These 2000s Anne Hathaway Classics Are Secretly the Same Movie

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Anne Hathaway has starred in many successful films, but two really stand out: The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada. Her role as Mia Thermopolis launched her career, showcasing her comedic talent and endearing personality as she went from a clumsy teenager to a princess. She brought a similar vibrant energy to her character, Andrea “Andy” Sachs, a young journalist navigating the high-stakes world of fashion. Though the worlds of Genovia and the fashion magazine Runway are very different, these two films share a surprising amount in common.

Although The Devil Wears Prada and The Princess Diaries seem very different, they actually share a surprising number of similarities. Both films are getting sequels years after they first came out, and the characters Anne Hathaway plays in each follow remarkably similar journeys, experiencing many of the same plot points. In fact, you could argue they’re essentially the same story, with different endings and themes.

Mia Thermopolis and Andy Sachs Go on Remarkably Similar Journeys

Both The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada are essentially stories about young women growing up and finding themselves, and they share similar themes. In both films, Anne Hathaway’s character is suddenly placed in a high-pressure situation with a strong female mentor who pushes her to succeed. Both characters also start out feeling like outsiders before eventually finding their place around the middle of the story.

Mia and Andy are finding it hard to adjust to their new appearances and social circles, which is causing problems with their friends. Mia’s close friend, Lilly, feels she’s changed and only wants to hang out with the popular crowd, and Mia even cancels a date with her boyfriend, Michael, to go out with Josh, a more popular guy. Similarly, Andy faces criticism from a friend named Lily, who questions why she’s accepting attention from journalist Christian when she’s already in a relationship with Nate.

Even though some of their friends behave badly, their actions force Andy and Mia to think about the people they’re becoming. Mia briefly considers fitting in with the popular group, but quickly regrets it, though she always remembers her identity and the responsibilities that come with being a princess. Meanwhile, Andy starts to lose track of her own ambitions as she gets more involved in her work at Runway.

Unlike The Princess Diaries, The Devil Wears Prada ends with Andy leaving her job to find something she’s truly passionate about. However, both Mia and Andy grow as people, discovering hidden strengths through their experiences. While the stories share some similarities, each film uses the classic coming-of-age story to convey a unique message.

The Princess Diaries Highlights the Importance of Self-Acceptance and Support Systems

Because of these differences, the movie offers a more optimistic and encouraging message than The Devil Wears Prada. Instead of trying to become someone she’s not to fit the image of a princess, Mia finds strength in accepting the role and becoming her best self. Crucially, she’s able to do this because she’s learned to embrace who she is and has supportive people around her.

Mia was a shy and awkward teenager, so becoming royalty was a challenge. With guidance from a tutor, she learned how to handle the attention that came with her new position. She also found the strength to confront a bully at school and, inspired by her late father’s advice, she eventually overcame her fear of speaking in public. Without this support and the lessons she learned, Mia might have given up her royal duties and lived a completely different life.

What struck me about The Princess Diaries compared to something like The Devil Wears Prada is the supportive friend dynamic. Andy barely gets a kind word from her friends, but Mia? Her friends actually come around. Lilly, after initially being hesitant, is the one who really spells out how being a princess can give Mia a real voice and a platform for good. And thankfully, Mia finally sees that Michael genuinely likes her for her, which is a huge improvement over Josh. But beyond the romance, it’s lovely to see Michael and Lilly become such solid friends who fully embrace and support Mia’s journey.

The Devil Wears Prada Shows the Cost of Being Top Dog

A major difference between The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada lies in how unpleasant the work environment is in the latter. While Mia Thermopolis is welcomed with kindness, Andy Sachs finds herself in a world ruled by the intimidating and critical Miranda Priestly. Miranda constantly pushes Andy to her limits with unreasonable requests, and though she shows glimmers of understanding, she ultimately serves as a warning rather than someone to admire.

Miranda is incredibly successful and determined to stay in charge, even if it means hurting others. While she sometimes struggles with the consequences of her actions – like feeling upset about her divorce and worrying about her kids – she always prioritizes maintaining her power. Andy understands that Miranda is a complex person and defends her, but ultimately decides to leave her job at Runway because she doesn’t want to become like Miranda herself.

As Andy spends more time working for Miranda, her job starts to take over her life. This eventually causes her boyfriend to end their relationship. Though some viewers dislike him, Nate has a point – Andy isn’t balancing work and her personal life, and she’s losing sight of what’s truly important. The film The Princess Diaries shows that being a monarch requires sacrifices, and Mia ultimately feels those sacrifices are worthwhile. However, for Andy, the price of working at Runway is simply too high.

The Devil Wears Prada and The Princess Diaries’ Sequels Cement Their Legacies

With the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2 approaching, the new film has a chance to dramatically change the original’s happy ending. The story will bring Andy back to Runway magazine, where she’ll find Miranda and the publication struggling to adapt to the world of digital media. The direction the story takes could ultimately lead to a more feel-good, *Princess Diarieslike conclusion for Andy.

The second movie wasn’t quite as strong as the original, but it did deliver on the first film’s setup by showing Mia finally become Queen of Genovia. While Andy has built a life and career away from her time at Runway and Miranda Priestly, returning will likely bring up difficult memories. Plus, with Miranda possibly planning to retire, she might recognize a bit of herself in Andy and start considering her as someone who could take over.

Both The Devil Wears Prada and The Princess Diaries explore themes of personal growth and overcoming obstacles. It’s interesting to compare how each movie delivers these lessons and how those lessons shape the final outcomes for the characters.

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2026-04-30 19:10