Inside Out 2, featuring the new character Anxiety, exceeded expectations with a record-breaking $155 million opening weekend and $728.6 million globally, making it the highest-grossing film of 2024 worldwide. It earned $355 million domestically and $724 million internationally, breaking records for an animated film in its second weekend with $100 million in North America.
The film's success is attributed to the long gap since the original, attracting adult viewers who saw the first movie as children, as well as a lack of competition during the summer season. Its ability to withstand competition and maintain strong performance is credited to the absence of major releases in the same genre.
It explores the arrival of new emotions, like Anxiety, in the mind of Riley Andersen, now a teenager navigating high school, capturing audiences' hearts with its relatable and insightful portrayal of adolescent struggles and emotional balance.
The movie features new characters voiced by Ayo Edebiri and Maya Hawke, replacing Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader as Disgust and Fear, respectively.
The release saw significant success in countries like Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, and several Southeast Asian markets, breaking records in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Disney's marketing approach in the Philippines, understanding local consumption habits and engaging with influential voices, contributed to the film's exceptional performance.
The film's animation, metaphors, and performances have been praised by critics, and it received positive reviews.
While Inside Out 2's triumph might lead Disney to focus more on sequels, there are concerns about franchises having a lifespan, necessitating the creation of new ideas for continued success.
The success of "Inside Out 2" exemplifies the recent trend of cycles of feast or famine at the box office, with blockbusters like "Top Gun: Maverick," "Avatar: The Way of Water," and the Barbenheimer phenomenon attracting vast audiences, despite some disappointments in terms of box office performance.
The downturn in 2024's box office can be attributed to release-schedule changes caused by last year's writers and actors strikes, with Disney suffering several box office bombs in 2023, leading to a need for strategy change. Pixar is facing challenges due to releasing films on Disney+, affecting audience perceptions.
The success of Inside Out 2 could be a sign of hope for the struggling film industry in 2024, which experienced a 19% decrease in box office revenue compared to the same period in 2023, with estimates suggesting a total gross between $7.2 billion and $7.9 billion, down from $9.1 billion in 2023.
Pixar may prioritize sequels after the success of Inside Out 2, easing the pressure on its creative teams, and may lead to more sequels and original films to keep the company moving forward.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: The Atlantic, Forbes, CNN, IndieWire, The Showbiz Journal, High On Films, Head Topics, Inside The Magic, CinemaBlend, Screen Rant, CBR, Inquirer, TV Overmind.