Disney just pulled off one of the boldest trailer drops, and the internet is still reeling. In an industry where studios typically stagger major releases to avoid cannibalizing buzz, Disney decided to lob two nostalgia warheads on the same morning: The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Toy Story 5. Within hours, timelines were split between red heels and cowboy boots, between Miranda Priestly’s stiletto click and Woody’s familiar “Howdy, partner.”
And the numbers? Absurd in the best way. The Devil Wears Prada 2 trailer hit 185M views in 24 hours, instantly becoming the second most-viewed trailer of 2025, while Toy Story 5 clocked a massive 142M views, claiming the year’s top animated trailer debut. Together, they’ve set the tone for what looks like a massive Summer 2026 box office.
But beyond the stats, these trailers matter because they signal Disney’s larger strategy: reclaiming multi-generational audiences. One film is targeting millennials who grew up being emotionally terrorized by Miranda Priestly. The other is aimed at families, nostalgia-driven adults, and kids raised on iPads. It’s a cross-demographic power move, and it’s working.
The Records in Numbers: Breaking Down the Data
A. The Devil Wears Prada 2 Performance
The sequel nobody expected but everyone immediately wanted delivered monstrous metrics:
- 185M first-day views (2nd most-viewed trailer of 2025)
- 79M Instagram views (the most-viewed trailer on Instagram this year)
- 60M TikTok views
- Platform momentum: 15M on YouTube, 11M on Facebook, 20M across X reposts
It beats most of Disney’s 2025 output except for Fantastic Four: First Family (202M). The reason for Prada’s dominance? Instagram’s fashion ecosystem. Every fashion page, meme page, and Runway-core fan account reposted Miranda’s entrance within minutes — creating a digital runway effect.
B. Toy Story 5 Performance
Pixar’s return-to-form trailer soared:
- 142M first-day views
- 47M on Instagram
- 37M on TikTok
- 25M on YouTube
It outpaced animated rivals:
- Despicable Me 4 (102M)
- Kung Fu Panda 4 (88M)
- Super Mario Bros: Galaxy Movie (130M)
Why does it work? Pixar hasn’t had a nostalgia-heavy sequel since Toy Story 4 in 2019. Add a tech-based villain, a Woody comeback, and a soundtrack needle-drop, and you have rocket fuel.
C. Historical Context
Across all 2025 trailers, the only film beating both is Fantastic Four: First Family. The pattern is clear: sequels anchored by nostalgia-powered IP are dominating. Viral trailers in 2025 follow a formula — emotional callback + updated aesthetic + social-media-optimized pacing.
The Devil Wears Prada 2: What We Know
Trailer Breakdown (Scene-by-Scene)
Fashion fans got everything they wanted and then some.
- Cold Open: Close-up of red Valentino Rockstud heels piercing a marble floor.
- Elevator Sequence: Andy (Anne Hathaway) steps in. The camera pans up… Miranda Priestly enters in silence. The Internet loses its mind.
- Montage:
- Emily Charlton power-walking in couture.
- Nigel (Stanley Tucci) is in a newly renovated Runway office.
- A chaotic digital fashion board filled with virtual avatars (easter egg for the original’s “cerulean” monologue).
- Soundtrack: Madonna’s “Vogue” is a wink at fashion history and queer culture.
- Controversial Moment: The Rockstud heels. Valentino fans insisted they’re outdated; others called it a deliberate “Miranda refuses trends” statement. I guess we should wait and watch!
Cast & Crew
Returning stars:
- Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestly)
- Anne Hathaway (Andy Sachs)
- Emily Blunt (Emily Charlton)
- Stanley Tucci (Nigel)
- Tracie Thoms, Tibor Feldman
New Additions:
- Kenneth Branagh as Miranda’s elusive husband
- Lady Gaga as a rival fashion editor
- Lucy Liu
- Justin Theroux
- Simone Ashley
- Pauline Chalamet
- B.J. Novak
Behind the Camera:
David Frankel returns as director; Aline Brosh McKenna leads the script.
Plot Details & Themes
- The fashion world is collapsing under digital disruption. Miranda must reinvent Runway.
Runway is losing ground to viral-first fashion platforms and AI-generated trend cycles, forcing Miranda to confront a world she no longer fully controls. The sequel positions her at a crossroads: evolve or become irrelevant. Her struggle to modernize Runway is the film’s central industry conflict. - Andy, now a journalist and mother, reunites professionally with Miranda.
Andy returns to Miranda’s orbit through an investigative assignment that pulls her back into the fashion world she thought she left behind. She’s older, more confident, and no longer intimidated — which shifts the power dynamic. Their reunion becomes a test of unresolved history and mutual respect. - Emily is the new rival – running a competitor viral-first fashion empire.
Emily has gone from frazzled assistant to founder of a digital fashion powerhouse that dominates TikTok-era trends. She embodies everything Runway is struggling to become. Her rise puts her in direct competition with Miranda, setting up a generational clash fueled by ambition and old loyalties. - Themes of algorithm-driven aesthetics, print decline, and ethical fashion.
The story explores how algorithms shape taste, how legacy print media fights for survival, and how modern audiences demand transparency from brands. It’s a sharp commentary on sustainability, trend cycles, and the culture shift from curated perfection to viral immediacy.
Production Timeline
- Filming: June 30 – Oct 2025
- NYC locations: The MET steps, SoHo studios, Brooklyn Navy Yard
- Release: May 1, 2026
Toy Story 5: The Tech vs. Toys Battle?
- Opening: A package arrives at Bonnie’s house.
- Soundtrack: INXS’ “Never Tear Us Apart” — a surprisingly emotional choice.
- Reveal: The new villain, Lilypad, a frog-shaped interactive tablet/toy hybrid that instantly glitches.
- Woody’s Return: A soft-focus close-up of the sheriff star. He whispers, “I knew you’d come back for me.” Cue tears.
- Chaos Montage:
- Buzz vs. automated vacuum
- Jessie is riding a drone
- Forky screaming at an Amazon Echo
The New Villain: Lilypad
Lilypad — the sleek, frog-shaped smart tablet voiced by Greta Lee is Pixar’s most pointed antagonist yet. Designed as the ultimate “smart toy,” she represents the rise of hyper-personalized tech that replaces imagination instead of supporting it. Through Lilypad, the film digs into screen-time dependence, the addictive pull of interactive devices, and the growing fear that technology is raising kids more than toys or parents. She functions as a metaphor for distraction culture – endlessly updating, endlessly optimizing, and endlessly pulling attention away from real play.
Key Ideas:
- Voiced by Greta Lee: brings a sharp, playful, but menacing energy.
- Embodies smart toy dominance: representing tech outperforming traditional toys.
- Screen-time commentary: highlights rising digital dependency in kids.
- Metaphor for distraction culture: illustrating how attention has become the battleground.
Cast Updates
Returning: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Blake Clark, Tony Hale
Confirmed: Anna Faris
New: Greta Lee, Conan O’Brien, Ernie Hudson
Woody Continuity Question
One of the biggest shocks in the Toy Story 5 trailer is Woody’s return, and fans immediately asked the obvious: “Wait… didn’t Woody ride off with Bo Peep at the end of Toy Story 4?” The trailer doesn’t explain how he’s back with the gang, but analysts and fan theorists have floated several possibilities that Pixar may be teasing from alternate timelines to emotional summons. The mystery is clearly intentional, setting up Woody’s comeback as one of the film’s core emotional hooks.
Possible Explanations Fans Are Discussing:
- Parallel timeline: a multiverse-style branch where Woody never left.
- Memory sequence: the trailer includes moments that might be flashbacks.
- Bonnie rediscovering Woody in storage: she may have forgotten she still owns him.
- A “call to adventure” override: toys might instinctively return when a child really needs them.
Cultural & Educational Significance
Facts that make Lilypad’s villainy hit harder:
- 40% of 2-year-olds use tablets
- 58% of 4-year-olds have personal device access
- Kids average 2.5–3.5 hours/day of screen media
Child development experts argue this movie could spark conversations similar to Inside Out in 2015.
Franchise History & Box Office
- Toy Story 4 opened at $120.9M domestic
- Franchise total: $3B+ globally
- Timeline: 1995 → 1999 → 2010 → 2019 → 2026
- Release date: June 19–21, 2026 (Father’s Day weekend)
Disney’s Marketing Strategy Analysis
Why Drop Two Trailers Together?
Disney’s decision to drop Devil Wears Prada 2 and Toy Story 5 on the same day wasn’t chaotic — it was calculated brilliance. Each trailer targets a different core demographic while still creating overlap: Millennials and older Gen Z flocked to DWP2 for the nostalgia and fashion drama, while families, parents, and adults who grew up with Pixar rushed to watch TS5. Together, they created a perfect storm of multi-generational engagement.
By launching both at once, Disney essentially hijacked every major platform’s discovery feed for almost 48 hours. Instagram was flooded with fashion edits, TikTok pushed “Lilypad villain” theories, X was debating Woody’s return, and YouTube’s trending page belonged entirely to Disney. It wasn’t just a promo moment, and it became a cultural event.
This dual drop also strategically positioned Disney as the event studio of summer 2026, signaling confidence in its slate and reminding audiences (and competitors) that when Disney wants to command attention, it can dominate the conversation without any help.
Key Pointers:
- Two demos, one cultural moment: Millennials for DWP2, families and nostalgia-driven adults for TS5.
- Algorithm dominance: Both trailers trended simultaneously, taking over feeds for ~48 hours.
- Cross-platform virality: Fashion edits + Pixar theories = multi-audience engagement.
- Strategic positioning: Establishes Disney early as the studio to beat for summer 2026.
- Competitive edge: Prevents rival studios from owning the news cycle or stealing early buzz.
Platform Performance Breakdown
Disney didn’t just drop two trailers — it activated two entirely different platform ecosystems, each amplifying the trailers in ways that matched their core audiences. Every platform had its own flavor of virality, and together they created a cross-demographic surge no competitor matched in 2025.
Instagram — DWP2’s kingdom
- Devil Wears Prada 2 practically owned Instagram within minutes.
- Fashion accounts, magazine pages, celebrity stylists, runway archivists, and even luxury brand pages reposted clips, creating a high-gloss, editorial-style wave of shares. Reels of Miranda’s red heels and Emily’s power walk became fashion meme currency, and carousel breakdowns reached millions.
- Because Instagram’s audience skews beauty, lifestyle, and fashion-focused, DWP2’s aesthetic-heavy imagery was tailor-made for algorithmic success — resulting in its record-breaking 79M views on this platform alone.
TikTok — Memes and reaction videos fueled TS5
- TikTok immediately became the home of Toy Story 5’s reaction videos, stitches, and villain edits.
- Creators pumped out Lilypad theories, “screen time villain” jokes, and nostalgia edits of Woody and Buzz within hours. Kids and parents joined in, making it one of the rare Pixar trailers to dominate both sides of TikTok:
- The short, punchy structure of the TS5 trailer lends itself perfectly to TikTok’s remix culture, which is why it amassed 37M+ views there.
YouTube — Strong completion rates (Pixar especially)
- On YouTube, the big story wasn’t raw views — it was completion rates, especially for Toy Story 5.
- Pixar trailers historically perform well on YouTube because families watch together on TV apps, and the algorithm prioritizes “% watched” over clicks. TS5 reportedly saw one of Pixar’s strongest completion curves since Inside Out 2, with breakdown channels releasing 10–20 minute videos analyzing single shots. Meanwhile, DWP2 thrived through “shot-by-shot fashion critiques,” keeping both trailers in the trending section for days.
Twitter/X — Fashion dominates the feed
- DWP2 dominated fashion Twitter, with debates over the Valentino Rockstud heels, Miranda’s legacy, and whether Emily is now the villain.
- TS5 trended through Woody continuity confusion, Lilypad memes, and emotional throwbacks to Toy Story 1.
- Because X thrives on hot takes and quote tweets, both trailers stayed on the trending list for nearly 24 hours — rare for two different movies from the same studio.
Sentiment Analysis
The overall sentiment across social platforms leaned strongly positive for both trailers, with Devil Wears Prada 2 receiving particularly glowing reactions. Fans couldn’t stop praising Meryl Streep’s return as Miranda, calling her “the moment, again.” Toy Story 5 also earned warm feedback, though it sparked mild debate around Woody’s reappearance after his emotional farewell in TS4. The “Toys vs. Tech” theme was widely applauded as timely and relevant for modern parents. The only recurring critique across both drops was the familiar one: some viewers feel Disney is leaning heavily on sequels, though even they admitted both trailers looked strong.
Key Pointers:
- DWP2: Overwhelmingly positive reactions, especially for Meryl Streep’s performance and presence.
- TS5: Mostly positive sentiment, with some discussion about Woody’s continuity.
- Theme praise: “Toys vs. Tech” is seen as smart, timely, and culturally relevant.
- Minor critiques: A subset of fans mentioned “Disney relying on sequels too much.”
Box Office Predictions & Industry Impact
A. Summer 2026 Landscape
Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most stacked box-office seasons in years, and Disney positioned itself right at the front of the pack. Devil Wears Prada 2 kicks off May with a stylish, adult-skewing opener, setting the tone for a nostalgia-heavy season. One month later, Toy Story 5 lands squarely in Pixar’s traditional June sweet spot — a window historically associated with massive family turnout. The competition is fierce, with titles like Tron: Ares, Shrek 5, and Jurassic World: Rebirth all vying for attention, but early projections still place both Disney releases as top contenders. Analysts expect a strong $75–95M opening for DWP2 and an even bigger $130–150M start for TS5, depending on family attendance and word of mouth.
Key Pointers:
- Release timing:
- DWP2 opens in May 2026, starting the summer season.
- TS5 follows in June, aligning with Pixar’s prime release window.
- Major competitors: Tron: Ares (Disney), Shrek 5 (DreamWorks), Jurassic World: Rebirth (Universal).
- Box office projections:
- DWP2: $75–95M opening weekend.
- TS5: $130–150M opening weekend (family turnout is the swing factor).
Sequel Economics
Sequels continue to dominate studio strategy for one simple reason: they’re safer, faster earners. With built-in fanbases and decades of cultural equity, films like Devil Wears Prada 2 and Toy Story 5 benefit from massive pre-awareness, meaning studios don’t have to spend as much convincing audiences what the movie is. Nostalgia also plays a huge role — people show up for characters and worlds they already love, which translates directly into bigger, more predictable opening weekends. This reduces marketing risk, shortens the “trust-building” phase of promotion, and often results in stronger first-weekend turnout than original IP. In a volatile box-office climate, sequels offer rare stability.
Key Pointers:
- Pre-awareness & nostalgia: Audiences already know the world, characters, and tone — making marketing easier and more effective.
- Lower risk: Studios spend less on educating audiences, and trailers convert faster because emotional connections already exist.
- Stronger openings: Sequels typically see higher first-weekend turnout because fans show up immediately, not gradually over weeks.
Disney’s 2026 Broader Strategy
Disney’s 2026 playbook is all about rebuilding momentum and owning every major audience segment after a few uneven years. Inside Out 2 gave Pixar a huge confidence boost, proving emotional, character-led animation can still deliver global hits. But the underperformance of Elio raised pressure to ensure the next Pixar outing — Toy Story 5 — lands big. At the same time, 20th Century Studios is leaning hard into prestige-driven adult dramas and legacy sequels like Devil Wears Prada 2 to balance the family-heavy slate. Altogether, Disney’s goal is clear: deliver a lineup that captures kids, adults, nostalgia viewers, and event-movie seekers — a push toward four-quadrant dominance across the entire summer.
Key Pointers:
- Pixar confidence boost: Inside Out 2 reaffirmed Pixar’s box-office strength.
- Higher stakes after Elio: Its weak performance puts added pressure on TS5.
- 20th Century Studios’ strategy: Leaning into adult prestige dramas like DWP2.
- Overall aim: Build a slate that hits all demos — true four-quadrant dominance.
Social Media Reaction & Cultural Impact
Generational Divide
Millennials: losing their minds over DWP2
– For millennials, DWP2 is a cultural homecoming, and the trailer triggered peak nostalgia and office-culture discourse.
– Many joked that they’d “take a personal day” just to recover from the elevator scene.
Parents: excited about TS5’s message on screen time
– Adults praised Pixar for tackling the tech-vs-play issue with heart and humor.
– Parenting influencers called the trailer “too real,” sparking conversations about digital habits at home.
Gen Z: vibing with the memes and Lilypad’s chaotic energy
– Gen Z latched onto Lilypad as an unbothered, villain-coded icon, remixing her voice lines into edits.
– The chaotic trailer moments fit perfectly into their humor style — surreal, fast, and hyper-dramatic.
Fashion Industry Response
Vogue editors have already begun theorizing about Miranda
– Editors posted think-pieces about whether Miranda represents the old guard of fashion or a commentary on reinvention.
– Some even suggested the film mirrors real tensions within major fashion magazines today.
Valentino’s Rockstuds are trending on resale sites
– Moments after the trailer debut, resale platforms reported spikes in searches for Rockstud heels.
– Fashion Twitter joked that “Miranda is singlehandedly reviving a trend through sheer force.”
Fashion blogs dissecting every outfit in frame
– From Emily’s power coat to Andy’s minimalist neutrals, blogs instantly launched breakdowns of each look.
– Creators praised the film for mixing archival pieces with futurist silhouettes, signaling a new fashion era.
What Makes These Trailers Work
Both trailers succeed because they balance nostalgia with modern storytelling, giving audiences exactly what they didn’t know they were craving. The Devil Wears Prada 2 taps into the 18–20 year nostalgia window, while Toy Story 5 reaches even deeper, drawing from a three-decade emotional history that spans generations. Their construction is tight and intentional — clear arcs, instantly recognizable music cues, and a lean runtime that teases without spoiling. Dropping them in mid-November was another smart move, syncing with peak holiday browsing and ensuring both trailers hit maximum visibility on every platform.
Nostalgia Factor
- DWP2 hits the 18–20 year nostalgia sweet spot, capturing millennials and older Gen Z who grew up quoting the original.
- TS5 taps into a 30-year emotional history, reactivating lifelong fans and parents who now share the franchise with their kids.
Perfect Trailer Construction
- 1:50 runtime keeps pacing tight and rewatchable.
- Clear arcs introduce stakes without giving away story beats.
- Music cues spark instant recognition, from Madonna’s “Vogue” to INXS.
- Teasers avoid over-revealing, preserving mystery around Woody and Miranda.
Timing & Platform Strategy
- Mid-November drop leverages heavy holiday browsing and screen time.
- Multi-platform simultaneous release boosts algorithmic priority across feeds.
- Cross-audience timing ensures both demos engage without exhausting each other.
Comparison to Other 2025 Trailer Drops
When stacked against other major 2025 trailer launches, Devil Wears Prada 2 and Toy Story 5 still sit just behind the current king: Fantastic Four: First Family, which holds the year’s top spot with a massive 202M first-day haul. Even so, Disney continues to dominate the top five positions across the board, showcasing its grip on both nostalgia-driven IP and family entertainment. Competitors like Universal and Warner Bros. have struggled to hit similar first-day spikes, often landing well below Disney’s numbers.
Analysts note that the biggest viral trailers tend to share the same ingredients – recognisable franchises, emotional callbacks, meme-friendly moments, and needle-drop soundtracks – all of which these two Disney trailers maximized perfectly.
Key Pointers:
- Fantastic Four: First Family still leads with a record-breaking 202M first-day views.
- Disney holds most of the top-five trailer slots, underscoring its IP strength.
- Universal and Warner Bros. lag in first-day performance metrics.
- Viral trailer drivers:
- Big, recognisable IP
- Strong emotional nostalgia
- High sharability potential
- Instantly recognisable music cues
Expert Insights
Fashion News Editor at Elle, Alexandra Hildreth:
“The high-low nature of many of the looks also reflects the way many real insiders dress. Fashion might have changed a lot in the last two decades, but in 2006, Andy wasn’t running around as a second assistant freely pulling whatever she wanted from the sample closet, either. And in 2025, wardrobe stipends and borrowing clothing still exist, albeit on a less grand scale.”
Film Reviewer at San Francisco Chronicle, Allen Jhonson:
“Pixar needs a hit after the dismal box-office performance of “Elio” over the summer.”
Child Development Researcher Dr. Larry Rosen:
“Children under five are using tablets more than ever. A story about toys confronting technology is culturally timely.”
What To Expect Next
Marketing Timeline
- Trailer #2 expected around March 2026
Studios typically drop the second, story-heavy trailer 6–8 weeks before release, so a March rollout would lock in hype just as spring box office chatter peaks. - TV spots during the Oscars
Disney almost always buys high-visibility ad slots during the Oscars broadcast, making it the perfect stage to showcase fresh footage from both films. - Massive merchandise rollout for TS5
Expect toys, backpacks, lunchboxes, and a new wave of Lilypad-themed gadgets hitting shelves by late spring, aiming to dominate the kid market ahead of summer holidays. - Fashion editorial tie-ins for DWP2
Magazines and digital fashion outlets are likely prepping Miranda-inspired covers, behind-the-scenes style features, and designer collaborations to coincide with the film’s May release.
Release Strategy
- Theatrical exclusivity for 45 days
Disney is expected to follow its standard post-pandemic model, giving both films a full 45-day theatrical window to maximize box office legs before hitting streaming. - Disney+ drops around August 2026
With the May and June theatrical releases, both movies would likely arrive on Disney+ by August — perfectly timed for back-to-school family viewing. - International rollout in waves starting late April
Select international markets often open a week early to build global buzz, so early screenings and press premieres are expected to begin in late April across Europe and Asia.
Conclusion
Two trailers. Two fanbases. Two cultural juggernauts. And one studio smart enough to drop them together. With The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Toy Story 5, Disney didn’t just break trailer-view records — it reignited two franchises that shaped entire generations. As Summer 2026 approaches, one thing is clear: the box office belongs to nostalgia, charisma, and a little bit of fashion-fueled chaos.
