
These dual problems inadvertently open doors as Andy is hired as Runway’s new Features Editor to help repair the magazine’s reputation, much to Miranda’s infamous displeasure. This unexpected reunion leads Andy, Nigel, and Miranda to do damage control with Dior, their biggest advertiser, and work with Miranda’s former assistant Emily, who is now an executive at the high fashion label. As Andy acclimates to the new job, she comes face to face with the realities of what Runway and the media in general have become and where it’s going.
As a movie,The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits a lot of the marks that make it a great watch. Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci comfortably slip back into their famous characters as if time barely passed. Fans will enjoy the film’s callbacks and references, but the movie doesn’t let nostalgia be the overarching guide in telling its story. There’s rarely a boring moment in the film as it gives its returning characters a life outside their work, and audiences learn more about them beyond the glossy pages of Runway and the designer labels they wear.
It’s also funny and charming as lighthearted moments easily blend with the more dramatic and introspective scenes. As for the fashion, those versed in the industry will have a gleeful time pointing out the pieces, labels, and designers featured. And the Lady Gaga cameo? Little Monsters better have their paws up.
The Struggle Is Real
What’s most impressive about The Devil Wears Prada 2 is that it succeeds in telling a meaningful story that not only gives a solid reason why we are returning to this world but also roots it in today’s changing media landscape. The criticism that many legacy sequels get is that they are unnecessary cash grabs that rely on nostalgia bait. However, The Devil Wears Prada 2’s existence feels warranted as it stands on its own as a worthy continuation that adds to the lore and characters.
It does so by telling a story that explores what it means to be a journalist today. While the film doesn’t fully commit to navigating fashion and media’s relationship in the 21st century that some may have expected, it does look at things from a more macro perspective, as the media’s role and place in society.
Starting the movie with Andy and her co-writers getting fired may seem cruel, but it’s a reality many journalists face. Then, when Andy rejoins Runway and tries to publish stories that get people’s attention with a small team and budget, it speaks to how publications are up against social media and shortened attention spans. We learn that Runway is no longer the giant it once was, with fewer pages in the magazine and smaller budgets for its shoots.
Meanwhile, when it seems that Runway will be owned by billionaires who are focused on “optimization”, worries of retrenchment, downsizing, department cuts, and a greater use of AI loom large. The movie is a commentary on the deteriorating state of modern media, in how behemoths like Runway aren’t immune to the industry’s struggles, and a reflection of the realities of today’s media landscape. Anyone who works or has worked in magazines, publications, and the creative industry can relate to the film in one way or another.
The Devil Still Wears Prada
That doesn’t mean, though,The Devil Wears Prada 2 leaves its viewers on a dour note, far from it in fact. With the hurdles also come how we see these characters fight to not only do their jobs well, but also save Runway from being consumed by a billionaire’s whims and keep their work alive. The characters, and by extension the movie, remind us of the power of spotlighting and championing fashion, art, and stories rooted in human experiences, and that it will always be worth it.
In a time when some people think it’s so easy to plan editorial direction, the film shows that you need a clear vision to make art that actually impacts people. In a way, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is an ode to human creativity, because, in the middle of seeing our favorite characters on screen, the witty lines, and fashion montages, what motivates these people is that they want their work to mean something. Despite all the challenges in their way, they still do what they do because working in media and journalism entails a level of passion and responsibility that still matters today.
As one of the most anticipated movies of 2026, and arguably one of the most anticipated sequels of the decade so far,The Devil Wears Prada 2 beats expectations to be a solid movie that more than justifies its existence. While the original will always have a one-of-a-kind magic, the sequel meets the moment for an experience fans will enjoy. The cast is as great as ever, the heartwarming moments feel earned, and the wit and banter remains intact.
It’s best to have seen the first movie before watching this to fully understand the sequel’s story. But ultimately, more than just a fun and entertaining watch, the film finds its place as a worthwhile reunion on how good journalism still means something and serves a purpose.
Featured Image and Photos: IMDB (via Website)
The post Beyond the Fashion, The Devil Wears Prada 2 Is About What It Means To Be a Journalist Today first appeared on MEGA.
Beyond the Fashion, The Devil Wears Prada 2 Is About What It Means To Be a Journalist Today
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