The addition of new emotions like anxiety, embarrassment, ennui, and envy has proven to be a winning formula for Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.” The film has shattered records, grossing an impressive $155 million domestically in its opening weekend. This makes it the highest-grossing opening of the year and the second-best opening ever for a Pixar animated film.
“Inside Out 2” was initially projected to earn around $90 million, but it far exceeded expectations. The movie also performed exceptionally well overseas, bringing in an additional $140 million. This combined global total of $295 million marks the best-ever opening for an animated film in similar markets.
The film’s domestic opening is the highest of the summer, a season that had been relatively quiet at the box office until now. It also ranks as the second-best domestic opening for an animated film, trailing only Pixar’s “Incredibles 2.”
Other films in the box office this weekend included “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which earned $33 million, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” with $5.2 million, “The Garfield Movie” at $5 million, and “IF” with $3.5 million. The overall weekend gross 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 total of $4.03 billion.
Interestingly, the top opening weekends this year have all been sequels. “Inside Out 2” surpassed “Dune: Part Two,” which had an $82.5 million opening, and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” which opened with $80 million. Other notable openings include “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” at $58.4 million and “Kung Fu Panda 4” at $57.9 million.
The original “Inside Out,” released in 2015, focused on the emotions of an 11-year-old girl named Riley. The sequel introduces new emotions as Riley turns 13, adding characters like Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment. The film has received a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating strong critical acclaim.
The success of “Inside Out 2” is a significant win for Pixar, which has faced challenges in recent years, including decisions to release some films directly to streaming. The film’s international performance was also noteworthy, breaking records in Latin America and performing well in Europe and Asia.
“Inside Out 2” started its box office run with $13 million from Thursday evening previews, surpassing initial expectations. By Friday, it was clear that the film would open to at least $130 million to $140 million domestically. Rival studios estimated even higher numbers, but Disney and Pixar remained conservative in their predictions.
The film’s success, along with the strong performance of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” has boosted overall domestic box office revenue for the first time this year. Father’s Day weekend saw a 30% increase compared to the same weekend in 2024, which had underwhelming performances from “The Flash” and “Elemental.”
“Bad Boys 4,” starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, earned $33 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to over $100 million and its global total to $200 million. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” came in third, nearing the $400 million mark globally. “The Garfield Movie” earned $5 million, bringing its domestic total to $78.5 million. “IF,” a CGI/live-action hybrid, was in a close race for the fifth spot with Warner Bros.’ “The Watchers.”
The weekend’s total domestic revenue is expected to be around $216 million, making it the first $200 million-plus weekend since the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon in July of last year. This weekend ranks as the fifth biggest Fri-Sun weekend total of the decade, behind weekends that included openings for “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
“Inside Out 2” has not only set a new benchmark for animated films but has also revitalized the box office, proving that audiences are eager to return to theaters for compelling stories.
