Pixar’s latest release, Inside Out 2, has delivered a monumental performance at the box office, achieving a historic $155 million opening in the U.S. and a staggering $295 million globally. This marks the second-biggest animated opening of all time in North America and the biggest ever worldwide when comparing like-for-like markets.
Record-Breaking Domestic and International Openings
Inside Out 2 debuted to a massive $155 million domestically over Father’s Day weekend, significantly surpassing the expected $90 million. This makes it the second-biggest animated launch for a three-day weekend, not adjusted for inflation. Overseas, the film opened to an impressive $140 million, bringing its global total to $295 million. This is the largest opening of all time for an animated film in comparable markets when accounting for exchange rates.
The previous record for top animated domestic opening is held by another Pixar sequel, Incredibles 2, with $182.7 million. Other notable animated openings include The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($146.4 million), Finding Dory ($135.1 million), and Frozen II ($130.3 million).
Pixar’s Triumphant Return
Inside Out 2 represents a much-needed win for Pixar, which has faced several challenging years. This success comes after a period where the former Disney regime sent several Pixar films directly to streaming, bypassing theatrical releases.
Internationally, Inside Out 2 opened in just 60 percent of the global marketplace but still broke records. In Latin America, it achieved the second-biggest opening of all time, trailing only Avengers: Endgame, with Mexico contributing $30.2 million. The film also performed strongly in Europe and Asia, including $14.9 million from South Korea and $13.9 million from the U.K.
Exceeding Expectations
Heading into the weekend, the $200 million sequel was projected to open in the $90 million range in North America, mirroring the debut of the first film. Instead, it crossed the $100 million mark in its launch, a feat not seen since Barbie nearly a year ago. Barbie opened to $162 million domestically, and like it, Inside Out 2 is poised to join the billion-dollar box office club.
Critical Acclaim and Audience Reception
Inside Out 2 received glowing reviews, holding a 93 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score stands at 96 percent, the highest for any Pixar film. It also earned an A CinemaScore, indicating strong audience approval.
Directed by Kelsey Mann, the sequel introduces a new array of emotions as Riley, the protagonist, becomes a teenager. Amy Poehler leads a voice cast that includes Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Ayo Edebiri, and more.
Thursday Previews and Weekend Surge
The film kicked off its box office run with $13 million from Thursday evening previews, exceeding expectations. By Friday, it was evident the film would surpass $130 million domestically. By late evening, rival studios were estimating a range of $140 million to $150 million, though Disney and Pixar conservatively predicted $140 million-plus.
Impact on Domestic Box Office
The success of Inside Out 2, coupled with Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die in its second week, boosted overall domestic box office revenue. Father’s Day weekend saw a 30 percent increase compared to the same weekend in 2024, which had underwhelming performances from DC’s The Flash and Pixar’s Elemental.
Bad Boys 4, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, saw a modest 42 percent drop in its second weekend, earning $33 million and surpassing $100 million domestically and $200 million worldwide.
Other Box Office Performances
20th Century and Disney’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ranked third, approaching $400 million globally with a North American total of $157.8 million. Alcon and Sony’s The Garfield Movie placed fourth, while John Krasinski’s IF and Warner Bros.’ The Watchers competed closely for fifth place.
Wrapping Up
Inside Out 2 has revitalized Pixar’s box office presence, setting new records and exceeding expectations. This triumphant return underscores the enduring appeal of Pixar’s storytelling and the anticipation for its beloved characters. For more updates and insights on the latest releases, visit Hitplay.
