'The Devil Wears Prada 2' steps out to $77 million at the box office

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Everyone wants to be “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” as the 20-year sequel strutted to an estimated $77 million in the U.S.and Canada in its opening weekend, highlighting the spending power of women moviegoers at the box office.The film, which returned stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, nudged out Lionsgate’s “Michael” for the domestic top spot at theaters this weekend.

In its second outing, the Michael Jackson biopic brought in $54 million, upping its overall North American total to $183.8 million and its cumulative global haul to $423.9 million.Worldwide, Walt Disney Co.-owned 20th Century Studios’ “The Devil Wears Prada 2” brought in $233.6 million, according to studio estimates.The theatrical revenue, both domestic and worldwide, edged studio expectations.

Already, the film has brought in 72% of the total revenue that the original movie made ($326 million).Hollywood Inc.

Despite some production hurdles and mixed reviews, the film is on track for a record-breaking opening weekend.The 2006 original has become a cult classic, with lines like Streep’s infamous “that’s all” and Tucci’s “gird your loins” now millennial catchphrases.The popularity of that film has continued over time with repeat viewings on cable television and the Disney+ streaming service.“Nostalgia is a big driving factor for movies like this,” Andrew Cripps, head of theatrical distribution for Walt Disney Studios, said.

“It’s just one of those movies that got into the zeitgeist.”The fashion-forward sequel had a production budget of about $100 million.The film notched a 77% approval rating on aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.Women comprised the majority of the audience for “The Devil Wears Prada 2” this weekend, representing 71% of moviegoers, according to data from EntTelligence.The strong showing for “The Devil Wears Prada 2” highlights the...