Remember when, a few days back, Dune 2 director Denis Villeneuve placed his displeasure that no movie is chasing down Dune: Part 2 at the box office even after three months of its release? Well, long story short, the record is broken and Inside Out 2 has become the highest-grossing film of 2024 surpassing Villeneuve’s sci-fi movie.
Inside Out 2 Goes Past Dune 2 At The Box Office
In the battle of sequels, Inside Out 2 beats Dune 2. Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 is now the highest-grossing movie of 2024, surpassing Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2.
The sequel to the immensely popular animated film Inside Out has grossed $761 million (Via The Numbers, as of June 25) at the global box office against a budget of $200 million, beating out Dune 2 which grossed $711 million globally against a budget of $190 million. Various outlets have predicted that Inside Out 2 will become the first movie of 2024 to earn $1 billion worldwide.
Less than two weeks after its release, the movie has earned $369 million domestically compared to Dune: Part Two‘s overall domestic earnings of $282 million. The original Inside Out opened with about $90 million in its first weekend in the summer of 2015.
The release of Inside Out 2 in theaters is a welcome relief after this year’s underwhelming box office results. With the exception of the month that the pandemic closed cinemas, May’s ticket sales in the US were the lowest since 1999.
The Fall Guy, an action comedy starring Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling that was released digitally after failing to break even at the box office, is one of two major blockbusters that have underperformed thus far this summer. Despite supposedly costing $168 million to produce, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the prequel to George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road, made a meager $167 million worldwide.
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Movie theaters are hoping that upcoming films like A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28), Despicable Me 4 (July 3), Twisters (July 19), and Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26) can sustain the momentum after a sluggish start to the summer.
Why Inside Out 2 Has Become So Popular?
Pixar’s sequel to the beloved 2015 film, Inside Out, takes us back inside the mind, this time focusing on Riley’s journey through adolescence. Remember Riley, the energetic young girl whose emotions took center stage? Well, she’s all grown up – a teenager now facing the emotional rollercoaster of puberty.
This new chapter introduces us to Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, who joins the familiar cast of emotions like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. As Riley navigates hockey camp and the pressure to impress older friends, Anxiety takes the wheel, reflecting the overwhelming feelings many teenagers experience.
One key factor behind the sequel’s runaway success is the significant gap between the first film and this follow-up. The original Inside Out captivated a generation of young viewers, many of whom are now young adults with their own children. This generational appeal has driven a large audience back to theaters, contributing to the film’s impressive box office performance.
Another element fueling the success of Inside Out 2 is its strategic summer release. With fewer competing movies, it has become one of Pixar’s major hits, capturing the hearts of audiences at a critical time for the studio.
The film’s universal appeal spans multiple age groups. Riley’s transformation into a teenager, dealing with complex emotions like anxiety and embarrassment, resonates with both young viewers and older audiences. The mature themes explored in the movie attract a wide demographic, making it relatable beyond just the teen years.
Tony Hale, the voice of Fear, shared his thoughts on the character of Anxiety in a recent interview with PEOPLE. He reflected on how closely he relates to this emotion in his own life.
“It’s very easy to go to anxiety,” Hale noted. “It’s very easy for me to live in the ‘What if?’ It takes work, which is really ironic because we’re in the present. It takes work to be present!“
So, if you’re looking for a fun and thought-provoking film that explores the emotional landscape of growing up, Inside Out 2 is a must-watch. It’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane for some and a fresh look at the challenges and triumphs of adolescence for others.
Inside Out 2 is in theaters now.
