With the release of Inside Out 2 and Bad Boys: Ride or Die, it seems theaters are finally bouncing back from recent slumps. Both movies have drawn significant crowds, demonstrating that the appetite for cinema remains robust.
Inside Out 2 Takes the Lead
Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 had a remarkable opening, grossing $155 million domestically and $295 million globally in its debut weekend. These figures surpass those of Dune: Part Two ($182.5M) and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ($194M), making it the highest opening for a Hollywood film this year.
This sequel has already secured its place as the second-highest domestic opening for an animated film, just behind Pixar’s own Incredibles 2. The favorable buzz is attributed to a multifaceted marketing campaign, promotional efforts by Amy Poehler, who voices Joy, and early previews at events like CinemaCon.
An innovative marketing strategy employing meet-and-greet events at various theaters over Memorial Day weekend also played a crucial role in generating excitement among viewers. The character-driven approach extended to exclusive merchandise such as LED memory orb popcorn buckets and special events at theaters nationwide.
A Strong Performace Across Diverse Audiences
Inside Out 2 saw a particularly strong turnout from Hispanic and Latino moviegoers, representing 36% of its audience—a notable statistic that parallels the success of past Pixar hits such as Coco. Pre-sales initially surged late last week, contributing to this impressive start.
The movie also performed well across other demographics, with substantial participation from Asian, African American, and Caucasian audiences. The average ticket price stood at $12.53 while ticket prices for children averaged $10.36.
Bad Boys Returns with Strong Numbers
Meanwhile, Bad Boys: Ride or Die opened to strong numbers itself. Initially projected by Sony to debut at $30 million—far below industry expectations—the film exceeded these projections by pulling in $53 million during its three-day frame in North America.
While it didn’t quite meet the $62.5 million domestic opening set by its predecessor, Bad Boys for Life, which ultimately collected $204 million domestically, it showcased a solid start that suggests prolonged box-office strength.
A Second Weekend Surge
The second weekend showed remarkable performance for both films. 
Ride or Die’s box office hold was significant, besting the second-weekend percent ease of its predecessor with a total weekend pull of $33 million.
This success mirrors the ongoing strength of Inside Out 2, which saw continued high attendance driven by walk-ups rather than just pre-sales. Enthusiastic word-of-mouth recommendations and positive social media chatter have been critical to its staying power.
The Road Ahead
The rejuvenation of theaters with the back-to-back release of these blockbusters signals a possible upswing for the summer movie season. With fewer new streaming releases drawing eyeballs away, cinemas are seizing this moment to capitalize on pent-up demand.
A distribution head optimistically shared, once again emphasizing,
We’re in momentum now…there’s always about the movies…
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