The streaming strategy for “Inside Out 2” has reportedly been disclosed. The sequel continues Riley’s journey through the turbulent waters of puberty and middle school, introducing new emotions such as Embarrassment, Ennui, Envy, and Anxiety to join Joy, Fear, Disgust, Anger, and Sadness. The film boasts a stellar voice cast including Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Paul Walter Hauser, and Adèle Exarchopoulos.
According to Bloomberg, Disney plans to give “Inside Out 2” an exclusive theatrical run of about 100 days before making it available for streaming. The exact streaming release date remains unannounced.
In the past year, many films have been available for streaming or digital purchase within a month of their theatrical release. However, if the reported timeline holds true, Disney is adopting a more traditional approach for “Inside Out 2,” seemingly confident that the film will perform strongly in theaters. This confidence is likely based on the original “Inside Out” film, which grossed $857.6 million worldwide. Should the sequel achieve similar success, an extended theatrical run would be justified, potentially encouraging audiences to visit theaters rather than wait for the streaming release.
However, recent trends in Pixar’s box office performance may suggest that Disney is taking a risk with this strategy. Recent Pixar releases like “Luca,” “Turning Red,” “Lightyear,” and “Elemental” all failed to surpass $500 million in theaters. While “Soul” and “Turning Red” did not have traditional theatrical releases, the overall trend is concerning for “Inside Out 2,” which will likely aim to match or exceed the success of its predecessor.
Complicating Disney’s streaming strategy further is the competition from other films slated for release around the same time. Just a few weeks after “Inside Out 2” hits theaters, Illumination will release “Despicable Me 4” on July 3. Given the Despicable Me franchise’s history of success, the new installment is expected to draw significant box office numbers, potentially impacting the sustained performance of “Inside Out 2” during its extended theatrical run.
“Inside Out 2” is set to release in theaters on June 14.
