“Inside Out 2” Previews Earn $13M, Eyes 2024 Box Office Crown

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has stormed into theaters, already amassing an impressive $13 million from Thursday previews alone. Projections suggest the film could achieve a spectacular $80 million to $100 million in its opening weekend, positioning it as a frontrunner for the title of the biggest movie of 2024 thus far.

The sequel, a highly anticipated follow-up to the original 2015 film, “Inside Out,” which not only garnered critical acclaim but also won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, premiered officially on Friday night. This release marks a significant moment for Pixar, which is aiming to recover from recent disappointments, including the lukewarm reception of “Lightyear” in 2022 and “Elemental” in the preceding year.

“Inside Out 2” has received glowing reviews from both critics and audiences alike. Rotten Tomatoes shows an impressive 95% approval rating from audiences and a solid 93% from critics. However, some critics have pointed out that the sequel, while charming, doesn’t quite reach the emotional depth of its predecessor. The New York Times praised the movie for its exploration of new emotions like anxiety, envy, and embarrassment, embodied in the teenage protagonist Riley’s brain. Despite this charm, NPR described it as “imperfect,” and The Guardian noted the plot felt “a little bit convoluted and repetitive.”

“Inside Out,” the original film, has been a powerhouse at the box office, amassing a staggering $356.4 million domestically and an additional $501.1 million internationally since its release in 2015. While it may not surpass Pixar’s top-performing film, “Incredibles 2,” which earned $608.6 million in 2018, it certainly ranks among the studio’s most successful releases, trailing behind sequels like “Finding Dory,” “Toy Story 4,” and “Toy Story 3.