In a triumphant return to form for Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios, “Inside Out 2” has claimed the title of highest-grossing film of 2024 in North America, surpassing the previous frontrunner “Dune: Part Two” after just eight days in theaters. The animated sequel has amassed an impressive $285.7 million domestically, showcasing its widespread appeal and marking a significant victory for Pixar following recent underperformances at the box office.
The film’s success continued into its second weekend, with Friday earnings of $30.5 million positioning it to potentially break the record for the biggest sophomore frame ever for an animated feature. Current projections suggest “Inside Out 2” could earn over $100 million in its second weekend, which would surpass “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($92.3 million) and secure the seventh-highest second-weekend haul across all film genres.
This remarkable performance comes as a relief to Disney executives, who have seen several recent Pixar releases struggle to meet box office expectations. The sequel to 2015’s “Inside Out” has not only become the second-highest domestic opener of all time for animated films but is also on track to be the first movie since “Barbie” to earn more than $90 million in its second weekend.
“Inside Out 2” continues the story of Riley, now a teenager navigating the tumultuous waters of adolescence. The film introduces new emotions – Envy, Anxiety, and Embarrassment – to join the original cast of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. This expanded emotional landscape resonates with audiences, as evidenced by the strong box office numbers.
While “Inside Out 2” dominates the charts, other films are making their mark in theaters. “The Bikeriders,” a biker drama directed by Jeff Nichols and starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy, opened with $4 million on Friday. The film, which switched distributors from Disney to Focus Features, is projected to earn between $8 million and $10 million in its opening weekend.
Meanwhile, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” continues to perform well in its third weekend, projecting $18.4 million and maintaining its position as the sixth-highest-grossing domestic release of the year. Other notable performers include “The Garfield Movie” and “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” both holding steady in the top five.
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The success of “Inside Out 2” caps off a strong year for movies so far in 2024, with films like “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” “Kung Fu Panda 4,” and “Dune: Part Two” all contributing to a robust box office. As the summer movie season continues, all eyes will be on “Inside Out 2” to see if it can maintain its emotional grip on audiences and continue its record-breaking run.
