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㽶ƵֱInside Out 2㽶Ƶֱ scores massive $155 million opening

Debute marks the 2nd-biggest animated opening ever, behind only the 2018 launch of 㽶ƵֱIncredibles 2㽶Ƶֱ

Hollywood㽶Ƶֱs summer movie anxieties gave way to joy this weekend with the massive debut of Disney and Pixar㽶Ƶֱs 㽶Ƶֱ Inside Out 2.㽶Ƶֱ The animated sequel earned $155 million in ticket sales from 4,440 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Not only is it the second-highest opening weekend in Pixar㽶Ƶֱs 29 years of making films and the second-biggest animated opening ever (behind only the $182.7 million launch of 㽶ƵֱIncredibles 2㽶Ƶֱ in 2018); It㽶Ƶֱs also the biggest of 2024, and since 㽶ƵֱBarbie.㽶Ƶֱ With an estimated $140 million from international showings, 㽶ƵֱInside Out 2㽶Ƶֱ had a staggering, and record-breaking, $295 million global start.

Tony Chambers, who heads theatrical distribution for Disney, was confident that the film would do 㽶Ƶֱextremely well.㽶Ƶֱ But even he was surprised at how much it exceeded already high expectations.

㽶ƵֱPeople go to the theaters for great movies,㽶Ƶֱ Chambers said. 㽶ƵֱThe reviews, the word of mouth just helped build this momentum 㽶Ƶֱ It㽶Ƶֱs becoming a bit of a phenomenon.㽶Ƶֱ

Importantly, 㽶ƵֱInside Out 2㽶Ƶֱ audiences spanned ages and all demographics. Post-COVID, he said, breakout successes depend on attracting multicultural audiences.

The success is significant for Pixar, marking a much-needed return to form for a studio that has had a string of underwhelming launches including 㽶Ƶֱ Elemental,㽶Ƶֱ which did eventually become a success, and 㽶Ƶֱ Lightyear,㽶Ƶֱ which didn㽶Ƶֱt. It㽶Ƶֱs also vitally important for the greater Hollywood ecosystem and the health of theatrical exhibition, which had been running at a 26% deficit.

㽶ƵֱEverybody needed this because success begets success,㽶Ƶֱ said Chambers, who has been getting excited calls from exhibitors and fellow studios alike. 㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs great for the industry, great for Pixar and great for the business overall.㽶Ƶֱ

Disney was already having a good summer, with 㽶ƵֱKingdom of the Planet of the Apes,㽶Ƶֱ which this weekend was in third place in its sixth weekend with $5.2 million (bringing its global total to $374.5 million). And next up is 㽶Ƶֱ Deadpool & Wolverine 㽶Ƶֱ (July 26).

Kelsey Mann directed 㽶ƵֱInside Out 2,㽶Ƶֱ which picks up with Riley as she turns 13. That means the arrival of new emotions like Anxiety (Maya Hawke) and Envy ( Ayo Edebiri ) to Joy㽶Ƶֱs (Amy Poehler) party. It got glowing reviews from critics (92% on Rotten Tomatoes) and polled audiences who gave it an A CinemaScore, suggesting that this won㽶Ƶֱt be a first-weekend wonder. With kids out of school and an open market until 㽶ƵֱDespicable Me 4㽶Ƶֱ enters the ring over the Fourth of July, 㽶ƵֱInside Out 2㽶Ƶֱ is just getting started.

㽶ƵֱThis is a monumental weekend for movie theaters,㽶Ƶֱ said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore.

㽶ƵֱInside Out 2㽶Ƶֱ is estimated to have cost around $200 million to produce, which does not account for the millions spent on marketing. Going into the weekend, it was tracking for a debut in the $90 million range, which would have been in line with 㽶ƵֱInside Out㽶Ƶֱs㽶Ƶֱ first weekend in June 2015. Even that would have been considered a terrific achievement, and enough to claim the biggest opening of the year 㽶Ƶֱ finally unseating March releases like 㽶Ƶֱ Dune: Part Two 㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶Ƶֱ Godzilla x Kong.㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱFor the entire industry that works for theatrical, this is a huge turning point for 2024,㽶Ƶֱ said Daniel Loria of Boxoffice Pro. 㽶ƵֱThis is the sort of weekend we㽶Ƶֱve been waiting for.㽶Ƶֱ

As the only major release of the weekend, its theatrical footprint was equally impressive playing on 400 IMAX screens, over 900 㽶Ƶֱpremium large format㽶Ƶֱ screens and over 2,500 3D screens.

This recommitment to theatrical comes after Disney sent several Pixar films straight to its streaming service, Disney+, over the pandemic including 㽶ƵֱSoul,㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱLuca㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶ƵֱTurning Red.㽶Ƶֱ Last month, the New York Times reported that Pixar had decided to return its focus to feature films (and not producing shows for Disney+) and that it had laid off 14% of its workforce (about 175 employees).

㽶ƵֱAs important as this weekend is for the industry at large, for Pixar this is huge. They㽶Ƶֱve been trying to get their groove back since the pandemic,㽶Ƶֱ Dergarabedian said. 㽶ƵֱThey㽶Ƶֱve really come back big.㽶Ƶֱ

Second place went to Sony㽶Ƶֱs 㽶Ƶֱ Bad Boys: Ride or Die, 㽶Ƶֱ now in its second weekend with $33 million, down only 42% from its opening. In just 12 days, it㽶Ƶֱs already earned over $112 million domestically and $214 million globally. As of Friday, the four-film franchise had crossed the $1 billion mark.

㽶ƵֱBad Boys㽶Ƶֱ㽶Ƶֱ success last weekend was the start of a higher-earning turnaround for the lagging summer movie season. For Hollywood, the summer season, which runs from the first weekend in May through Labor Day, usually represents about 40% of the yearly box office. The deficit is still significant, with ticket sales down 28% for the summer and 24% for the year (and this is still before 㽶ƵֱBarbenheimer㽶Ƶֱ) but it㽶Ƶֱs progress in a more promising direction nonetheless.

㽶ƵֱWe㽶Ƶֱre not going to get there overnight,㽶Ƶֱ Dergarabedian said. 㽶ƵֱBut it㽶Ƶֱs good news for theaters. And we have some big movies on the way.㽶Ƶֱ

On the ground, theater owners saw their cineplexes come to life this weekend.

㽶ƵֱIt has been magical,㽶Ƶֱ said Jeff Whipple, a vice president for Megaplex Theaters. 㽶ƵֱWe have seen literally generations of families brought together for this movie.㽶Ƶֱ

Megaplex Theaters operates 15 locations and 173 screens in Utah and Southern Nevada. And the energy was palpable, Whipple said. Not only have families been hanging around after the showtimes to discuss the film; They㽶Ƶֱve also been scoping out what㽶Ƶֱs coming next with kids taking pictures of the 㽶ƵֱDespicable Me 4㽶Ƶֱ posters and displays and dads taking note of the 㽶ƵֱDeadpool & Wolverine㽶Ƶֱ date.

㽶ƵֱI think word is going to spread on this film and help draw people into theaters throughout the summer,㽶Ƶֱ Whipple said.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. 㽶ƵֱInside Out 2,㽶Ƶֱ $155 million.

2. 㽶ƵֱBad Boys: Ride or Die,㽶Ƶֱ $33 million.

3. 㽶ƵֱKingdom of the Planet of the Apes,㽶Ƶֱ $5.2 million.

4. 㽶ƵֱThe Garfield Movie,㽶Ƶֱ $5 million.

5. 㽶ƵֱThe Watchers,㽶Ƶֱ $3.7 million.

6. 㽶ƵֱIF,㽶Ƶֱ $3.5 million.

7. 㽶ƵֱFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga,㽶Ƶֱ $2.4 million.

8. 㽶ƵֱThe Fall Guy,㽶Ƶֱ $1.5 million.

9. 㽶ƵֱThe Strangers: Chapter 1,㽶Ƶֱ $760,000.

10. 㽶ƵֱLord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,㽶Ƶֱ $632,910.

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press

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