The summer movie season has finally ignited, with two major releases battling for supremacy at the box office. Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” managed to clinch the top spot for the third consecutive weekend, narrowly defeating the highly anticipated horror prequel “A Quiet Place: Day One” in a surprisingly close race.
“Inside Out 2” generated an estimated $57.4 million domestically, bringing its global total to a staggering $1.01 billion. This achievement marks a significant milestone, as the animated sequel has reached the billion-dollar mark faster than any other animated film in history.
Meanwhile, “A Quiet Place: Day One” made an impressive debut, earning $53 million domestically and an additional $45.5 million internationally. The film’s $98.5 million global opening weekend sets a new record for the franchise, surpassing its predecessors’ performances.
The competition between the two films was particularly intense on Friday, June 28, when “Day One” actually outperformed “Inside Out 2” with $22.5 million versus $17.1 million. However, the animated feature rebounded over the weekend, attracting more families on Saturday and Sunday to secure its victory.
Industry analysts note that “Inside Out 2” benefited from a wider release, showing in 4,440 theaters compared to “Day One’s” 3,708. The horror prequel boasted a higher per-theater average of $14,293, suggesting that with equal distribution, the outcome might have been different.
Rounding out the top five were Kevin Costner’s Western “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1” at No. 3 with $11 million, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” at No. 4 with $10.3 million, and “The Bikeriders” at No. 5 with $3.3 million.
The strong performances of both “Inside Out 2” and “A Quiet Place: Day One” have reinvigorated what had been a disappointing summer movie season. As July approaches, the industry is hopeful that this momentum will continue, potentially setting the stage for a record-breaking summer at the box office.
The success of these films also underscores the enduring appeal of both family-friendly animation and horror franchises, two genres that continue to draw significant audiences to theaters despite the challenges faced by the exhibition industry in recent years.
As the summer progresses, all eyes will be on upcoming releases to see if they can maintain this newfound box office momentum and potentially challenge the dominance of “Inside Out 2” and “A Quiet Place: Day One.”