- Author, João da Silva
- Role, Business reporter
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Pixar’s Inside Out 2 has broken box office records over the weekend as it brought in an estimated $295m (£232.6m) around the world.
In North America, ticket sales hit about $155m, dethroning Dune: Part Two as the holder of this year’s top box office opening weekend.
It marks a big win for cinemas, which have seen lacklustre box office takings for some new movies this year.
Inside Out 2’s first weekend was much stronger than the original movie, which brought in $90m in its opening weekend before going on to gross $858m worldwide.
It was the second-best opening for the company in the North American market, just behind the 2018 release of The Incredibles 2.
The blockbuster opening weekend is a boost for Pixar after relatively weak opening performances from some of its recent releases.
Inside Out 2 is the first sequel of the 2015 Oscar-winning hit, which focused on the emotions of a young girl called Riley.
While the original was about feelings like joy, fear and anger the latest instalment tackles issues such as envy and anxiety.
Inside Out 2’s successful opening is a bright spot in what has so far been a slow start to summer for film companies.
A large part of annual ticket sales usually take place in the period from the first weekend in May to the start of September.
However, strikes by actors and screenwriters last year has 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 cinema tickets sold in North America so far this year is down by almost a quarter compared to the same period in 2023, according to media market research company Comscore.