Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” continues to dominate the box office, setting a new benchmark for animated films with a staggering $100 million in ticket sales during its second weekend, according to studio estimates released Sunday. This achievement marks the highest-grossing second weekend for an animated movie, surpassing the previous record held by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” at $92 million. Only six films in history have surpassed this milestone in their second weekends.
In just ten days, “Inside Out 2” has catapulted itself to the top of 2024’s highest-grossing films list, amassing a global total of $724.4 million, with $355.2 million from US and Canadian theaters alone. This surpasses the $711.8 million worldwide total of “Dune: Part Two” and positions “Inside Out 2” on track to reach the coveted $1 billion mark within the next week, potentially becoming the first film to do so since “Barbie.”
The unexpected success of “Inside Out 2” has caught Hollywood off guard, revitalizing optimism in an industry that has struggled with reduced expectations following a significant decline in ticket sales, down approximately 40% from pre-pandemic levels, according to data firm Comscore.
The record-breaking performance of “Inside Out 2” recalls Disney’s era of billion-dollar blockbusters and represents a critical win for Pixar, prompting reevaluation of their film pipeline and approach to audience engagement, particularly after experimenting with direct-to-streaming releases.
With its minimal 35% dip from its impressive $154 million domestic debut, “Inside Out 2” now eyes the possibility of challenging “The Incredibles 2” ($1.2 billion) as Pixar’s highest-grossing release of all time, while also paving the way for potential sequels. Pixar’s future lineup includes the highly anticipated “Toy Story 5,” scheduled for release in 2026.
The success of “Inside Out 2” has provided a much-needed boost for theater owners amidst a volatile movie landscape that oscillates between blockbuster highs and prolonged quiet periods. Recent standout releases like “Barbie,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and “Top Gun: Maverick” have driven record ticket sales, punctuating a trend of feast-or-famine dynamics in the industry.
Despite challenges such as last year’s writers and actors strikes affecting release schedules, new entries like Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders” also made waves with a solid $10 million debut, originally slated for 2023 but delayed due to industry disruptions.
Looking ahead, upcoming releases like the sci-fi horror prequel “A Quiet Place: Day One” and Kevin Costner’s Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1” hope to capitalize on the momentum generated by “Inside Out 2,” as Hollywood anticipates continued audience enthusiasm in the weeks to come.
