Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has shattered records with its opening weekend, grossing an impressive $155 million domestically and $295 million globally. This animated sequel, which introduces new emotions like Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy, has become the highest-grossing opening of the year and the second-best opening ever for a Pixar film.
The film’s success far exceeded its initial $90 million projection, making it a significant turnaround for the summer box office. “Inside Out 2” not only topped the domestic charts but also set records overseas, grossing $140 million in international markets. This marks the best-ever opening for an animated film in several key markets, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The movie’s domestic debut is the highest of the summer, surpassing other major releases and making it the best opening of 2024. It now holds the second-best domestic opening for an animated film, just behind Pixar’s “Incredibles 2.”
In comparison, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” took the second spot with an additional $33 million, followed by “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” with $5.2 million, “The Garfield Movie” with $5 million, and “IF” with $3.5 million. This weekend’s total box office revenue was 30% higher than the same weekend last year, which saw disappointing performances from “The Flash” and “Elemental.”
The summer box office season, which spans 15 weekends from the first Friday in May through Labor Day, has grossed $847.8 million so far, accounting for about 21% of last summer’s $4.03 billion total. Notably, the top-grossing films this year have all been sequels, with “Inside Out 2” leading the pack, followed by “Dune: Part Two,” “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” and “Kung Fu Panda 4.”
The original “Inside Out,” released in 2015, was a critical and commercial success, earning a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The sequel continues the story of Riley, now a teenager, as she navigates new emotions. The film has received a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore, indicating strong positive reception from both critics and audiences.
“Inside Out 2” has also set several records internationally. It enjoyed the biggest start in Mexico with $30.2 million, followed by Korea with $14.9 million, the United Kingdom with $13.9 million, Germany with $8.1 million, and the Philippines with $6.7 million. The film has yet to open in major markets like France, Italy, Spain, China, and Japan, suggesting that its global earnings could rise significantly.
The film’s production cost was $200 million, and its strong opening weekend performance is a significant win for both theaters and Pixar, which has struggled to regain its box office dominance since the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts expect “Inside Out 2” to surpass the original’s $356 million domestic and $858.8 million global earnings, potentially becoming the first film of the year to hit $1 billion at the global box office.
Domestically, “Inside Out 2” achieved the biggest opening of the year, surpassing “Dune: Part Two” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” It is the only release of 2024 to launch above $100 million, and it holds the second-largest animated debut of all time, behind “Incredibles 2.” It also ranks as the second-biggest start in Pixar history, ahead of “Finding Dory” and “Toy Story 4.”
Internationally, the film set the record for the biggest opening weekend in history at current exchange rates, surpassing “Frozen 2.” It also achieved the second-biggest debut ever in Latin America, behind “Avengers: Endgame,” and set records in smaller markets like Colombia, Turkey, and Paraguay.
Globally, “Inside Out 2” achieved the biggest animated opening of all time in like-for-like markets at current exchange rates, surpassing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” It also recorded Imax’s fourth-biggest animated debut, excluding China, with $14.5 million.
Overall, “Inside Out 2” has not only revitalized the summer box office but also reaffirmed Pixar’s ability to create compelling and commercially successful animated films. The film’s strong performance is a testament to its universal appeal and the enduring popularity of its characters and themes.
