Inside Out 2″ opens with $13 million in previews, the highest for any film released in 2024

The original “Inside Out,” released in June 2015, debuted with $90.5 million domestically following $3.7 million from previews.

Disney and Pixar’s latest animated venture amassed $13 million from Thursday previews domestically and an additional $22.3 million internationally. Projections place this family-friendly sequel on track for an opening weekend haul between $80 million and $90 million.

A debut at the upper end of this range would secure “Inside Out 2” as the biggest opening of the year thus far, surpassing Warner Bros.’ current leaders for 2024: “Dune: Part Two” at $82.5 million and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” at $80 million.

In context, the $13 million in domestic previews for “Inside Out 2” exceeds the preview earnings of last year’s “The Little Mermaid” ($10.3 million), “Minions: The Rise of Gru” ($10.8 million), and “Toy Story 4” ($12 million). However, it falls short of recent animated superhero sequels like “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” ($17.4 million) and “Incredibles 2” ($18.5 million).

Internationally, “Inside Out 2” performed exceptionally well in Mexico, where it garnered $5.7 million in previews and achieved the third-highest animated opening day in the country’s history. In Argentina, it secured the second-highest animated opening day, trailing only “Toy Story 4.” The film is set to continue its global rollout in markets such as France, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, and Brazil beyond its opening weekend.

The original “Inside Out,” released in June 2015, debuted to $90.5 million domestically after earning $3.7 million in previews. It went on to gross $356 million in North America and $858.8 million worldwide, resonating deeply with audiences for its poignant portrayal of coming-of-age themes. With a budget of $200 million, expectations are high that “Inside Out 2” will approach the financial success of its predecessor.

The sequel also marks a turnaround for Pixar’s recent box office performance. Last year’s “Elemental” had Pixar’s lowest opening at $29.6 million, while the “Toy Story” spinoff “Lightyear” opened to $50.5 million. Films like “Soul,” “Turning Red,” and “Luca” debuted on Disney+ during the COVID-19 pandemic, and “Onward” faced the unfortunate timing of releasing just before theaters closed.

Returning in “Inside Out 2” are Riley, the young protagonist, and her anthropomorphized emotions, including Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust. Joining them as Riley navigates puberty are Maya Hawke as Anxiety, Ayo Edebiri as Envy, and Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment.

In its second weekend, Sony’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” last week’s box office champion, is expected to add approximately $28 million, pushing its global total past $125 million and edging the four-film franchise closer to the $1 billion mark.

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