Inside Out 2’s Massive Success Just Makes Me More Worried About Pixar’s Newest Movie

Inside Out 2 has done phenomenally at the box office, but this only makes me more worried that Pixar‘s newest upcoming project won’t be able to hold up. The production company has really struggled in recent years, so the billion-dollar success of its 2024 sequel was desperately needed. However, this isn’t to say that Pixar is free and clear. It will have to prove that its studio still has new ideas that are worth something or risk eventually falling into obscurity. Inside Out 2 will have bought them some time, but Elio will be the movie to prove whether Pixar is really back on top.

Pixar has had a tough few years. Prior to Inside Out 2, the studio’s last big hit was Toy Story 4 (2019), which, luckily, released before the COVID-19 pandemic made Hollywood success much harder to achieve. Each of the subsequent animated movies released by the studio failed to bring in enough money to fully justify their existence, and Disney CEO Bob Iger admitted to being “exhausted and overwhelmed” at the continued failures. So, a new plan of action was set into place, which included the release of Inside Out 2 in 2024 and a new project, Elio, in 2025.

Inside Out 2’s Success Sets The Bar Even Higher For 2025’s Elio

All Eyes Are On Pixar To Prove Itself – Inside Out 2 Will Be The New Standard

It seems the first step in Pixar’s comeback plan has succeeded, and I am deeply relieved to see it. Inside Out 2 had a great chance of success after 2015’s Inside Out, but there were still various ways the movie could have gone wrong. I was happy to sit in theaters and experience the kind of magical and emotional film Pixar is known for, though with a newly discovered sense of silliness that the studio had lost in recent movies. It’s thanks to this and more that Inside Out 2 managed to break $1 billion globally after only a couple of weeks in theaters.

Inside Out 2‘s global earnings have come with a few records, too. It’s the first movie of 2024 to join the billion-dollar club, and it’s now one of only 11 animated movies in history to do so. These are the types of achievements we’ve come to expect from Pixar, and it could certainly be a sign that the studio is back on track. However, now that Inside Out 2 has done this, the expectations for Elio will be even higher. Pixar has proven that it’s still capable of greatness, so all eyes will be on the upcoming 2025 film to continue the upward trend.

We Know Pixar Sequels Can Be Successful, But The Studio Must Prove Its New Ideas Work

Elio Will Be The Real Test Regarding Pixar’s Big Comeback

Elio, which is slated to hit theaters in 2025, is Pixar’s newest project, with an entirely fresh idea and brand new characters. This means that this film will determine whether the studio has made the necessary changes to be successful. The success of Inside Out 2 is a great sign, but there was never much question about Pixar’s sequels. Incredibles 2, Finding Dory, and Toy Story 4 were all massively successful, but Pixar can’t survive on sequels alone. It will eventually run out of content without successful, fresh ideas, so Elio is the actual test for Pixar’s future.

* After two weeks in theaters – not final box office result.

Why Elio Might Not See The Same Success As The Inside Out Franchise

It Wouldn’t Be Fair To Expect Elio To Perform As Well As Inside Out 2

Since Inside Out 2 and other Pixar sequels have surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, this may become an assumed benchmark for future movies’ success. However, this expectation isn’t quite fair. Inside Out was hugely popular and still came in under the billion-dollar mark. If Elio really grips audiences with a great story and fun concept, it could feasibly do spectacularly. However, the 2025 film is still unlikely to come close to the $859 million that Inside Out made at the global boxoffice when it was released in 2015.

Elio is Pixar’s take on science fiction, and this means it very well could stand out to audiences. However, the theaters aren’t what they were back when Inside Out was released. COVID-19 has had a lasting impact on theatrical turnout across the board—not just for animation. This means that we may have to give Pixar some grace if Elio doesn’t come close to the success of the Inside Out franchise. It doesn’t mean the studio isn’t on the up and up. Instead, the movie may be the next step in the right direction (rather than the destination).

Inside Out 2

Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. – literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.

Director

Kelsey Mann

Release Date

June 14, 2024

Writers

Meg LeFauve

Cast

Amy Poehler , Tony Hale , Maya Hawke , Liza Lapira , Lewis Black , Phyllis Smith , Diane Lane

Runtime

96 Minutes

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