Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has made a triumphant debut, securing the largest opening day at the box office in 2024. The film raked in an impressive $62 million from Friday and preview screenings across 4,440 theaters. This achievement positions “Inside Out 2” to surpass the $82.5 million opening weekend of “Dune: Part Two,” potentially becoming the biggest domestic opening of the year. This milestone also marks the first time in nearly 11 months that a film has achieved a nine-figure opening weekend, with “Barbie” being the last to do so.
This success is a significant comeback for Pixar Animation Studios. The studio had faced challenges in recent years due to several films, including “Turning Red,” “Soul,” and “Luca,” being released directly on Disney+ during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pixar head Pete Docter, who directed the original “Inside Out,” noted that this strategy “trained” audiences to expect Pixar films on streaming platforms.
“Inside Out 2” has reestablished Pixar as a powerhouse in theatrical releases. The sequel is on track to be among Pixar’s top-five domestic openings, potentially joining the ranks of “Incredibles 2” ($182 million), “Finding Dory” ($135 million), “Toy Story 4” ($120 million), and “Toy Story 3” ($110 million). Notably, these high earners are all sequels.
Early reviews have been highly favorable, with audiences giving the film an “A” grade on Cinema Score. With a substantial $200 million production budget, Disney and Pixar’s investment in “Inside Out 2” is paying off, suggesting a strong performance beyond the opening weekend.
Directed by Kelsey Mann, the sequel follows Riley as she navigates puberty, introducing new emotions like Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Nostalgia (June Squibb). Original cast members Amy Poehler, Lewis Black, and Phyllis Smith return to reprise their roles.
In its second weekend, Sony and Columbia’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is expected to drop to second place. The action-packed sequel is projected to earn $31.5 million, a 44% decrease from its $56 million opening weekend, but it remains on track to exceed $100 million domestically within its first 10 days.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s “IF” continues to perform well, expected to gross $3.6 million in its fifth weekend, securing fifth place and crossing the $100 million mark in North America by Sunday.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is experiencing a resurgence, climbing back to third place more than a month after its release. The 20th Century Studios’ sci-fi film added $1.3 million on Friday and is projected to surpass $160 million domestically in the coming week.
Sony’s “The Garfield Movie” is projected to take a hit as “Inside Out 2” captures family audiences. The comic strip adaptation is expected to earn around $5.3 million in its fourth weekend, with total domestic earnings reaching $75 million by Saturday.
