- author, Joao da Silva
- Role, Business reporter
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Pixar’s Inside Out 2 broke box office records over the weekend, taking in an estimated $295m (£232.6m) worldwide.
In North America, ticket sales reached about $155 million, beating Dune: Part Two as the highest-grossing film in the opening weekend at the box office this year.
This represents a big win for movie theaters, which have seen lackluster box office returns for some new films this year.
Inside Out 2’s first weekend was much stronger than the original film, which grossed $90 million in its opening weekend before going on to gross $858 million worldwide.
It was the company’s second-best opening in the North American market, behind 2018’s The Incredibles 2.
The blockbuster opening weekend is a boost for Pixar after the relatively poor opening performance of some of its recent releases.
Inside Out 2 is the first part of the 2015 Academy Award-winning film, which focused on the feelings of a young girl named Riley.
While the original version revolved around emotions such as joy, fear, and anger, the latest version addresses issues such as envy and anxiety.
The successful opening of Inside Out 2 is a bright spot in what has so far been a slow start to the summer for film companies.
A large portion of Annual Pass sales typically take place from the first weekend in May through the beginning of September.
However, a strike by actors and screenwriters last year meant that fewer films were ready for release this year.
The industry has also had to contend with streaming services for both content and customers.
The number of movie tickets sold in North America so far this year is down by nearly a quarter compared to the same period in 2023, according to media market research firm Comscore.
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