Disney’s latest animated film, “Inside Out 2,” had a successful opening weekend, reaching $100 million in domestic sales and heading for an estimated $155 million weekend. The film is the most lucrative box office opening since “Barbie” in July 2023 and has been ranked as the second-highest domestic animated three-day opening, behind “Incredibles 2.” It also surpassed “Dune: Part 2” as the highest-grossing opening of 2024 so far.
Industry experts and analysts were surprised by the film’s success, with Box Office Pro’s editorial director, Daniel Loria, commenting that the performance far exceeded expectations, comparing it to “Toy Story 4” but calling the result extraordinary. This weekend’s success is seen as a turning point for Disney and the overall domestic box office, which had a slow start to the summer season following a disappointing Memorial Day weekend.
Shawn Robbins, founder of Box Office Theory, described the opening weekend as a well-earned victory for Disney, Pixar, and movie theaters, highlighting Disney’s refocused theatrical prioritization. Despite production delays due to strikes and lackluster Marvel releases, the success of “Inside Out 2” is seen as a major rebound for both Disney and Pixar after a string of underperformers.
In addition to Disney’s recent challenges, the summer was expected to be defined by how well Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” performed. With domestic box office totals still down compared to last year, the success of “Inside Out 2” is seen as a major turning point for theaters and the industry. Disney’s upcoming Marvel film is expected to generate audience enthusiasm after the disappointing performance of “The Marvels” last November.
Overall, the success of “Inside Out 2” is seen as positive news for Pixar, movie theaters, and rival studios, as it is expected to create increased interest and foot traffic at the multiplex. Analysts are hopeful that the film’s performance will help boost the overall summer box office and set a positive tone for upcoming releases, including the family-friendly film “Despicable Me 4.” Despite challenges and setbacks, the success of “Inside Out 2” is a promising sign for the industry as a whole.
