The Devil Wears Prada 2 is finally here, and it’s exactly what you’d expect: Meryl Streep is still terrifying, the coats are still worth more than your mortgage, and the workplace "hustle culture" is still dialed up to an eleven. If your kid is asking to see it, the short answer is that it’s a PG-13 drama that relies more on sharp-tongued insults than anything graphic, but the real question is whether your 10-year-old actually cares about the death of print media and corporate restructuring.
TL;DR: The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a slick, high-stakes sequel that trades the "fish out of water" story of the original for a "clash of the titans" battle between Miranda Priestly and Emily Charlton. It’s safe for most middle-schoolers, but the themes of workplace toxicity and the "thin-is-the-only-option" fashion world baggage are worth a post-movie chat. If they loved the aesthetic but need something more age-appropriate, check out Ugly Betty or Cruella.
The original The Devil Wears Prada came out in 2006, a time when "girlbossing" wasn't a joke yet and we all just kind of accepted that a boss could throw her coat at you and demand an unpublished Harry Potter manuscript by lunch.
In the 2026 sequel, the world has changed, but Miranda Priestly hasn't. The plot follows Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), now a high-powered executive, going head-to-head with a legacy-defending Miranda. It’s a masterclass in "professional" cruelty. For an intentional parent, the interest here isn't about "bad words" (there are a few) or "adult situations" (it’s mostly just people working too hard). It’s about the culture it glorifies.
If your kid is into fashion, social climbing, or just likes watching smart people be mean to each other in expensive rooms, they’re going to be glued to the screen.
We need to talk about Miranda. In 2006, she was a "tough but brilliant" icon. In 2026, she looks a lot more like a cautionary tale about burnout and a lack of boundaries.
The movie doesn't necessarily condemn her. It still frames her brilliance as a justification for her behavior. If your kid is watching this, they’re seeing a world where being the best at your job means you don't have to be a decent human being. That’s a fascinating hook for a conversation, but if they’re younger (around 9 or 10), that nuance might get lost in the "coolness" of her power.
The first movie was notorious for its "size six is the new fourteen" rhetoric. The sequel is slightly more self-aware—it has to be, it’s 2026—but it’s still set in a world that worships a very specific, very expensive look.
There isn't the same overt "don't eat the cheese cube" energy of the original, but the camera still lingers on the clothes and the "perfection" of the industry. If you have a kid who is already sensitive to body image or the pressures of social media aesthetics, just know that this movie is basically a 110-minute Instagram filter.
If the credits roll and your kid is suddenly obsessed with high-fashion stakes or workplace comedies, you don't have to leave them in Miranda's clutches. There are other ways to scratch that itch.
The "Fashion as a Superpower" Category
- Cruella: It’s basically the "Origin Story" version of the fashion-world-is-war trope. It’s more stylized, more Disney, and the "mean boss" (The Baroness) is an actual villain, which makes the moral lines easier to spot.
- Ugly Betty: This is the warmer, funnier cousin to Prada. It covers the same "outsider in the fashion world" territory but with a heart and a focus on family that the movies lack.
The "Smart People at Work" Category
- The Intern: Also stars Anne Hathaway, but it’s the "Antidote to Miranda." It shows a fast-paced startup culture that actually values mentorship and kindness. It’s a great "palate cleanser" if the sequel felt a little too cold.
- Hidden Figures: If they liked the "competence porn" aspect—watching people be incredibly good at a difficult job—this is the gold standard. It trades the fashion for NASA, and the stakes are real.
The "Power Struggles" Category
- The Mysterious Benedict Society: For a younger crowd that likes the idea of "gifted people navigating a secret world," this hits the spot without the toxic workplace baggage.
Get more movie recommendations based on your kid's interests
You don't need to lecture them on labor laws, but The Devil Wears Prada 2 offers a great opening to talk about how we treat people.
- The "Why" of Miranda: Ask them: "Do you think Miranda is happy?" It’s a simple question that cuts through the glamor. The movie shows her power, but it also shows her isolation.
- The Cost of Success: Emily makes some pretty ruthless moves in this one. Ask your kid if they would have made the same choice to get ahead.
- The Aesthetic vs. The Reality: Talk about the "look." Most kids today are savvy about filters, but seeing it in a big-budget movie feels different. Remind them that it takes a literal village of stylists to make someone look "effortlessly" like that.
The hardest part of this movie isn't the content; it's the pacing. It’s a talky, adult-oriented drama. If your kid is under 11, they might find themselves asking "Wait, what's happening with the acquisition?" every five minutes. It’s a movie that rewards an attention span for dialogue and subtext.
Pro-tip: If you're doing a double feature, watch the original The Devil Wears Prada first. The sequel leans heavily on the history between the characters, and the "payoff" of seeing Emily Charlton in charge only works if you saw her getting coffee and losing her mind 20 years ago.
Q: Is The Devil Wears Prada 2 appropriate for a 10-year-old? It’s PG-13, mostly for some mild language and the general "adultness" of the themes. There’s no graphic violence or sex, but the workplace bullying and the focus on "thinness" are the real things to consider. Most 10-year-olds will be bored; 12-year-olds will find it fascinating.
Q: Are there any "scary" parts? Only if you find a disappointed Meryl Streep scary (which, to be fair, many do). It’s a psychological drama, not an action movie. The "tension" comes from social embarrassment and career stakes.
Q: Does the sequel have the same body-shaming as the first one? It’s more subtle this time around—the 2026 writers knew better than to include a "size six is fat" joke—but the fashion world is still portrayed as a place where only a certain "look" is acceptable.
Q: Do we need to watch the first movie before seeing the sequel? Yes. The sequel is built entirely on the character arcs from 2006. Without the context of Andy and Emily’s original rivalry, the 2026 version loses its emotional weight.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a "grown-up" movie that happens to be very attractive to kids who like style and drama. It’s not "bad" for them, but it’s a great opportunity to be the voice in their ear that says, "You can be successful without being a nightmare to your assistants."
- Check out our best movies for kids list for more age-appropriate dramas.
- If your kid is obsessed with the fashion, look into our digital guide for middle school to help navigate the aesthetic pressures they’re seeing on screen.
- Ask our chatbot for more movies about strong female leads