Pixar‘s sequel, “Inside Out 2,” has shattered records by grossing $100 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates released on Sunday. This achievement sets a new high for an animated film’s second weekend, surpassing the previous record of $92 million held by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” Remarkably, only six films in history have achieved better second weekend earnings.
2024’s Highest-Grossing Film
In just ten days, “Inside Out 2” has become the highest-grossing film of 2024, with a global box office total of $724.4 million. This impressive total includes $355.2 million from U.S. and Canadian theaters, surpassing the worldwide total of “Dune: Part Two” at $711.8 million. Consequently, the film is expected to reach the $1 billion mark within a week, making it the first to do so since “Barbie.”
The success of “Inside Out 2” has surprised Hollywood, which had been facing lower expectations due to a 40% decline in ticket sales compared to pre-pandemic levels, as reported by Comscore. This record-breaking performance recalls the days when $1 billion grosses were common for Disney. Furthermore, it marks a significant comeback for Pixar, which has been re-evaluating its approach to mass-audience appeal after experimenting with direct-to-streaming releases.
Future Prospects for Pixar
“Inside Out 2,” which saw only a 35% drop from its $154 million domestic debut, is on track to challenge “The Incredibles 2” ($1.2 billion) as the highest-grossing Pixar film. This success may lead Pixar to focus more on sequels, with “Toy Story 5” already slated for release in 2026.
For theater owners, the success of “Inside Out 2” is a welcome relief, highlighting the feast-or-famine nature of the movie business in recent years. While blockbuster hits like “Barbie,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and “Top Gun: Maverick” have set records, there have also been significant lulls. For example, recent Memorial Day ticket sales were the worst in three decades.
Other notable releases over the weekend include Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders,” which earned $10 million, and Sony Pictures’ “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which grossed $18.8 million in its third week. Next week, new releases like the sci-fi horror prequel “A Quiet Place: Day One” and Kevin Costner’s Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1” will look to capitalize on the current box office momentum.
Top 10 Weekend Box Office (U.S. and Canada)
- Inside Out 2: $100 million
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die: $18.8 million
- The Bikeriders: $10 million
- The Garfield Movie: $3.6 million
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: $3.6 million
- If: $2.8 million
- The Exorcism: $2.4 million
- Thelma: $2.2 million
- The Watchers: $1.9 million
- Ghost: Rite Here Rite Now: $1.5 million
Final domestic figures will be released on Monday, according to Comscore.
