Pixar Animation Studios is celebrating a triumphant comeback with the release of "Inside Out 2," as the animated film scored the biggest box office opening day of the year so far. The highly anticipated sequel amassed an impressive $62 million across Friday and preview screenings from 4,440 locations. With this outstanding start, it is expected to surpass the previous record holder, "Dune: Part Two," which debuted with $82.5 million, making "Inside Out 2" the biggest domestic opening of 2024.

This remarkable achievement also marks the first time in nearly 11 months that a film has achieved a nine-figure domestic opening, with the last film to achieve such a milestone being "Barbie" last summer. The success of "Inside Out 2" is a welcome relief for Pixar Animation Studios, which had faced some box office struggles in recent years due to films like "Turning Red," "Soul," and "Luca" being released directly on Disney+ during the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift in release strategy had unintentionally conditioned audiences to consume Pixar's features primarily through streaming platforms.

The overwhelmingly positive reviews and the enthusiastic response from early moviegoers further validate the film's success. Audience survey firm Cinema Score awarded "Inside Out 2" with a glowing "A" grade, indicating high levels of satisfaction among viewers. With a significant production budget of $200 million, Disney and Pixar took a gamble on this sequel, and it has unquestionably paid off. The film's momentum suggests that it will continue to perform exceptionally well beyond its opening weekend.

Despite facing fierce competition from "Inside Out 2," Sony and Columbia's "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" is predicted to maintain its strength in the second-place position. This action-packed buddy film is projected to gross a fantastic $31.5 million in its second weekend, representing only a 44% decline from its impressive $56 million opening weekend. With such promising figures, it is likely to surpass $100 million domestically within its first ten days of release.

In addition to "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" and "Inside Out 2," another film is anticipated to reach the $100 million domestic milestone. Paramount's family comedy "IF" is expected to earn $3.6 million in its fifth weekend, securing fifth place. This achievement will push the film past the nine-figure mark in North America on Sunday.

Meanwhile, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is regaining traction and climbing back up to the third-place spot, over a month after its initial release. The sci-fi revival from 20th Century Studios added $1.3 million on Friday and is projected to surpass $160 million domestically in the coming week.

While Sony's "The Garfield Movie" is facing a significant drop due to the popularity of "Inside Out 2," the animated comic strip adaptation is still predicted to earn around $5.3 million in its fourth weekend. This milestone will push the film's domestic earnings past $75 million by Saturday.

As "Inside Out 2" continues to captivate audiences and break box office records, Pixar Animation Studios has firmly reestablished itself as a major theatrical draw. The film's impressive performance puts it among the ranks of previous Pixar hits such as "Incredibles 2," "Finding Dory," "Toy Story 4," and "Toy Story 3." With its heartfelt storytelling and beloved characters, "Inside Out 2" is sure to resonate with audiences and provide a memorable cinematic experience for years to come.