Parents' Guide to The Devil Wears Prada

Movie PG-13 2006 106 minutes
The Devil Wears Prada movie poster: A red stiletto heel ends in a pitchfork shape

Common Sense Media Review

By Cynthia Fuchs , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Fun, frothy fashion tale has cursing and sex.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 12+

Based on 12 parent reviews

age 11+

Based on 68 kid reviews

Kids say this film is a beloved classic that resonates particularly well with audiences who appreciate fashion and drama, featuring strong performances from its lead actors. While many viewers praise the film's humor and depth, they also note its mature themes, including body image issues and minor sexual content, suggesting that it's best suited for viewers over thirteen.

  • fashion themes
  • strong performances
  • humor mixed with depth
  • mature content
  • suitable for teens
  • body image issues
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

In THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, socially conscious journalism major Andy (Anne Hathaway) takes a job at Runway fashion magazine as second assistant to ruthless editor Miranda (Meryl Streep). Andy is told repeatedly that if she survives a year, she'll be able to get a job at any magazine, but she has no idea how tough her year will be. Andy is also at the beck and call of first assistant Emily (Emily Blunt). Worse, she's reminded daily that her clothes are ugly and that she's "fat" (at size 6). Art director Nigel (Stanley Tucci) gives Andy a makeover, and Andy devotes herself to pleasing Miranda, leaving her live-in boyfriend, Nate (Adrian Grenier), feeling abandoned. By the time that Andy's good friend Lily (Tracie Thoms) is echoing Nate's complaints, it's clear to Andy that she has to pick a lane—continue sticking it out at Runway, or quit before she's lost herself and her loved ones.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 12 ):
Kids say ( 68 ):

Sometimes over-the-top and sometimes sentimental, this hit movie delivers on a fun, fashion-filled premise. The Devil Wears Prada loves its costumes and montages (often together), but the plot is creaky and the target far too easy: Everyone knows that the world of haute couture is cutthroat, imperious, and lurid. Luckily, Streep's super-diva Miranda Priestly is complex and compelling, thanks in no small part to the venerated actor's subtle, memorable performance. Miranda tends to speak quickly and quietly to assume her supremacy, even as she's vulnerable, showing that volume doesn't equate power.

Her on-screen counterpart, Hathaway, brings her signature wide-eyed innocence to her role, making Andy into a hero we all want to root for. In the end, great performances transform what could have been a shallow adaptation into an iconic movie in which Streep and Hathaway confidently strut their stuff.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about work-life balance in The Devil Wears Prada. How does Andy adapt to the world of high fashion and become accepted by her colleagues and boss? Are these acceptable changes to make in order to get ahead, or should stronger boundaries be set for personal integrity to remain intact?

  • Toward the end of the movie, Andy makes the argument that Miranda's cutthroat style of management would be perceived differently had she been a man. Do you agree with this statement? Why, or why not?

  • This movie was based on a bestselling novel. What do you think would be the challenges in adapting a novel like this into a movie?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

The Devil Wears Prada movie poster: A red stiletto heel ends in a pitchfork shape

What to Watch Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate