Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Simone Ashley, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, B.J. Novak, Conrad Ricamora, Tracie Thoms, Tibor Feldman, with Kenneth Branagh and Stanley Tucci
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Director:Â David Frankel
In Irish Cinemas: 1st May 2026
A glossy return to the high-stakes world of fashion media delivers a sequel that both mirrors and refreshes its predecessor. Two decades may have reshaped publishing and style, yet the aesthetic sensibilities of its most formidable figure remain strikingly intact. This continuation revisits the polished chaos of Manhattan’s magazine elite, reviving familiar faces while threading them through a more contemporary, digitally driven landscape.
At the centre of the story once again is Andrea “Andy” Sachs, originally portrayed by Anne Hathaway, whose early ambitions as a serious writer once led her into the glossy labyrinth of Runway magazine. Fresh out of university back then, she stumbled into a role under the famously exacting editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly, embodied with icy brilliance by Meryl Streep. Alongside her stood Nigel, the sharp-tongued yet quietly reflective right-hand man, played by Stanley Tucci, who remains steadfastly loyal and stylistically impeccable.
Time has not softened Miranda’s authority nor, curiously, her appearance. Yet the world around her has shifted dramatically. Andy re-enters this orbit after an abrupt fall from grace in serious journalism, edged out by corporate forces in a publishing environment that increasingly favours profitability over depth. Financial pressure and professional uncertainty draw her back into Runway, where the role of features editor comes with strings attached.
What she encounters is a publication stripped of its former extravagance. Lavish budgets have evaporated, ethical scrutiny has intensified, and the relentless pursuit of online engagement dominates editorial decisions. The once untouchable glamour machine now caters to a younger, digitally native audience whose tastes often clash with the magazine’s traditional identity. Miranda herself is forced to adapt, publicly aligning with modern values like inclusivity and representation, even as these shifts clearly test her patience. Her new assistant, Amari, played by Simone Ashley, embodies this generational shift, confidently challenging outdated norms and language.
Despite these changes, the film leans heavily on nostalgia, echoing many of the original’s defining moments. Andy and Nigel once again exchange knowing conversations over rushed meals; Nigel orchestrates yet another reluctant wardrobe transformation; and glamorous international trips, this time to Milan, serve as both spectacles and narrative pivots. Beneath the surface, familiar power struggles unfold, including covert manoeuvres to shield Miranda from corporate threats.
Overall: 6.5/10
Movie Reviewer
