The Devil Wears Prada
In New York, the simple and naive just-graduated in journalism Andrea Sachs is hired to work as the second assistant of the powerful and sophisticated Miranda Priestly, the ruthless and merciless executive of the Runway fashion magazine. Andrea dreams to become a journalist and faces the opportunity as a temporary professional challenge. The first assistant Emily advises Andrea about the behavior and preferences of their cruel boss, and the stylist Nigel helps Andrea to dress more adequately for the environment. Andrea changes her attitude and behavior, affecting her private life and the relationship with her boyfriend Nate, her family and friends. In the end, Andrea learns that life is made of choices.
Despite a moderate budget of $35.0M, The Devil Wears Prada became a runaway success, earning $326.7M worldwide—a remarkable 833% return.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 21 wins & 53 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) reveals strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of David Frankel's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 49 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Andrea "Andy" Sachs
Miranda Priestly
Emily Charlton
Nigel Kipling
Nate Cooper
Christian Thompson
Main Cast & Characters
Andrea "Andy" Sachs
Played by Anne Hathaway
A naive journalism graduate who becomes assistant to Miranda Priestly, transforming through the cutthroat fashion world.
Miranda Priestly
Played by Meryl Streep
The powerful and demanding editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, feared and revered in the fashion industry.
Emily Charlton
Played by Emily Blunt
Miranda's senior assistant, fiercely devoted to her job and protective of her position in the fashion world.
Nigel Kipling
Played by Stanley Tucci
Runway's creative director and Andy's mentor, balancing artistic vision with industry realities.
Nate Cooper
Played by Adrian Grenier
Andy's boyfriend, an aspiring chef who struggles with her transformation and career priorities.
Christian Thompson
Played by Simon Baker
A charming writer and emerging author who shows interest in Andy and her aspirations.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Montage of glamorous fashion industry women preparing for work contrasted with Andy Sachs, a plainly dressed Northwestern journalism graduate, getting ready in her modest apartment. She represents authenticity over artifice.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Miranda unexpectedly hires Andy as her second assistant despite Andy's complete lack of fashion knowledge or interest. Andy gets the job that a million girls would kill for, disrupting her planned path to serious journalism.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to After Miranda mocks her and Nigel delivers the iconic "cerulean sweater" speech about fashion's influence, Andy chooses to transform. She asks Nigel for help and actively decides to excel at Runway rather than just survive it., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Andy is chosen to go to Paris Fashion Week instead of Emily (who has dreamed of this). Miranda praises her, saying Andy reminds her of herself. Andy has fully arrived in the fashion world but at the cost of betraying Emily., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Miranda sacrifices Nigel's promised promotion to save herself, giving the job to Jacqueline Follet. Andy watches her mentor's dream die. Miranda then tells Andy she's just like her - she made the same choice when taking Emily's Paris spot. This is Andy's metaphorical death of innocence., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 87 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Andy walks away. She throws her phone into a Paris fountain and leaves Miranda at the curb. She chooses her authentic self over success, synthesizing her experience: she can be competent and ambitious without losing her soul., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Devil Wears Prada's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Devil Wears Prada against these established plot points, we can identify how David Frankel utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Devil Wears Prada within the comedy genre.
David Frankel's Structural Approach
Among the 5 David Frankel films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Devil Wears Prada represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete David Frankel filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more David Frankel analyses, see Marley & Me, The Big Year and Collateral Beauty.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Montage of glamorous fashion industry women preparing for work contrasted with Andy Sachs, a plainly dressed Northwestern journalism graduate, getting ready in her modest apartment. She represents authenticity over artifice.
Theme
Nigel tells Andy that a million girls would kill for her job. This establishes the theme: the seductive nature of success and what we sacrifice to achieve it. The question becomes whether the price of ambition is worth paying.
Worldbuilding
Andy interviews at Runway magazine, meeting Emily and the terrifying Miranda Priestly. We see Andy's relationship with boyfriend Nate and her journalism aspirations. The fashion world is established as foreign and intimidating territory.
Disruption
Miranda unexpectedly hires Andy as her second assistant despite Andy's complete lack of fashion knowledge or interest. Andy gets the job that a million girls would kill for, disrupting her planned path to serious journalism.
Resistance
Andy struggles with Miranda's impossible demands while Emily and Nigel serve as reluctant guides. She debates whether to quit, complaining to her friends and Nate. She's repeatedly humiliated and called incompetent but hasn't committed to the world.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After Miranda mocks her and Nigel delivers the iconic "cerulean sweater" speech about fashion's influence, Andy chooses to transform. She asks Nigel for help and actively decides to excel at Runway rather than just survive it.
Mirror World
Nigel becomes Andy's true mentor, giving her a complete makeover from the Closet. He represents someone who sacrificed everything for the fashion world and embodies both its allure and its cost. Christian Thompson also enters as a romantic temptation.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Andy's glamorous transformation. She masters Miranda's demands, earns respect, wears stunning designer clothes, attends exclusive parties, and gains access to the glittering fashion world. She becomes genuinely good at her job.
Midpoint
False victory: Andy is chosen to go to Paris Fashion Week instead of Emily (who has dreamed of this). Miranda praises her, saying Andy reminds her of herself. Andy has fully arrived in the fashion world but at the cost of betraying Emily.
Opposition
Andy's success creates mounting personal costs. She misses Nate's birthday, their relationship fractures, her friends become distant, and she grows apart from her former self. In Paris, she sleeps with Christian, fully compromising her values.
Collapse
Miranda sacrifices Nigel's promised promotion to save herself, giving the job to Jacqueline Follet. Andy watches her mentor's dream die. Miranda then tells Andy she's just like her - she made the same choice when taking Emily's Paris spot. This is Andy's metaphorical death of innocence.
Crisis
Andy processes Miranda's words and confronts who she's becoming. In the car, Miranda explains that Andy chose to go to Paris, chose to pursue success. Andy sees herself clearly for the first time - she has become what she once despised.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Andy walks away. She throws her phone into a Paris fountain and leaves Miranda at the curb. She chooses her authentic self over success, synthesizing her experience: she can be competent and ambitious without losing her soul.
Synthesis
Andy returns to New York, reconciles with Nate, and interviews for a job at a newspaper. She encounters Miranda one final time on the street. Miranda pretends not to see her but gives a small, knowing smile in the car.
Transformation
Andy walks confidently down the street in clothes that reflect her true self - stylish but authentic, no longer costumes. She has integrated her experience: she's still the idealistic journalist but now carries wisdom about ambition, sacrifice, and staying true to oneself.