As emotions go, Disney’s loudest critics might sound angry, but Inside Out 2 is bringing the studio nothing but joy.
The Walt Disney Co. has often found itself a reluctant participant in the culture wars
, yielding occasional calls for boycotts and proclamations the company has become too woke
. Yet the explosive box-office success of Inside Out 2 provides necessary perspective about a vast audience that remains hungry for Disney content, certainly enough to generate a major hit.
Granted, those who regularly rail against Disney have sought to rationalize the performance of the Pixar sequel, insisting its plot doesn’t toe the “woke” line. Look a little closer, though, and Inside Out 2 features an effortless emphasis on values like diversity and inclusion that have helped make Disney a target.
Pent-up Demand for Inside Out 2
The Disney unit behind it, Pixar, also enjoyed a less-ostentatious box-office win last summer with Elemental, a movie that used an allegorical relationship between characters made up of fire and water to explore bigotry, the immigrant experience, and a love story about overcoming differences.
Whatever the reason, with the sequel coming nine years after the original, pent-up demand is surely a part. There’s no denying Inside Out 2’s results, adding $100 million at the North American box office during its second weekend—a record for an animated film—bringing its domestic total to $355 million.
A Worldwide Success
Worldwide, the film’s haul has ballooned to nearly $725 million. Inside Out 2 will almost surely join the increasingly rare list of $1 billion-plus grossers since the Covid outbreak.
Iger’s Strategic Triumph
It’s worth noting Disney has consciously sought to shy away from engaging in political battles. CEO Robert Iger rejoined the company in that capacity in 2022. He told CNBC in November, We have to entertain first. It’s not about messages.
In essence, Iger simply stated the obvious: That Disney, like any major corporation, prioritizes its profits and stock price, which means trying not to alienate potential customers.
The Future Looks Bright
Inside Out 2 certainly looks like a triumph for Iger’s strategy, while still conveying messages in a more subtle manner.
The Road Ahead for Disney
Summer 2024 is shaping up to be a banner one for Disney, with films like Deadpool & Wolverine expected to be another major attraction when it opens in July.
The controversy around something like The Acolyte, however, serves as a reminder that plenty of people still see in the Disney name an ideal of entertainment they can share with loved ones. As long as the studio fulfills that implied contract, Mickey and friends won’t be going broke anytime soon.
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