‘Inside Out 2’ Smashes Box Office, Laughs All the Way to $1 Billion – First 2024 Film to Crack the Big Bucks

Guess what, movie buffs? Disney and Pixar’s heart-tugging “Inside Out 2” is the first film this year to hit the magical $1 billion mark at the global box office. 💸

Picture this: 19 days in cinemas and this animated gem has already raked in $469.3 million in North America and $545.5 million internationally. That’s a grand total of $1.015 billion! 🥳 It’s the fastest animated movie to join the billion-dollar club, and out of 11 such films, eight hail from the Disney stable. Talk about having a Midas touch! ✨

When “Inside Out 2” premiered on June 14, it smashed records with a domestic opening of $151 million, leaving “Dune: Part 2” ($711 million) biting the dust. It was the first movie since last July’s “Barbie” ($162 million) to debut over $100 million. For three weekends straight, it reigned supreme at the box office, becoming 2024’s highest-grossing film both domestically and globally. And if you’re curious, yes, it has already outperformed its predecessor, 2015’s “Inside Out” ($859 million worldwide). 🎉

This is like a breath of fresh air for movie theaters, which have been pretty desperate for a hit this summer. Pixar, having taken a hit during the pandemic with films like “Turning Red,” “Soul,” and “Luca” going directly to Disney+, has finally got a win. Pete Docter, Pixar’s head honcho, has been vocal about how the pandemic got people too cozy watching movies at home. The lukewarm reception to 2022’s “Lightyear” and 2023’s “Elemental” seemed to prove his point. 🤷‍♂️

Michael O’Leary, the big cheese at the National Association of Theatre Owners, couldn’t contain his excitement. “On behalf of movie theatre owners everywhere, congrats to ‘Inside Out 2’ for grossing $1 billion faster than any animated movie in history. It’s clear that compelling, entertaining movies still draw audiences to the big screen,” he gushed. 🎬

So, what’s the secret sauce behind “Inside Out 2’s” success? Well, it’s a mix of nostalgia, stellar word-of-mouth, and universal appeal. The sequel takes us back into Riley’s head, but this time she’s a teenager dealing with new emotions like Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and Nostalgia (June Squibb). Director Kelsey Mann, in his feature debut, has nailed it, making us all feel the feels yet again. 🥲

Harish’s Hot Take:
In this topsy-turvy world of cinema, sometimes it takes a billion-dollar animated sequel to remind us that deep down, we’re all just a bunch of emotions trying to navigate life. So, dear Bollywood, maybe it’s time to dive into the world of emotions? After all, who doesn’t love a good cry or a hearty laugh? 😅

Tags: Disney, Pixar, Inside Out 2, Box Office, Billion Dollar Club, Animated Films, Movie Theaters, Hollywood Harish