Over the weekend, Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” shattered box office records, grossing an estimated $295 million (£232.6 million) worldwide. This achievement marks the strongest global opening for an animated film in history, according to parent company Disney.
In North America, the film raked in approximately $155 million, surpassing “Dune: Part Two” for the year’s top box office opening weekend. This triumph is a significant boost for cinemas, which have faced underwhelming box office returns for several new releases this year.
“Inside Out 2” greatly outperformed its predecessor, which earned $90 million in its opening weekend and went on to gross $858 million globally. This makes it Pixar’s second-best North American opening, just behind the 2018 release of “The Incredibles 2.”
The success of “Inside Out 2” is particularly encouraging for Pixar, following a series of relatively weak performances from recent releases. As the first sequel to the 2015 Oscar-winning hit “Inside Out,” which centered on the emotions of a young girl named Riley, the new film expands its focus to include emotions such as envy and anxiety.
The strong opening of the animated film comes as a welcome development in what has been a slow start to the summer for the film industry. Traditionally, a significant portion of annual ticket sales occurs from the first weekend in May through early September. However, last year’s strikes by actors and screenwriters delayed the release of many films this year.
Additionally, the film industry continues to grapple with competition from streaming services, which vie for both content and customers. According to media market research company Comscore, the number of cinema tickets sold in North America so far this year is down by almost a quarter compared to the same period in 2023.
Overall, the record-breaking opening of “Inside Out 2” provides a much-needed boost for the industry and demonstrates the enduring appeal of Pixar’s storytelling.
Melissa Enoch
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