‘Inside Out 2’ Tops ‘Barbie’ in Second Weekend Box Office

“Inside Out 2,” which had the best opening weekend of the year, continued its record-breaking run in its second weekend, reportedly grossing another $100 million. This achievement marks the best-ever second weekend for an animated film, solidifying its status as the top-grossing film of 2024 just ten days post-release. The film’s success in its second weekend underscores its widespread appeal and the effectiveness of its marketing campaign, as well as the strength of its storytelling and animation quality, which have resonated with audiences of all ages.

In its second weekend, “Inside Out 2” brought in $100 million, pushing its total domestic box office sales to $285.6 million. This figure surpasses the $282.1 million domestic gross of “Dune: Part Two,” released in March, making “Inside Out 2” the highest-grossing film of 2024 so far. The impressive box office performance reflects strong word-of-mouth and repeat viewings, as well as its ability to attract a broad demographic range. The film’s success is particularly notable given the competitive landscape and the challenges faced by the film industry in recent years.

The second weekend haul set a new record for animated films and ranks as the seventh-best second weekend for any film in history, according to Variety. This figure surpasses the second weekend earnings of major releases like “Barbie” ($93 million), “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($92 million), and “Beauty and the Beast” ($90 million). However, it still trails behind blockbusters like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($149 million) and “Avengers: Endgame” ($147 million). The strong second weekend performance of “Inside Out 2” highlights its continued popularity and suggests that it will remain a dominant force in the box office in the coming weeks.

The opening weekend of “Inside Out 2” was the second-best for an animated film domestically, behind “Incredibles 2,” another Pixar creation. It also achieved the biggest-ever global opening for an animated movie, grossing $295 million worldwide. This impressive global opening outpaced last year’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” demonstrating Pixar’s continued dominance in the animated film market. The international appeal of “Inside Out 2” is a testament to its universal themes and high-quality production values, which have captivated audiences around the world.

“Inside Out 2” is the first film to debut with over $100 million since “Barbie” last summer. It boasts the fourth-highest domestic opening for a PG-rated film, following “The Lion King,” “Incredibles 2,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” according to Deadline. This achievement highlights the film’s broad appeal to family audiences and its strong positioning in the highly competitive summer movie season. The film’s success also reflects the effectiveness of its release strategy, which capitalized on a strong marketing campaign and favorable release window.

Industry analysts are closely watching to see if “Inside Out 2” will join the $1 billion club. Last year’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” reached this milestone, and “Inside Out 2” is already ahead of “Mario’s” two-week performance, which grossed $146.3 million in its domestic opening and $92 million the following weekend. If “Inside Out 2” continues its strong performance, it could become one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, further solidifying Pixar’s legacy in the animation industry.

“Inside Out 2” dominated the weekend box office, followed by “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” with $19 million, new release “The Bikeriders” with $10 million, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” with $3.6 million, and “The Garfield Movie” also with $3.6 million. The strong performance of “Inside Out 2” in comparison to these films highlights its broad appeal and strong market positioning. Its ability to outshine new releases and established franchises speaks to its unique appeal and the strength of the Pixar brand.

The film currently holds a 91% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating widespread acclaim from critics. This high score reflects the film’s quality and the positive reception it has received from both audiences and critics. The strong critical response is likely contributing to its ongoing box office success, as positive reviews help to drive audience interest and boost ticket sales.

The summer box office, spanning from Memorial Day to Labor Day, had grossed $1.16 billion by Sunday, on track to hit the predicted $3 billion mark. Last summer’s box office grossed $4 billion, the highest since the pandemic, but 2024 is expected to fall short due to fewer releases and delays from last year’s actors and writers strikes. Summer typically contributes about 38% of the annual box office gross, with last year’s summer making up 45% of the total $8 billion, according to Deadline. Despite these challenges, the success of films like “Inside Out 2” demonstrates the resilience of the film industry and the continued appetite for high-quality, family-friendly entertainment.