“Inside Out 2” is a bigger box office hit than even Pixar’s staunchest believers had dared to expect, turning down the anxiety dial for fans worried about the Walt Disney Co.-owned computer animation stalwart’s prospects and the state of theatrical box office in general. The emotion-filled family sequel grossed $100 million from theaters in the U.
S. and Canada during its second weekend, representing a mere 35% decline from its gangbusters domestic opening. With $724 million in global ticket sales so far and impressive word-of-mouth, a $1-billion total seems all but assured.
Those kinds of numbers go a long way toward burnishing the Pixar brand, which was in need of a confidence boost. Coming up next for family audiences: more sequels! Universal and Illumination’s “Despicable Me 4” is expected to do huge numbers when it launches during the week of July 4. Disney is betting on “Moana 2” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” (spun off from the “live-action” “Lion King” remake that was entirely computer-generated) to continue its animated momentum.
But the biggest question facing the feature animation business is one that neither “Inside Out 2” nor the Minions — or even Sony’s successful “The Garfield Movie” — can address: What is going on with originals? While Hollywood thrives on sequels, a robust industry depends on the creation of new franchises. This is especially true for Disney, which relies on new movies to fuel its parks business, toy sa.