Following the success of Sony's Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which exceeded expectations, Inside Out 2 is looking to dominate the summer movie season with a projected stateside opening of $85 million. The film is also expected to rake in an additional $50 million internationally, amounting to a massive global launch of $135 million.

Dune: Part Two, from Legendary/Warner Bros, currently holds the record for the biggest domestic opening of 2024 with $82.5 million. However, both studios' Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire boasts the highest global launch for a Hollywood film this year, earning a staggering $194 million.

Inside Out 2 not only aims to secure the biggest post-Covid opening for a Disney animated movie, but also to captivate audiences who have shown strong enthusiasm for returning to theaters. Disney/Pixar's Lightyear, despite being considered a misfire for the Toy Story franchise, became the studio's best post-Covid domestic opening at $50 million.

With Disney+ potentially drawing away family audiences, Inside Out 2 serves as a litmus test for Disney's theatrical strategy. The studio has adopted longer theatrical windows, with approximately 60 days before the film becomes available on electronic digital platforms and an additional 80-90 days before landing on Disney+. Even films considered less successful have adhered to this strategy, such as 20th Century Studios' The Haunting of Venice, which had a 45-day window to digital release.

Inside Out 2's success heavily relies on diverse audiences walking up to theaters. Bad Boys: Ride or Die exceeded expectations by appealing to a wide range of moviegoers, surpassing the projected $40 million with a $56.5 million start. The film is expected to experience a 55%-60% decline in its second weekend, with estimated earnings of $22 million to $25 million.

When it comes to animated movies, walk-up business typically accounts for 15%-25% of their opening weekend revenue, while Marvel movies can see up to 30% from the same source. Inside Out 2 is expected to draw in moms, fathers, and young girls over Father's Day weekend, a particularly popular period for moviegoers.

In the United States and Canada, Inside Out 2 will be screened at 4,300 theaters, including premium venues offering Dolby, Imax, PLFs, and D-box screens. Previews for the film will begin on Thursday at 3 p.m.

The first installment of Inside Out garnered tremendous success, amassing $90.4 million on its opening weekend back in 2015. It went on to generate $356.9 million domestically and an impressive $858.8 million worldwide. The film focuses on a young girl's emotions battling inside her as she navigates the challenges of growing up.

As of now, no reviews are available on Rotten Tomatoes for Inside Out 2. However, the first film received an A CinemaScore, an 89% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, and a 98% certified fresh critical rating. The sequel features an all-star voice cast including Amy Poehler, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, and newcomers Ayo Edebiri and Maya Hawke.

The international rollout for Inside Out 2 is set to commence on Wednesday, starting in Germany and Korea. The film will then premiere in Australia and Mexico on Thursday and the UK on Friday. Key markets such as France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, and China have chosen to delay the release until the following week. Japan will screen the film starting from August 1.

While the release pattern for the original film was staggered, Inside Out 2's international opening is expected to perform strongly. In 2015, the top final markets for Inside Out were the UK, Korea, Japan, Germany, and Mexico. This weekend's release for Inside Out 2 is projected to secure a spot in the top five markets, including the UK, Korea, Germany, Mexico, and Australia.

Korea presents an interesting case, as the market's predictability remains uncertain. However, initial tracking for Inside Out 2 in Korea indicates positive reception. As for China, the film's release has been delayed to the next frame due to coinciding with school exams. This strategic move aims to ensure a better position for the film in the market.

As fans eagerly await the emotions' return to the big screen, Inside Out 2 stands as a monumental release for Disney/Pixar, poised to captivate audiences around the world and potentially reignite the box office in a post-pandemic landscape.