“Inside Out 2” has unseated “Dune 2” as the biggest movie of the year, proving that themes of panic and anxiety resonate more with audiences than riding giant sand invertebrates. The Disney and Pixar sequel to the 2015 animated hit has pulled in $100 million at the domestic box office in its second weekend, making it the highest-grossing film of the year so far. This achievement comes despite a slow start to the summer box office, which was impacted by last year’s Hollywood strikes that delayed several anticipated releases, including “Snow White” and “Blade.”
“Inside Out 2” is now on track to become the first movie this year to surpass $1 billion worldwide. If the current box office rankings hold until the end of the year, 2024 will mark the second consecutive year that a film with a female protagonist generates the highest gross.
The Pixar sequel has surpassed “Dune: Part 2” to become the highest-grossing movie of 2024, achieving this milestone in just eight days at the U.S. box office. According to Variety, “Inside Out 2” has so far earned $724 million at the worldwide box office, including $355 million in the U.S. and Canada. This surpasses “Dune: Part 2’s” $711 million global haul, which included $282 million from the U.S. and Canada.
Following its massive opening weekend, “Inside Out 2” continued to draw in staggering ticket sales in its second weekend, raking in $100 million in the U.S. and Canada and $164 million from other territories. These impressive numbers put it on track to become the first movie of 2024 to join the $1 billion box office club.
Last weekend, “Inside Out 2” scored the second-biggest opening of all time for an animated film, behind the $182 million that “Incredibles 2” brought in back in 2018. Pixar’s latest also secured the biggest U.S. opening of 2024 and became the first film to cross $100 million in its first few days since “Barbie” achieved this milestone last summer.
“Inside Out 2” takes audiences further inside the mind of Riley, who is now a teenager experiencing an entirely new range of emotions. IGN recently toured the Pixar Animation Studios campus in California and caught up with director Kelsey Mann to take a closer look at the new characters and the designs that didn’t make the final cut.
Audiences have been overwhelmingly positive about “Inside Out 2.” The movie is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its visuals, cast, and clever storytelling. IGN’s review of “Inside Out 2” described it as “a smart but emotionally stunted sequel” with “a few inventive ideas that make for hearty amusement.”
In less than two weeks after its release, “Inside Out 2” has cracked the all-time Top 10 list of highest-grossing animated movies domestically. According to Deadline, the film is now the 10th highest-grossing animated movie of all time domestically. It has also surpassed $800 million globally and is nearing the $1 billion mark. Its total earnings break down to $387.8 million domestically and $411.9 million internationally.
Released in theaters on June 10, “Inside Out 2” achieved the third-largest opening weekend for an animated film in domestic history and is already the highest-grossing movie of 2024, surpassing “Dune: Part Two.” The first “Inside Out,” released in 2015, was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $858 million worldwide and winning Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. Despite the long gap between the original and the sequel, “Inside Out 2” has managed to build on this phenomenal success.
Reviews for “Inside Out 2” praise the sequel for adding a twist of teenage angst, allowing it to match the emotional depth of its predecessor. However, it appears the sequel will be an even bigger box-office success. In just 12 days of its domestic release, the blockbuster sequel has become the 10th highest-grossing animated film ever in North America, surpassing “Minions: The Rise of Gru” ($370M), “Finding Nemo” ($381M), and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” ($382M). The next animated film it is set to surpass domestically is Disney’s own “Frozen.”
The success of “Inside Out 2” is a testament to the enduring appeal of its characters and the relatable themes it explores. As it continues to draw in audiences worldwide, it seems poised to join the exclusive $1 billion box office club, solidifying its place as one of the most successful animated films of all time.
Source: Variety, Deadline, IGN
