The Devil Wears Prada 2 Poised to Crush Box Office Expectations

If you thought the hype for The Devil Wears Prada 2 was just recycled nostalgia, think again. With the film’s release looming (May 1, 2026, in the US), industry chatter is basically turning into a standing ovation — and, yeah, Miranda Priestly herself might actually crack a smile at these predictions.

Box Office Buzz: Money Talks, and So Does Polymarket

Here’s where things get interesting. Over the last couple of months, the sequel has been riding a wave of growing box office optimism. We’re not talking about mild optimism either — we’re talking projections that would have seemed ambitious back in March, when people were guessing a respectable (but not groundbreaking) $55 million opener.

Fast forward to now, and the betting crowd over at Polymarket is going wild. As of April 23:

• 35% believe the movie will crack $100 million or more during its opening weekend (May 1-3)
• Another 35% are betting on a still-massive $90 million to $100 million debut
• 23% are slightly more cautious (but still optimistic) with a guess between $80 million and $90 million
• 8% think it’ll fall below $80 million — a pretty small (and apparently unconvinced) group

These estimates actually trend a notch higher than what other industry trackers like BoxOffice Pro ($85-$100 million) and BoxOfficeTheory ($70-$105 million) are whispering about. So, not just hype — real, surprisingly robust, market enthusiasm.

If It Hits $100 Million, Here's the Competition

Let’s put that potential $100 million into context: In 2026, only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has opened bigger, at a wild $131 million. Everything else? Project Hail Mary managed a still-impressive $80 million. Scream 7 and Hoppers trailed with $63 million and $45 million respectively. So, if Prada 2 delivers, it’s staring at a silver medal for the year’s biggest openers.

And how eager are fans? Fandango’s recent survey pegged Prada 2 at #3 on its most-anticipated summer movie list — sandwiched right between The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. So, this isn’t just an internet echo chamber; real people, casual ticket-buyers, are into it.

What About the Budget — and the Competition?

Here’s where the numbers go a little fuzzy. There’s no official word on the production budget, but rumors suggest it may have cost anywhere from $100 million to $150 million. Even with that upper end, the expected opening would easily put it on the path to profitability, especially with all the forward momentum and global interest.

May is a busy time at the box office, but Prada 2 isn’t really fighting for the same audience as the big action movies. Mortal Kombat 2 lands a week later (May 8), and The Mandalorian & Grogu drops May 22 — both are clearly aiming for different crowds. There are a few other releases on May 1 (Animal Farm, Two Pianos, Hokum, Casa Grande), but none with the same ‘mom-and-her-daughters plus nostalgia-fueled girlfriends’ draw that Prada 2 brings. Plus, as Deadline points out, there’s a wider appeal with some crossover for guys, thanks to the comedic and star-powered cast.

'The film has multi-generational interest from women over 25, but there’s enough male interest that it’ll bring in casual moviegoers too.'

Bottom line: With Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci back in the saddle — and high-stakes box office projections to match — the real surprise might be if Devil Wears Prada 2 doesn’t blow up the box office next weekend. Grab your popcorn, and maybe your cucumber sandwiches, because this could get fun.