Meryl Streep says ‘Devil Wears Prada’ being called a chick flick has not aged well

Meryl Streep is looking back at the early reception of The Devil Wears Prada and says the way the film was once categorised reveals how attitudes in Hollywood have shifted over the past two decades.

During a recent appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Streep reflected on how the 2006 fashion industry comedy drama was treated when it first arrived in cinemas. The film starred Streep as formidable magazine editor Miranda Priestly opposite Anne Hathaway as aspiring journalist Andy Sachs.

At the time of its release, Streep said the project was frequently dismissed with a label that suggested it was aimed narrowly at female audiences.

“That designation has kind of not worn well,” Streep explained, referring to the phrase ‘chick flick’. She argued that the label now feels outdated following the success of more recent female driven blockbusters.

Streep pointed to films such as Barbie and Mamma Mia! as examples of stories centred on women that proved enormously popular with global audiences. According to Streep, these successes have helped expose flawed assumptions in the industry about what types of stories people want to see.

When the original Devil Wears Prada was produced, the film had to compete for a modest budget despite its strong cast and a story based on a widely read novel. Streep recalled that the team had to ‘scrabble’ to secure funding.

The actor said she has even discussed similar industry attitudes with Greta Gerwig, the filmmaker behind Barbie. Streep noted that Gerwig also encountered debates around budget levels compared with other major studio productions.

Two decades after the first film became a cultural phenomenon, Streep is preparing to return to the role of Miranda Priestly in the upcoming sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2, scheduled for release on May 1.

This time, however, the financial situation has reportedly changed. Streep joked during the interview that the sequel did not face the same budgeting challenges as the original.

“This one, honey, they spent the money!” she told Colbert with a laugh.

Streep also shared insight into how she developed Miranda Priestly’s distinctive personality. While the character in The Devil Wears Prada is often associated with fashion editor Anna Wintour, Streep said she actually drew inspiration from two prominent film directors.

She described blending the sly humour of Mike Nichols with the calm authority of Clint Eastwood. The result became the composed yet intimidating leadership style that defined Miranda in the film.

Since its release, The Devil Wears Prada has grown into a beloved pop culture classic. The film’s portrayal of ambition, fashion media and workplace power dynamics helped cement Miranda Priestly as one of Streep’s most memorable roles.