Disney's "Inside Out 2" Breaks Box Office Records

Disney has reclaimed its position at the top of the box office with the release of "Inside Out 2," which has achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing $1.46 billion in global ticket sales. This achievement makes it the highest-grossing animated feature of all time, overtaking the previous record held by Disney's own "Frozen II." The film's box office performance is expected to continue to rise, particularly as it has yet to debut in Japan, a significant market that previously contributed nearly $33 million to the original "Inside Out" in 2015. The success of "Inside Out 2" marks a significant turnaround for Disney, especially following a series of mixed results from its animated releases in recent years. Pixar, in particular, has faced challenges at the box office since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company's decision to release several animated films directly on its streaming platform, Disney+, during and after theater closures has impacted their theatrical performance. Prior to "Inside Out 2," no animated feature from Pixar or Walt Disney Animation had surpassed $480 million globally since 2019. Interestingly, Disney does not classify its 2019 release of "The Lion King" as an animated feature, despite its extensive use of computer animation. Instead, the company categorizes it as a live-action remake, which has led to some confusion in box office rankings. Analysts generally follow Disney's classification, which affects the perception of animated film successes. Overall, "Inside Out 2" signifies a triumphant return for Disney in the animated film sector, showcasing the enduring appeal of its storytelling and characters.