The emotions at Pixar and Disney are soaring as Inside Out 2 makes a historic splash at the box office. The highly anticipated sequel opened to a staggering $155 million domestically over Father’s Day weekend, far surpassing the expected $90 million. This achievement marks the second-largest animated opening for a three-day weekend, unadjusted for inflation. Internationally, the film also shattered records, grossing $140 million for a global total of $295 million, making it the biggest animated film opening in like-for-like markets when accounting for exchange rates.
Inside Out 2’s domestic debut is second only to Pixar’s Incredibles 2, which opened to $182.7 million. It has now surpassed Illumination and Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which previously held the second spot with $146.4 million. Other notable animated openings include Pixar’s Finding Dory at $135.1 million and Walt Disney Animation’s Frozen II at $130.3 million.
This success is a much-needed win for Pixar, which has faced challenges in recent years, including the decision by the former Disney regime to send several Pixar films directly to streaming. The film’s international performance was equally impressive, opening in just 60 percent of the global market. It set records across Latin America, including a $30.2 million debut in Mexico, and performed strongly in Europe and Asia, with South Korea contributing $14.9 million and the U.K. $13.9 million.
Initially, Inside Out 2 was projected to open in the $90 million range in North America, similar to the first film, which earned nearly $860 million globally. However, the sequel’s performance exceeded expectations, becoming the first film since Barbie to cross the $100 million mark in its opening weekend. Barbie had opened to $162 million domestically, and Inside Out 2 is now poised to join the billion-dollar box office club.
The film has received glowing reviews, boasting a 93 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96 percent audience score, the highest for any Pixar film. Directed by Kelsey Mann, the sequel introduces new emotions as Riley, the young heroine, becomes a teenager. The voice cast, led by Amy Poehler, includes Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Paul Walter Hauser, and Yvette Nicole Brown.
Inside Out 2 began its box office run with $13 million from Thursday evening previews, surpassing expectations. By Friday, it was clear the film would open to at least $130 million to $140 million domestically. Rival studios estimated $140 million to $150 million, but Disney and Pixar conservatively predicted $140 million-plus.
The film’s success, along with Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die, boosted overall domestic box office revenue for the first time this year. Father’s Day weekend saw a 30 percent increase compared to the same weekend in 2024, when DC’s The Flash and Pixar’s Elemental had disappointing openings.
Bad Boys 4, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, earned $33 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to $112.2 million and $200 million worldwide. 20th Century and Disney’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes came in third, nearing the $400 million mark globally. The Garfield Movie placed fourth with $5 million, while IF and The Watchers were in a close race for fifth place.
Inside Out 2’s marketing campaign focused on introducing new emotions and highlighting the film’s humor. Amy Poehler, who voices Joy, was the only cast member to travel globally for promotions. The teaser trailer, released last November, garnered 157 million views in 24 hours, making it Disney’s most viewed animated trailer.
Disney previewed the first 35 minutes of the film at CinemaCon and conducted a college footage tour. Joy and Sadness characters made surprise appearances at theaters during the Memorial Day holiday and opening weekend. Trailers ran on various films, and exhibitors offered exclusive merchandise and promotions.
Integrated marketing efforts included partnerships with McDonald’s, Samsung, Airbnb, Microsoft, Joyburst, Uber, Bubble Skincare, Immi ramen, Embark dog DNA tests, Paper Mate, Mango.org, and Casio. These collaborations featured custom spots, sweepstakes, and themed products.
Inside Out 2’s diverse audience, with 36 percent Hispanic and Latino viewers, underscores the importance of multicultural appeal in achieving box office success. The film’s strong performance and positive reception signal a bright future for Pixar and the movie industry as a whole.
