Pixar might make the much-needed comeback with its upcoming movie, Inside Out 2. The past few years have seen the animation studio’s projects struggle to get the kind of success expected. Both the original film Luca and the Toy Story spin-off, Lightyear, underperformed critically and commercially, which implied that the company would have to outdo itself to impress viewers.
Inside Out 2 is starting to look like the comeback that the studio needs. Based on the ratings and box office projections, it is being considered that not only the movie will break the chain of box-office disappointments but also dethrone Dune: Part 2, which has been the most successful film of this year so far.
Inside Out 2 Might Beat Dune: Part 2 at the Box Office
Inside Out, released in 2015, follows the inner workings of the mind of a young girl named Riley who gets used to her family’s relocation with her thoughts and actions administered by five emotions. The movie was a commercial success and earned nominations for two Academy Awards.
Now, almost a decade later, a sequel to it is well on its way as the five emotions in Riley’s mind will be joined by new emotions. The critics’ rating is 92% and the audience score is 95% on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, which is the same as Dune: Part 2‘s critics’ rating and audience score on the same site (via Rotten Tomatoes).
On one hand, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Dune: Part 2 opened with $82.5 in North America, which was the biggest opening to date for Denis Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet. On the other hand, Inside Out 2 is predicted to earn $80 million to $90 million on its theatrical debut (via Variety).
So, even in terms of box office openings, the latter film might beat the Dune sequel as the most successful movie of 2024. In fact, a box opening of above $80 million would even beat Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which had an opening of exactly $80 million.
The 2024 Summer Box Office Has Been Cursed So Far
The Inside Out sequel is not only the hope for Pixar but also one for the disappointing summer box-office performance this year. While last year saw the release of summer box office blockbusters like Barbie and Oppenheimer, this year, the box office seems to be suffering from the lack of outstanding performances.
Even The Fall Guy, starring Barbie‘s star Ryan Gosling and Oppenheimer‘s Emily Blunt in the lead roles, earned only $166.6 million after six weeks of theatrical run (via Box Office Mojo). What is even more surprising is that George Miller‘s Mad Max: Fury Road spin-off Furiosa, starring actors like Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, has not done much for the slump with an opening of $26.3 million (via Box Office Mojo).
Inside Out 2 is now in theatres.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Inside Out 2 make in its opening weekend?
Inside Out 2 opened to $154.2 million domestically and $294.2 million worldwide, making it the biggest opening of 2024 at the time and comfortably surpassing Dune: Part Two’s $82.5 million domestic debut. The film also earned strong reviews, with a 91% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A CinemaScore from audiences, signaling a major box-office comeback for Pixar.
Why did Pixar need a comeback before Inside Out 2?
Pixar’s previous few releases had struggled to match the studio’s earlier success. Both Luca and the Toy Story spin-off Lightyear underperformed critically and commercially, raising questions about whether the studio could recapture its old box-office and critical form. Inside Out 2’s strong reception and record-breaking opening weekend were seen as evidence the studio was rebounding.
Is Inside Out 2 a sequel to the original Pixar film?
Yes, Inside Out 2 continues the story of Riley, the young girl whose emotions were first introduced in the 2015 original. The sequel adds new emotions alongside the original five as Riley navigates the challenges of adolescence. The first film was a commercial hit and received two Academy Award nominations, and the sequel builds directly on that story roughly a decade later.
