Honestly, it’s hard to find a movie that feels more like a time capsule of a very specific, slightly misguided era than Sex and the City 2. Released in May 2010, the film didn’t just move the goalposts for the franchise; it basically flew them to a different continent and left them in the sand. If the first movie was about the "I do" and the messy reality of mid-life heartbreak, the sequel felt like a 146-minute fever dream fueled by high fashion and a massive identity crisis.
People still talk about it. Usually, they’re complaining.
Michael Patrick King took the four women we knew as the heartbeat of Manhattan—Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha—and dropped them into Abu Dhabi. Except, it wasn't actually Abu Dhabi. Because of the script's themes and some political friction, the production couldn't film in the UAE and had to pivot to Morocco. You can kind of tell. The lighting has that shimmering, overly saturated Sahara glow that feels more like a luxury perfume commercial than a cinematic narrative. It’s a movie that cost $100 million to make and made nearly $300 million back, yet it’s often cited as the moment the brand lost its soul.
The Plot That Divided a Fandom
At its core, Sex and the City 2 tries to grapple with the "and then what?" of marriage. Carrie is bored. She’s living in that gorgeous apartment with Big, but she’s terrified they’ve become a "boring married couple" who eats take-out on the couch.
Then there’s the "spark." Or the lack of it.
While Carrie struggles with her "terrible twos" of marriage, Charlotte is losing her mind over her kids and a braless nanny named Erin. Miranda is dealing with a misogynistic boss, and Samantha is literally fighting the aging process with a suitcase full of hormones. It sounds like a solid foundation for a movie about womanhood, but then the trip happens.
The shift to the Middle East changed the tone entirely. Suddenly, the show that was built on the pavement of the Upper East Side was replaced by camels and private jets. The stakes felt lower because the surroundings were so impossibly high-end. When Carrie runs into her ex, Aidan Shaw (John Corbett), in a spice market in the middle of a desert, it doesn't feel like a "New York moment." It feels like a scripted coincidence that stretched the limits of what the audience was willing to believe.
What Critics Actually Said
The reviews were brutal. Rotten Tomatoes currently has the film sitting at a dismal 16%. Roger Ebert gave it one star, famously noting that the characters had become "flyweight" and "shallow." It wasn't just about the plot; it was about the optics.
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Critics like Lindy West and others pointed out the awkward cultural intersections. There’s a specific scene where the four women are rescued by local women who reveal they are wearing high-fashion labels under their niqabs. The movie intended it to be a "sisterhood" moment. In reality, it felt condescending to a lot of viewers. It’s a fascinating look at how Western media in the early 2010s tried—and often failed—to engage with global cultures without looking through a tourist's lens.
The Fashion: The Real Star (and Problem)
Patricia Field is a legend. We know this. But in Sex and the City 2, the fashion moved from "aspirational" to "costume."
Carrie’s Dior "J'Adore Dior" tee-shirt paired with a massive ballgown skirt while walking through a dusty market is iconic, sure. But it also highlighted the disconnect. In the original series, the clothes were a character. In this movie, they felt like a distraction.
- The "Label" Overload: Every frame was packed with Chanel, Pucci, and Halston Heritage.
- The Carrie Bradshaw Effect: Her $52,000 diamond ring (the "Black Diamond") became a legitimate jewelry trend after the film, proving that even when the plot fails, the commerce wins.
- The Wedding Cameo: We can’t forget the opening. Stanford and Anthony’s wedding featured Liza Minnelli performing Beyoncé’s "Single Ladies." It was peak camp. It was also deeply polarizing. Some loved the spectacle; others felt it was a caricature of the characters they loved.
Why We Still Watch It
Despite the cringe-worthy puns (like Samantha screaming "I have hope!" while clutching hormone cream), there is something oddly comforting about the film. It’s the ultimate "guilty pleasure" because it is so unapologetically over-the-top.
There’s a weirdly honest subplot involving Miranda and Charlotte drinking wine and admitting that motherhood is hard. It’s the one scene that feels like the old show. They’re in a bar, they’re being vulnerable, and they aren't wearing headpieces. If the whole movie had stayed in that lane, the reception might have been different.
But Sex and the City 2 isn't about realism. It’s about the fantasy of escape. In 2010, the world was still reeling from the 2008 financial crisis. Seeing four women live in $20,000-a-night hotel suites was a form of escapism that some found offensive and others found necessary.
The Aidan Problem
Bringing Aidan back was a massive gamble. John Corbett has a natural charisma that makes you want to root for him, even when he’s a threat to Carrie’s marriage. That kiss in the desert? It was the primary driver for the film's marketing.
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The problem is that it felt like a regression. Carrie had spent six seasons and one movie getting to Big. To have her risk it all for a man she had already rejected twice felt like the writers didn't know how to give her conflict without a love triangle. It’s a recurring theme in the franchise—even in the revival series, And Just Like That..., they keep going back to the Aidan well.
The Legacy of the Sequel
The fallout from this movie was so significant that it effectively killed the film franchise for over a decade. Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, and Kim Cattrall wouldn't appear together again as a foursome.
The tension between Cattrall and Parker is well-documented, but many insiders suggest the direction of this specific movie didn't help. Samantha Jones was given the "crude" storylines—the menopause jokes, the public outbursts in the Middle East. It’s no wonder Cattrall eventually decided she was done with the character.
A Lesson in Franchise Management
What can we learn from the Sex and the City 2 era?
First, know your setting. New York was the fifth character in the show. When you remove that character, the chemistry changes. You can’t just replace the Chrysler Building with a sand dune and expect the same vibe.
Second, characters need to grow, not just age. The movie focused heavily on the physical aspects of aging—hot flashes, gray hair, the fear of "becoming old"—but it didn't give the women much emotional growth. Miranda quitting her job was a start, but it was overshadowed by the glitz.
How to Revisit the Film Today
If you’re going to rewatch it, do it with a sense of humor. Don't look for the "prestige TV" quality of the early HBO seasons. Look for the camp.
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- Watch it for the costume design: Even if it's "too much," it’s a masterclass in styling.
- Observe the 2010 tech: The BlackBerry phones and the "new" luxury of the time are hilarious now.
- Pay attention to the friendship: Strip away the setting, and the bond between the four women is still the only thing holding the movie together.
Moving Forward After the Desert
If you find yourself missing the world of Carrie Bradshaw but want to avoid the pitfalls of the second movie, there are better ways to engage with the franchise.
Instead of dwelling on the "Middle East" plotline, revisit the original series episodes that dealt with similar themes but with more grounded writing. Season 4’s "My Motherboard, My Self" or Season 6’s "The Post-it Always Sticks Twice" offer the emotional depth that the sequel lacked.
For those who actually liked the sequel—and there are many—the best next step is to look into the behind-the-scenes books by Sarah Nathan or the official film companions. They detail the incredible logistical nightmare of the Morocco shoot and the sheer volume of clothes shipped across the Atlantic. It makes you appreciate the work, even if you hate the result.
The franchise has since moved into the And Just Like That... era. It’s a different beast entirely, trying to correct the mistakes of the past while navigating a very different social landscape. But without the excess of the second film, we probably wouldn't have the more somber, reflective version of these characters we see today.
Stop looking at the sequel as a failure and start looking at it as a very expensive, very loud bridge to the future of the series. It was a mistake, but it was a fabulous one.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the Sex and the City 2 soundtrack—it’s actually a solid collection of tracks that captures the high-energy vibe better than the script does.
- Follow the account "Every Outfit on SATC" on social media; they provide a much-needed satirical lens on the movie's wildest fashion choices.
- If you're traveling, maybe skip the "Abu Dhabi via Morocco" itinerary and stick to a classic SATC tour of the West Village to reconnect with why you liked the show in the first place.