First reactions to Pixar’s Inside Out 2 are here and critics are already projecting mixed feelings toward the sequel. The 2015 film emerged as a box office success accompanied by high praise for its unique and heartfelt storytelling.
The second movie is yet to arrive in theaters, but fans are already managing their expectations after the streak of flopped movies released by Pixar over the past few years. The studio hasn’t produced a hit since 2019’s Toy Story 4, which earned over a billion dollars worldwide.
Inside Out 2 Still Hits The Spot But May Not Be A Massive Win For Pixar
An early review from industry insider Brandon Davis revealed Pixar’s Inside Out 2 is as entertaining as the first one, but it somehow lacked the elements that made the 2015 film one of a kind.
Inside Out 2 is quite fantastic.
It didn’t hit the same emotional depth of the first but, much like Riley, it has matured and gotten bigger. The new emotions are fantastic, especially Anxiety. Great sentiments for kids and parents to feel, all with an engaging pace.
Loved it. pic.twitter.com/RgKDqOONmK
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) June 11, 2024
Amy Poehler, the actress who voiced Joy in the franchise, commended the studio via Yahoo UK for taking a complicated subject and finding a creative way to discuss it without seeking an agenda.
I think what Pixar does so well is they take these high concepts and they create this visual landscape that can help us communicate better and talk about stuff.
The movie tackles the different emotions that live inside Riley and how each of them affects her life. Inside Out managed to tell its audience that it is okay to feel every emotion and that each of them plays a vital role in our lives.
The first installment was a massive feat for Pixar after it earned $850 million against a budget of $175 million. At this point, fans aren’t too expectant that the sequel will make the same amount given various circumstances, such as the studio’s string of bombed films over the past few years.
Pixar Movies Have Been Performing Poorly Since The Pandemic
The quality of Pixar animated films in the past three years has greatly diminished. It’s clear the pandemic had something to do with the misfortune of these projects, but it’s not hard to see how the studio had a lackluster approach to movies such as Turning Red, Elemental, and the controversial spinoff Lightyear.
From poor release dates to low-effort marketing strategies, these Pixar films suffered commercially and critically. With Inside Out 2, the studio is trying to test the company’s new strategy. As Pixar President Jim Morris told Bloomberg, they are now focusing on sequels and spin-offs with “mass appeal.”
Chris Evans’ Lightyear failed to prove this plan despite Toy Story being a massive and popular franchise. At this point, it’s better to wait and see how Inside Out 2 performs over the next few weeks despite the lukewarm responses of early reviewers.
Inside Out 2 arrives in theaters this June 14, 2024.
