The Devil Wears Prada Ending Explained: What Was the True Message of the Movie
Credits: Fox 2000 Pictures
SUMMARY
- The ending of The Devil Wears Prada shows Andy Sachs reclaiming her identity by walking away from a toxic work culture.
- The film subtly explores how ambition can erode personal values if left unchecked.
- Miranda’s and Emily’s silent reactions reveal the emotional toll of corporate survival and suppressed authenticity.
The Devil Wears Prada is a film with a satisfying ending that’s both subtle and moving. We see Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs, who was once a journalism grad hunting for an opportunity, walk away from the glamorous chaos of Runway and from Miranda Priestly for good.
The wholesome yet thoughtful movie is directed by David Frankel and is based on Lauren Weisberger’s eponymous bestselling novel. It features the legendary Meryl Streep as the commanding Miranda, Emily Blunt as her secretary, and Hathaway as Andy, who is trying to fit into a new world. So, let’s revisit the ending of this classic and dig into the film’s integral message.
How The Devil Wears Prada’s End Completes Andy’s Character Arc
A still from The Devil Wears Prada | Credits: Fox 2000 Pictures
The ending of The Devil Wears Prada is based on a chilling revelation and Andy’s quiet rebellion. She learns that Miranda has outmaneuvered an attempt to replace her by sacrificing her trusted colleague’s life-changing opportunity. We see that Andy is visibly disturbed, and she confronts Miranda, who then points out that the two of them are not too different.
Throughout the movie, Andy slowly adapts to survive in the high-stakes fashion world, but with each step of the ladder, we see her ditching dinner plans, alienating her loved ones, and even taking Emily’s spot on the Paris trip.
That eerie feeling of being just like Miranda feels to creep up on her and jolts her out of the trance. Andy realizes that if she stays, she might turn into someone like Miranda, who doesn’t blink while crushing the people around her.
So, in a quiet moment of self-preservation, she walks away from the job. Later, she offers Emily her Paris clothes, possibly in an attempt to make amends. In the final scene, Andy sees Miranda from afar, and the former waves to her ex-boss with a calm smile, but doesn’t receive any acknowledgment in return. But as Miranda gets into the car, we see a slight smile on her face.
That little smile by her tells you everything; it’s almost like she knows that Andy made the right choice, the one she could never make. Andy simply walks away, unbothered by Miranda’s indifference, which suggests that she is now free from all the shackles in the true sense. Fans of the movie can’t help but wonder if the upcoming sequel will have an equally beautiful climax.
The Devil Wears Prada Warns You From Losing Yourself to Fit in
A still from The Devil Wears Prada | Credits: Fox 2000 Pictures
Anne Hathaway’s Andy doesn’t just change her style and attire at the Runway, she also changes her values. She goes up the ranks and finds herself prioritizing Miranda’s demands over everything else, from her relationships to her sense of self. The genius of The Devil Wears Prada is how it doesn’t vilify ambition, but shows just how easy it is to rationalize all your compromises.
You think it’s a simple and small decision, until things pile up, and you don’t recognize yourself anymore. Miranda is a figure who represents the endgame of corporate survival. In the end, we see how Emily feels nice about hearing from Andy, but doesn’t show it, and masks her true feelings.
We also see how Miranda doesn’t smile in front of Andy, but does so when she is alone, inside her car. These are two women who have hardened and suppressed their true selves to survive in a cutthroat corporate world. They can’t express themselves, and they care too much about how they are being perceived.
Miranda’s strong recommendation for a news outlet to hire Andy, and Emily telling the new assistant that she has big shoes to fill, showing you that they did, in fact, like Andy, but never expressed it. However, Andy doesn’t shy away from how she truly feels and walks away, preserving who she truly is. But what else can you decode from the ending of The Devil Wears Prada?
You can watch The Devil Wears Prada on Hulu (USA).