411 Box Office Report: Inside Out 2 Shatters Expectations With $155 Million Start

Pixar returned to the top of the box office in a massive way as Inside Out 2 destroyed all expectations with a $155 million opening. The animated sequel nearly doubled the $85 million start that most had for it going into the weekend to score the best opening for any film since Barbie and the second-highest start for an animated film, squeezing past Super Mario Bros Movie’s $146.3 million start and coming in behind only The Incredibles 2’s $182.6 million opening.

It goes without saying that this is huge for Disney and for the box office, which had gotten off to a lax summer season start. Pixar is finding this news especially welcome, as it hasn’t had an unmitigated hit since Toy Story 4 in 2019. (Last year’s Elemental was profitable but had to fight to get there.)

The massive overperformance can be attributed to the classic elements of blockbuster success: it’s a sequel to a highly successful first film (and one that is considered one of Pixar’s best) that was well-marketed and came into the weekend with plenty of buzz. Critics love the film at a 92% aggregated score on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences agree with a 96% RT audience score and an A CinemaScore.

That all bodes very well for the film’s potential legs, and it’s already primed for huge success. The overperformance could suggest a heavier drop than your average Pixar film; but even if that happens it should have no problem making it to around $375 million (and it will probably go higher than that). It’s doing great overseas too, with a $140 million start there for $295 million worldwide. Even against its $200 million budget, this is a huge, huge win for Pixar and Disney that will result in plenty of profit.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die made way for Inside Out as it fell to #2 in its second weekend with a strong hold. The action sequel brought in $33 million, a drop of just 42% from last weekend’s strong opening. That is the second-best hold for the franchise to date and puts the movie well on the path to success with $112.2 million domestically and $214.6 million worldwide against its $100 million budget. At this point, the film is likely to get close to Bad Boys For Life’s $204.4 million domestic gross and will leave Sony Pictures very pleased.

Kingdom Of Planet of the Apes had a truly remarkable hold in its sixth weekend as it was down a mere 4% to gross $5.2 million. The 20th Century Studios’ franchise film is now at $157.8 million domestically and $374.5 million worldwide, a big hit against a $160 million budget. It now looks to end its domestic run at around $175 million or more.

The Garfield Movie felt the sting of Pixar, dropping 50% in its fourth weekend to $5 million. Don’t feel too bad for the animated film though, as it’s already well profitable with $78.5 million domestically and $217.7 million worldwide against a $60 million budget. The family should still be able to top $90 million by the end of its domestic run.

Ishana Night Shyamalan’s The Watchers had a solid hold as it slipped 48% in its second weekend. The horror film grossed $3.7 million, bringing its totals to $13.7 million domestically and $18.3 million worldwide. It was a much-needed hold for a film that opened disappointingly last weekend. As it stands, the Warner Bros. Picture is still not looking likely for profit, as it cost the studio $30 million and the final domestic gross seems likely to be around $25 million.

IF was another casualty of Inside Out’s barnstorming, as it was down 56% in its fifth weekend to tally $3.5 million. The family comedy is still fighting its way toward breakeven with $100.9 million in the US and $173.5 million worldwide against a budget of $100 million plus marketing. It is looking strong enough to get to around $110 million domestically.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga dropped 42% in its fourth weekend to gross $2.4 million. The Mad Max: Fury Road prequel will not be profitable, as it now has $63.1 million domestically and $149 million worldwide against a $168 million budget. The closing domestic number looks likely to be around $70 million.

The Fall Guy brought in $1.5 million, off 42% in its sixth weekend. The action romcom has a total of $87.9 million domestically and $169.9 million worldwide and should hit $95 million in the US. It will not make it to profit during its theatrical run due to the $125 million budget.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 scored an additional $760,000 this weekend, 58% from the last frame. The reboot now stands at $33.9 million domestically and $38.3 million worldwide, profitable against an $8 million budget. It’s looking at an endgame of around $35 million in the US.

The re-release of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring had a second weekend in the top 10 as it was down 74% to $632,910. The film, which was given a two-week rerelease run by Warner Bros. and Fathom Events, got its total numbers to $318.6 million domestically and $894.3 million.

Inside Out 2 stands to reign again next weekend without breaking a sweat. The only major releases are Focus Features’ drama The Bikeriders, which stands to gross around $8 million to $10 million, and the Russell Crowe horror flick The Exorcism which should be in a similar range.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Inside Out 2 – $155 million ($155 million total, $295 million WW)
2. Bad Boys: Ride Or Die – $33 million ($112.2 million total, $214.6 million WW)
3. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – $5.2 million ($157.8 million total, $374.5 million WW)
4. The Garfield Movie – $5 million ($78.5 million total, $217.7 million WW)
5. The Watchers – $3.7 million ($13.7 million total, $18.3 million WW)
6. IF – $3.5 million ($100.9 million total, $173.5 million WW)
7. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – $2.4 million ($63.1 million total, $149 million WW)
8. The Fall Guy – $1.5 million ($87.9 million total, $169.9 million WW)
9. The Strangers: Chapter 1 – $760,000 ($33.9 million total, $38.3 million WW)
10. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $632,910 ($318.6 million total, $894.3 million WW)