Talk about making a fashionable entrance — and then some.
The Devil Wears Prada 2, from 20th Century and Disney, opened to $32.5 million on Friday at the North American box office, where it remains on course to debut in the $75 million-$80 million range nearly two decades after the first film turned into a sleeper box office hit on its way to earning $326.5 million globally and becoming a cultural touchstone.
The sequel is another reminder of the buying power of women and teenage girls. Friday’s haul included $10 million in Thursday previews, one of the best showings ever for a female-fueled pic, and not far behind current box office hits Michael and Project Hail Mary.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is the first female-driven movie in modern history to kick off the summer box office, a duty that has almost always gone to a Marvel superhero pic or a Fast & Furious title. It’s feasting on strong reviews and audience exit polls, including receiving an A- Cinemascore.
Prada 2 is attracting moviegoers across all age groups who are eager to see original cast members Meryl Streep, who plays a legendary, searing fashion magazine editor, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt reunite. Another boon for the project: David Frankel returned to direct, as did writer Aline Brosh McKenna.
To put things in perspective, the sequel’s opening day tops the entire opening weekend of the first film ($27.5 million), not adjusted for inflation.
Prada 2 is even bigger overseas, where its total through Friday was $82.1 million for an early cume north of $114 million after scoring the top opening day of any film this year in several countries, including in Brazil and Italy.
Meanwhile, the Michael Jackson biopic Michael will cross the $400 million mark this weekend, marking another milestone for producer Graham King and Lionsgate.