Audiences waited 20 years to see “The Satan Wears Prada 2.” Despite the fact that the primary film was extra of a mid-budget Hollywood studio programmer (the kind of which we used to see fairly generally within the pre-pandemic, pre-streaming period), the sequel has turn out to be a bonafide summer time blockbuster occasion, in no small half due to the love the unique movie has garnered during the last twenty years. So, the query now turns into: Would Disney be smart to maintain this franchise going? And does “The Satan Wears Prada 3” make sense at this level?
As soon as once more directed by David Frankel, “The Satan Wears Prada 2” dominated the field workplace on its opening weekend with a $233 million international launch towards a $100 million price range. Thoughts you, the primary film made $326.5 million worldwide again in 2006, not accounting for inflation. The urge for food for this movie hasn’t cooled, both, because the sequel has now earned a complete of $435 million (and counting) worldwide as of this writing.
On its second weekend, it even managed to high “Mortal Kombat II” on the field workplace, which left the way forward for that franchise hanging within the steadiness. 2010s Hollywood logic most likely would have instructed you to guess on the online game film sequel, however right here we’re, with this fashion-forward, women-focused follow-up rating as one of many top-grossing American motion pictures of 2026 up to now, and with a whole lot of fuel left within the tank.
Even when this film did not make one other dime (and it’ll make much more dimes), nearly any studio would fortunately make a sequel to a movie that made 4.3 instances its reported manufacturing price range with very favorable critiques from each critics and audiences alike. So, will Disney try and do exactly that?
The Satan Wears Prada 3 is smart on paper
First, somewhat extra context. As of proper now, it could be downright surprising if “The Satan Wears Prada 2” made something lower than $650 million globally on the finish of the day. That may be nearly as a lot as “Mission Hail Mary” ($656 million worldwide), which has been declared a monumental win for Amazon MGM Studios regardless of it having a manufacturing price range roughly twice as massive as that for the “Satan Wears Prada” sequel. It is however made sufficient cash to justify a “Mission Hail Mary” follow-up (a factor that Amazon will virtually actually pursue).
For much more context, Marvel Studios has launched 14 motion pictures in theaters since 2020. Of these motion pictures, simply six have made greater than $650 million worldwide. The listing consists of “Spider-Man: No Approach House” ($1.9 billion), “Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity” ($955 million), “Thor: Love and Thunder” ($760 million), “Black Panther: Wakanda Endlessly” ($859 million), “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” ($845 million), and “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($1.3 billion).
This was, for a very long time, the franchise that everybody else in Hollywood was chasing, however 2025 proved that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has fallen from grace on the field workplace. This is not about reducing one main property to boost up one other one, thoughts you. It is merely to assist illustrate simply how properly “The Satan Wears Prada 2” is doing.
Disney will, undoubtedly, a minimum of pursue the concept of “The Satan Wears Prada 3” in mild of those numbers. It may be vastly worthwhile in theaters alone, to say nothing of the immense VOD and streaming upside. One other sequel is smart on paper. Whether or not or not Disney would have the ability to get everybody to signal on the dotted line is one other query fully.
Would The Satan Wears Prada 3 undergo a drop-off on the field workplace?
For a 3rd “Satan Wears Prada” film to make sense, it could require the core solid to signal on once more, together with Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt. Or, a minimum of, most of them. Would they have an interest? How a lot would that value? Hathaway, Streep, and Blunt have been all paid $12.5 million (per Selection) for “The Satan Wears Prada 2,” plus a bonus-heavy contract. Which means an unlimited chunk of the movie’s $100 million price range went to solid salaries, so a 3rd film might have a fair greater price ticket.
There’s additionally the priority {that a} theoretical third installment would undergo a drop-off. Take the “Avatar” franchise. The primary “Avatar” made $2.9 billion and stays the most important film of all time. “Avatar: The Approach of Water” got here out 13 years later and made $2.3 billion, one other staggering sum. Then, final yr’s “Avatar: Fireplace and Ash” noticed a giant drop-off, taking in $1.49 billion. Nonetheless an enviable sum, however “Avatar 4” is now unsure resulting from how “Fireplace and Ash” did on the field workplace. There is a downward pattern.
We will additionally have a look at the extremely profitable legacy sequel “Jurassic World,” which has $1.67 billion worldwide to its identify. “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” ($1.3 billion), “Jurassic World Dominion” ($1 billion), and “Jurassic World Rebirth” ($872 million) all made much less. Sooner or later, the legislation of diminishing returns kicks in.
If “The Satan Wears Prada 3” went the way in which of “Fireplace and Ash,” with audiences much less after a shorter break between movies, it might be dangerous. Nonetheless, it is a danger Disney would probably be prepared to take, assuming it might get its geese lined up in a row.
“The Satan Put on Prada 2” is in theaters now.
