Two decades after their original releases, sequels to The Devil Wears Prada and Scary Movie are proving that nostalgia for 2000s film franchises can be a powerful box-office force. According to a recent report, The Devil Wears Prada 2 — reuniting Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci — has already earned well over its reported $100 million budget. Meanwhile, Scary Movie 6, a low-budget horror comedy from the franchise that began in 2000, is on track to reach $50 million at the box office despite poor reviews .

The Devil Wears Prada 2's $100 million box office triumph

The sequel to the 2006 fashion-world drama, directed again by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, has been described as a financial triumph, though exact earnings are not yet finalized, the report notes. With a budget of at least $100 million, the film's success underscores the enduring appeal of the original's characters and the star power of its cast. The return of Streep's Miranda Priestly, Hathaway's Andy Sachs, Blunt's Emily Charlton, and Tucci's Nigel appears to have tapped directly into the millennial generation's fondness for the source material. As the report states, the sequel demonstrates that even after 18 years,the appetite for these stories remains strong.

Scary Movie 6: Profitability on a $30 million budget despite rotten reviews

In a stark contrast, Scary Movie 6 launched with a budget of just $30 million and has been met with dismal critical scores on Rotten Tomatoes, according to the source. Yet the film, which brings back Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall, is projected to hit $50 million, making it a clear win for Paramount Pictures. The secret? Strong word-of-mouth and a dedicated fan base who grew up on the franchise's irreverent humor. As the report puts it,the film is “on track to profitability” despite the negative press, showing that for some properties, critical consensus matters less than audience loyalty.

Which 2000s classic will Hollywood revive next? The open question

The dual success of these sequels raises an obvious question: what other 2000s properties are in line for a revival? The report notes that Hollywood has a history of doubling down on winning formulas, and “more such projects are expected” later this year. However, exactly which franchises will get the green light remains unknown. Will studios focus on prestige dramas like The Devil Wears Prada or cheap comedies like Scary Movie? The report does not specify which other films are in development, nor does it reveal whether the cast of The Devil Wears Prada 2 will return for a third installment. What is clear, as the source highlights, is that the appetite for reboots, revivals, and legacy sequels from the 2000s is unmistakable.

Our take: The 2000s are now a wellspring of nostalgia, and studios are smart to mine it—but they should beware that not every franchise has the same deep well of goodwill. The polar opposite critical receptions of these two films prove that fan devotion, not critical acclaim, is the real commodity in today's franchise economy.