In a stunning comeback for Pixar, “Inside Out 2” has taken the box office by storm, far surpassing expectations and marking a historic opening weekend. The sequel, which continues the story of Riley and her emotions, opened to a domestic haul of $155 million over Father’s Day weekend, well ahead of the anticipated $90 million. This impressive debut secures it the second-biggest animated opening for a three-day weekend, not adjusted for inflation.
A Global Sensation
Internationally, “Inside Out 2” also shattered records, opening to $140 million across various markets. This brings its global total to an astounding $295 million, making it the largest opening for an animated film in comparable markets when accounting for exchange rates. Notably, it broke records in Latin America, securing the second-biggest opening of all time in the region behind “Avengers: Endgame,” and earning $30.2 million in Mexico alone. Significant numbers were also seen across Europe and Asia, with South Korea contributing $14.9 million and the UK adding $13.9 million to the tally.
These figures reflect a major win for Pixar and Disney, which have faced challenges in recent years, including decisions to send several Pixar films directly to streaming platforms. The success of “Inside Out 2” demonstrates a strong resurgence for the studio.
The Film’s Critical Acclaim and Audience Reception
Directed by Kelsey Mann, “Inside Out 2” introduces new emotions to Riley’s internal world as she navigates her teenage years. The original cast, led by Amy Poehler as Joy, returns, joined by Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, and others voicing new emotions like Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment. The film received glowing reviews, boasting a 93 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96 percent audience score, the highest for any Pixar film. Additionally, it earned an A CinemaScore, indicating strong audience approval.
The film’s Thursday evening previews generated $13 million, exceeding expectations and setting the stage for a robust opening weekend. By Friday evening, projections had already increased, with estimates ranging from $130 million to $150 million domestically.
The Broader Box Office Impact
The success of “Inside Out 2” also contributed to a significant boost in overall domestic box office revenue, which was up for the first time this year. This surge is partially attributed to Sony’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which remained strong in its second weekend with $33 million, bringing its domestic total past $100 million and its global total beyond $200 million. The combined strength of these films helped the Father’s Day weekend box office to outperform the same weekend in 2024 by 30 percent, a period that saw disappointing openings for DC’s “The Flash” and Pixar’s “Elemental.”
Other notable performances include 20th Century and Disney’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” which nears the $400 million mark globally, and Alcon and Sony’s “The Garfield Movie,” which continues to perform well domestically. Paramount’s “IF” and Warner Bros.’ “The Watchers” also had respectable showings, with “IF” crossing the $100 million mark domestically.