Summary
- Inside Out 2 has the potential to be a box office hit for Pixar after a string of disappointing movies, thanks to its strong viewer base and an intriguing new chapter for the beloved characters.
- Pixar’s reliance on sequels and extensions to existing franchises may hinder the creation of fresh and original stories, depriving viewers of new and exciting experiences.
- The success of Inside Out 2 could lead Pixar to prioritize the production of more sequels rather than exploring new ideas, which could be a letdown for movie-goers seeking innovative storytelling.
Inside Out 2 is the highly-anticipated 29th addition to the Pixar lineup and could, ultimately, help end Pixar’s series of box office troubles. Although Pixar has been an absolute powerhouse in the animation space, cooking up hits like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Cars, it has certainly seen better days. The studio has been hit with some box office failures, including Lightyear performing way under expectations and Elemental having a slow start due to poor marketing.
The overall performance of Pixar’s movies at the box office in recent years has been troubling and puts more pressure on upcoming titles to help right the ship. Whereas Elemental‘s box office eventually made enough to become profitable, Pixar is otherwise in the midst of more disappointing results. Lightyear was a sizable flop based on its connection to the Toy Story franchise. Disney’s decision to release other Pixar movies on Disney+ and in theaters simultaneously also severely limited the financial potential of the studio. While Elio now has the pressure to avoid becoming another Pixar box office bomb, the studio’s other 2024 release will be the key.
Inside Out 2 Should Be A Massive Box Office Hit For Pixar After 4 Years Of Trouble
After a series of missteps for the studio, Inside Out 2 should serve as a moment of redemption. The first movie did extremely well, earning a spot among the highest-grossing Pixar films and making $858 million. This indicates that the original movie has a strong viewer base who are likely to tune in to see what becomes of these beloved characters. Inside Out 2 is further set up for success thanks to a plot that feels similar enough to the original movie to draw in that original audience but new enough to garner excitement and interest.
Giving viewers the opportunity to see a Pixar character in a different phase of their life has proven to work for the studio. Toy Story 3, for example, was a massive success partly because it allowed audiences to see a character many felt they grew up with, Andy, in a new stage of his life. Inside Out 2 could see the same, with people tuning in to see how Riley is doing in this new chapter of her life as a teenager.
Why Inside Out 2 Fixing Pixar’s Box Office Could Be Bad
While Inside Out 2 should be a win for Pixar and fix their series of box office blunders, this may not be a good thing long-term. Audiences have seen firsthand that the studio can fall into a trap of simply creating extensions to their existing projects, rather than crafting new stories. With three Cars movies, soon-to-be five Toy Story movies, and two Finding Nemo movies, it’s evident that the studio will continue franchises for as long as it can. This gives viewers more chances to see their favorite characters on the big screen, but it also robs them of witnessing new stories that could end up becoming hits.
When Pixar does create new stories, like Elemental or Turning Red, it proves that it is not simply reliant on its history but is still able to create stories that help shape the future of entertainment. If Inside Out 2 ends up being a smashing success, Pixar may choose to continue to pump out sequels, rather than fresh tales. This would ultimately be a disservice to movie-goers who tend to see diminishing returns when each new sequel is released. Viewers don’t just want recreations of existing movies, they want to see what else the studio is capable of, such as the original Inside Out.
