According to Nielsen, The Devil Wears Prada 2 topped the streaming movie chart during the week of July 27 through August 2, accumulating 885 million viewing minutes across Disney+ and Hulu.
That performance is especially notable because the movie did not begin streaming until July 29, giving it only five days to generate viewing time during the measured period.
The logo for Disney+ – YouTube, Disney+
READ: Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge Opening Date Announced
It comfortably defeated The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which finished second with 777 million minutes following its arrival on Peacock. Netflix’s 72 Hours placed third with 734 million minutes.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 also ranked third on Nielsen’s overall streaming chart, which includes movies, original programs, and acquired television shows. Only The Big Bang Theory, with 1.14 billion minutes, and Bluey, with 911 million minutes, attracted more viewing time.
The sequel narrowly surpassed House of the Dragon, which generated 884 million minutes across its 25 available episodes on HBO Max.
Streaming Success Follows Profitable Theatrical Run
The strong streaming debut follows an equally successful theatrical run for the 20th Century Studios movie.
Released in theaters on May 1, The Devil Wears Prada 2 opened with approximately $77 million domestically. It went on to earn more than $220 million in North America and approximately $693 million worldwide.
Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada 2 – 20th Century Studios, YouTube
READ: James Gunn Rumored to Direct Batman as Andy Muschietti Exit Chatter Grows
The sequel reportedly carried a production budget of approximately $100 million, making it one of Disney’s most profitable theatrical releases of the year. Meanwhile, other Disney features—including the live-action Moana and The Mandalorian & Grogu—seemed like surefire hits but ultimately lost the studio money.
Its transition to Disney+ and Hulu came nearly three months after its theatrical debut. Disney also made the movie available for digital purchase and rental on June 30, meaning some viewers could already watch it at home before it entered the company’s subscription streaming libraries.
Nevertheless, the latest streaming chart suggests a large audience was willing to wait for the movie to become available through an existing subscription.
Nostalgia Helps Revive the Franchise
The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci nearly 20 years after the original movie arrived in theaters. Disney acquired the property through its purchase of most of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets.
Unlike Moana and Star Wars, The Devil Wears Prada had remained dormant for nearly two decades, giving audiences time to develop a sense of nostalgia for its characters and world.
The sequel follows Andy Sachs as she returns to Runway magazine as its new features editor. She soon finds herself working alongside her formidable former boss, Miranda Priestly, as the publication struggles to survive a rapidly changing media landscape.
Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada 2 – 20th Century Studios, YouTube
READ: Tennessee Moves To Name Nashville International Airport After Dolly Parton
David Frankel returned to direct from a screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna. Both previously worked on the original 2006 movie.
Despite the impressive box office totals and streaming numbers, audience reaction appears mixed. The film currently holds a 52% “Decent” score on the user-driven review site Criticless.
In her review for That Park Place, Carrow Brown wrote that it “feels like a film that understands the world it’s portraying but doesn’t quite challenge it in the same way its predecessor did. It adds value, but it doesn’t redefine the space.”
What Nielsen’s Streaming Numbers Measure
Nielsen ranks streaming programs by the total number of minutes watched by viewers in the United States through television sets. Its figures do not include every possible device or provide a precise number of individual viewers.
Even with those limitations, the chart offers further evidence that audiences remained interested in revisiting Miranda Priestly and the world of Runway long after the sequel left most theaters.
Did you watch The Devil Wears Prada 2 on streaming? Sound off and let us know!
UP NEXT: Qiddiya Announces Massive Dragon Ball Theme Park In France
