Inside Out 2 Wins with Women: Shocking Box Office Explosion Leads to Huge Merchandise Support

Inside Out 2 is expected to top $155 million at the domestic box office for North America once all pennies and dollars have been counted at the end of the day. With more than 60% of the audience in the first days being made up of women (and a large percentage being adult women), Pixar’s latest is not only their second-best-ever box office haul for an opening… it’s also a bona fide feminine phenom.

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 “ Elemental,” which did eventually become a success, and “ Lightyear,” which didn’t. It’s also vitally important for the greater Hollywood ecosystem and the health of theatrical exhibition, which had been running at a 26% deficit.

“Everybody needed this because success begets success,” said Chambers, who has been getting excited calls from exhibitors and fellow studios alike. “It’s great for the industry, great for Pixar and great for the business overall.”

— Lindsey Bahr, AP

Expectations going into the weekend were for Inside Out 2 to reach $80 million. Clearly, doubling the projections is a tremendous win for Disney. While the company still seems to have significant hurdles bringing boys back to their entertainment offerings (we’re looking at you, Star Wars), they’ll get another crack at solving that problem later this summer with Deadpool and Wolverine. Ultimately, these sorts of wins might even be enough to keep another proxy battle away from Disney’s Board of Directors where serious scrutiny has been a focus over the last two years.

As a result of the outrageous explosion of ticket sales for Inside Out 2, Disney is ramping up merchandise and park offerings for the franchise as they attempt to capitalize on the oft-difficult-to-find victory. Just take a look at everything they’re doing with the following Disney Parks Blog release. And as you read it, consider that not even a tenth of this was done for last year’s live action Little Mermaid. Disney knows when they have a flounder.

___

Pixar Animation Studios’ “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as Headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment show up. The voice cast includes Amy Poehler, 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” is directed by Kelsey Mann, produced by Mark Nielsen and executive produced by Pete Docter, Jonas Rivera and Dan Scanlon.

Stars and filmmakers from Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” recently visited Disneyland Resort and the newly reimagined Pixar Place Hotel to celebrate the film’s release. See how some of the cast spent their day at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park experiencing Pixar Fest at the resort, a celebration of friendship and beyond happening now through August 4, 2024.

For a limited time, a new water short, “Emotional Rollercoaster,” highlighting Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” is being shown ahead of “World of Color – ONE” presented by PANDORA® Jewelry at Disney California Adventure Park. When the lights dim around Paradise Bay, guests see inside Riley’s head, showing memories of her experiencing Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust on mist screens. Animated projections, majestic fountains synchronized to music, dazzling lasers, and sparkling lighting are combined to introduce the new emotions, Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui, and show how they must learn to live peacefully with the existing core emotions.

Beginning today, Anger from Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” will greet guests in Disney California Adventure Park at the Pixar Pier Band Shell. Kensington Tallman, who voices teenage Riley in the film, recently met up with Anger along with Joy and Sadness.

Later this summer, Anger will make his way to select international Disney Parks, details coming soon.

For a limited time, guests can learn how to draw four characters from “Inside Out 2”: Joy, Sadness, Anxiety, and Anger. The activity is offered under the guidance of a talented artist at the Animation Academy at Disney California Adventure Park.

For a limited time during Pixar Fest, now through August 4, 2024, an “Inside Out 2” collectible medallion will be available at Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff Medallion Machine in Disney California Adventure Park.

For a limited time, beginning today, Pixar Place Hotel at the Disneyland Resort will display three maquettes of new Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” characters: Anxiety, Ennui, and Embarrassment, along with panels of artwork from the film on the second floor of the hotel.

Beginning today, Disneyland Resort guests who purchase Disney Genie+ service can access a new experience from Disney PhotoPass Lenses featuring characters from “Inside Out 2” on the Disneyland app. With this lens, guests can get a glimpse inside the Headquarters control center and express their emotions with Joy, Anger, and Sadness.

Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, get into your feels with Joy herself! She has a new home at Pixar Plaza joining other Pixar stars — all captured by Disney PhotoPass Photographers.

Enjoy new offerings including a themed photo spot.

Pssst — guess what? A sneak peek for “Inside Out 2” is now playing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

“Inside Out 2” Souvenir Cup, available starting June 13 at select Kiosks.

If you’re looking for ways to bring Riley’s Emotions home with you, this collection is available now at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort and online at Disney Store! Emotions run high in this Inside Out 2 Sport Jersey for Girls featuring a multicolor snap front and embroidered emblems inspired by teenage Riley’s Emotions – Joy, Envy, Anxiety, Embarrassment, Fear, Anger, Ennui, Disgust, and Sadness. Complete the look by snuggling up with the colorful, huggable Joy and Anxiety plush. For even more fashionable fun, sport the Inside Out 2 Loungefly Mini Backpack – it even has an “I feel” arrow at the top so you can showcase your favorite emotion of the day (or moment)!

Kids can learn to share their emotions in fun ways with toys and collectibles inspired by “Inside Out 2”. Reminisce about the happiest memories with the Talk It Out Small Talking Plush Joy from Just Play – and press Joy’s chest to hear joyful phrases, like, “You got this”! Riley’s new feelings can also be explored, such as with POP! Envy on Memory Orb from Funko and the LEGO Inside Out 2 Mood Cubes. This LEGO set for play and display features two buildable, changeable cubes with nine mood plates. Each cube has space to keep little treasures, the Joy and Anxiety mini-doll figures come with matching colored memory balls, and Foreman and Margie mind worker figures come with their own hard hats.

Want a look with all the feels? Showcase your emotions with this Disney Pixar Inside Out 2 In My Feelings Panel Crewneck from BoxLunch, featuring embroidered Emotion designs and “In My Feelings” applique. You can also face your feels with the Inside Out 2: Think Positive 3-Step Glow Boost Routine from Bubble Skincare to give your skin a mood-boosting dose of brightness and radiance.

Book lovers of all ages can choose from a variety of titles inspired by “Inside Out 2”. From Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 Little Golden Book and Go to Sleep, Anxiety!, to The Art of Inside Out 2 which highlights the stunning artwork from the film’s creation – such as character designs, storyboards, color scripts and so much more. Looking to get in touch with your thoughts and feelings? Track your mood with Feeling Feelings: A Guided Emotions Journal which uses the films’ characters to help you check in with yourself and manage your emotions throughout the day.

____

Clearly the worries about a character named Anxiety and the personification of a disorder have not stopped women from supporting the film in droves. It might be enough to steady the ship for Disney and keep some winds in the sails. It’s a much needed electrification of desperate Disney Parks, not to mention theater chains that are on the edge of collapse.

We’ll see if Disney can keep the momentum going. They’re going to need it with Moana 2 and Mufasa still on the docket for later this year and a Marvel film that must carry the entire MCU until 2025.