Inside Out 2 Breaks Pixar's Worldwide Record

Now, “Inside Out 2” is looking to set another record — the highest-grossing animated film of all time. It currently sits in second place behind Disney’s original “Frozen” ($1.285 billion), Illumination and Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($1.361 billion), and Disney’s “Frozen 2” ($1.453 billion).

The film could beat out “Frozen” and “Super Mario,” though it’s unclear whether it will win the title. The film has grossed $48 million in South Korea, which could be a sign of its performance in Japan, where it has yet to open, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Inside Out 2,” a sequel to the 2015 film about a young girl named Riley and her emotions, which are seen as characters that help shape her decisions, grossed $155 million in its domestic opening weekend, beating expectations. After two weekends, it's become the highest-grossing film of 2024 worldwide, according to Disney.

Pixar’s latest blockbuster wasn’t the only animated film to hit theaters this summer. Universal and Illumination’s “Despicable Me 4” has grossed more than $240 million since its June 30 release, suggesting another family-friendly film is pulling in audiences. Both films opened during the summer school break and as scorching temperatures continue to scorch parts of the country.

Inside Out 2 was a critical success. The film currently holds a 91% critic and 96% audience rating. rotten tomatoes And “A” on CinemaScorewhich calculates scores based on viewers' reactions to films shortly after they are released. The film has continued to spark discussions about how people deal with their emotions, and how teenagers feel. Puberty and anxietyHow do adults deal with emotions such as sadness and joy? Nostalgia (who all became characters in the movie).

The huge success of “Inside Out 2” is good news for Pixar, which has been on a losing streak with its box office releases. In 2020, “Onward” struggled to gain a foothold as theaters closed amid the pandemic. Pixar’s “Elemental,” due in theaters in 2023, was one of the best films released in 2020. Lowest box office openings ever For the company (though it recovered a bit over time). “Lightyear,” a spinoff of the “Toy Story” franchise, also failed to impress critics.

Pixar has been hinting at a renewed focus on hit franchises in its comeback tour. In June, the company's president announced, Jim Morris told Bloomberg: “Inside Out 2” will serve as a good test to see if the popular franchises have a place in Pixar’s arsenal moving forward. However, the studio’s next film, due out in 2025, is “Elio,” an original film about a boy who becomes an ambassador for Earth.