'Devil Wears Prada 2' targets $80.5m opening as 'Michael' passes $300m worldwide

'Devil Wears Prada 2' opens to $33m day one, while 'Michael' nears $400m worldwide

The summer box office has opened with strong performances, led by The Devil Wears Prada 2, which earned $33 million on its opening day across 4,150 locations, including $10 million from preview screenings.

Industry estimates project a domestic opening weekend of $80.5 million for the film, placing it in line with the launch of Project Hail Mary and at the higher end of pre-release expectations.

The sequel, released by 20th Century Studios, features returning cast members Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Stanley Tucci.

The film has received an A- CinemaScore along with Rotten Tomatoes ratings of 77 per cent from critics and 88 per cent from audiences.

Reports indicate that viewership has been driven largely by female audiences, particularly those over the age of 40 who watched the original film during its 2006 release.

Meanwhile, Michael, distributed by Lionsgate, continues to exceed projections. The film grossed $14.4 million on its second Friday and is expected to reach $51 million in its second weekend, representing a 48 per cent decline from its $97 million debut weekend.

The film has now surpassed $300 million worldwide and is projected to cross $400 million by Sunday. It has overtaken Elvis to become the second-highest-grossing music biopic, with its domestic total estimated at $180 million and global earnings at $413 million after two weekends.

Other titles maintaining momentum include The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which has crossed $400 million domestically after earning $12.1 million in its fifth weekend, and Project Hail Mary, which added nearly $9 million in its seventh weekend.