Ecstatic. Incredible. Gleeful. Overjoyed. Take your pick.
Pixar’s Inside Out 2 has iced out fellow Disney release Frozen II to become the top-grossing Hollywood animated film of all time at the worldwide box office after finishing Tuesday with $1.462 billion, not adjusted for inflation. The film’s domestic total stands at $601 million, while it has grossed $861.8 million internationally.
Disney Animation’s Frozen II topped out at $1.451 billion in 2019. It now rests at No. 2 on the all-time animated list followed by Illumination and Universal’s video game adaptation The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($1.361 billion), the first Frozen ($1.274 billion), Pixar’s Incredibles 2 ($1.242 billion), Illumination’s Minions ($1.157 billion), Toy Story 4 ($1.072 billion), Despicable Me 3 ($1.032 billion) and Finding Dory ($1 billion).
Among all films, Inside Out 2 laughed its way past Warner Bros.’ 2023 summer juggernaut Barbie ($1.446 billion) on Monday to land at No. 13 on the list of all time grossing films, animated or otherwise. Put another way, the Inside Out sequel is now the biggest film since Barbie strutted into theaters a year ago.
Inside Out 2′s historic ride at the summer box office has arguably been the biggest surprise of the season, considering Pixar’s recent struggles and the turbulent animated family marketplace at the box office. Families grew more and more comfortable waiting for an animated film on streaming rather than going to the theater. Pixar’s problems were compounded when three of its films were sent straight to streaming by former Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s regime. Inside Out was just the balm the storied animation studio needed.
One milestone left to go: Inside Out 2 is just days away from overtaking Incredibles 2 ($608 million) domestically. They are the only two animated films to hit the $600 million threshold in North America.
Earlier this month, Inside Out 2 passed up Incredibles 2 ($1.242 billion) globally to become the top-grossing Pixar title of all time at the worldwide box office, not adjusted for inflation.
Inside Out 2 has yet to open in Japan, where the forecast is sunny (in South Korea, it has earned more than $55 million, a staggering sum that Disney believes bodes well for Japan). Throughout Asia, Europe and North America, the film is being fueled not only by families, but also by teenagers and younger female adults who grew up watching the first Inside Out, released in 2015.
The sequel is also doing historic business across Latin America and Europe.
Directed by Kelsey Mann, the sequel introduces a whole new cast of emotions who are brought into “head”-quarters when the story’s young heroine, Riley, becomes a teenager. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust aren’t so sure how to feel about the arrival of Anxiety, Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment.
The movie has become a cultural talking point about the emotional changes puberty brings, and is being championed by many educators and psychologists as a teaching moment.
Amy Poehler — who plays Joy — leads the ensemble voice cast. The roster of stars includes Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Paul Walter Hauser and Yvette Nicole Brown.
Inside Out 2, earning stellar reviews and a record-best audience score, has shattered numerous records since its release in early June, including crossing $1 billion club at the global box office in record time for an animated film, or just 19 days. Among animated movies, it’s the 12th film to achieve the milestone. Disney dominates that list, laying claim to eight of those releases, whether Pixar or Walt Disney Animation titles.
In 2015, Inside Out topped out at $858.8 million globally.
