Hollywood’s summer movie anxieties gave way to joy this weekend with the massive debut of Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.” The animated sequel earned $155 million in ticket sales from 4,440 theaters in the U.S.
and Canada, according to studio estimates Sunday. It’s the second-highest opening weekend in Pixar’s nearly 29 years of making films and the second-biggest animated opening ever (behind only the $182.7 million launch of “Incredibles 2” in 2018); It’s also the biggest of 2024, which had not had any films debut over $100 million.
With an estimated $140 million from international showings, “Inside Out 2” had a staggering, and record-breaking, $295 million global debut. The success is significant for Pixar , marking a much-needed return to form for a studio that has had a string of underwhelming launches including “Elemental,” which did eventually become a success, and “ Lightyear,” which didn’t. It’s also important for the greater Hollywood ecosystem and the health of theatrical exhibition, which had been running at a 26% deficit before this weekend.
“Inside Out 2” marks the biggest opening since “Barbie” launched to $162 million last July. “This is a monumental weekend for movie theaters,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. Kelsey Mann directed “Inside Out 2,” which picks up with Riley as she turns 13.
That means the arrival of new emotions like Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopo.