Released on 14 June 2024, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 became the cinematic surprise of the summer, opening to enormous business and going on to gross more than $1.5 billion worldwide, the highest total ever for an animated film. It was a resounding comeback for Pixar, which had spent years struggling to regain its box-office mojo.
The sequel returned to the mind of Riley, now a teenager facing the new emotions of anxiety, envy, embarrassment and ennui alongside the original Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. Its cleverness lay in giving anxiety a name and a face, an insight into the adolescent mind that resonated with audiences of every age and sparked endless online discussion.
The film’s dominance was a reminder of the enduring power of family animation and of Pixar’s particular genius for making films that are simultaneously for children and about the human condition. Inside Out 2 also revived confidence in the theatrical business, proving that the biggest hits of the post-pandemic era could still be made for everyone.