Pixar’s highly anticipated sequel, Inside Out 2, has reached a new milestone in box office history, eclipsing the 2019 remake of The Lion King and solidifying its place among the top-grossing films of all time. With worldwide earnings now exceeding $1.6 billion, Inside Out 2 has surpassed both its initial projections and previous high-grossing records, including that of Disney’s 2019 The Lion King.
The success of Inside Out 2 has propelled it to the ninth position on the all-time highest-grossing films list, displacing Marvel’s The Avengers from the top ten. The film’s impressive financial performance underscores Pixar’s resurgence as a leading force in animated filmmaking, especially noteworthy given the studio’s recent challenges.
Inside Out 2’s box office triumph also puts an end to a long-standing debate over the highest-grossing animated film title. Despite Disney’s 2019 The Lion King remake grossing $1.662 billion, its classification as an animated film was contentious. The film’s heavy reliance on CGI and virtual reality techniques led to its categorization being disputed. While the movie employed groundbreaking technology to achieve a hyper-realistic visual style, it was created entirely through animation, not live-action, which ultimately influences its ranking.
The argument over whether The Lion King should be considered animated or live-action has persisted, with some industry observers and awards bodies split on its classification. The Golden Globes nominated it for Best Animated Feature, while the Academy Awards acknowledged it in the Best Visual Effects category. However, the consensus has been that the film, despite its realistic appearance, remains an animated feature due to its production methods.
Disney, for its part, has consistently treated The Lion King as a live-action project. The studio celebrated Inside Out 2 surpassing Frozen II as the highest-grossing animated film without mentioning The Lion King in the same context. This distinction has been reinforced by comments from those involved in the film, including director Jon Favreau, who has acknowledged the hybrid nature of the film’s production but leaned towards a more nuanced classification.
The current box office standing highlights Inside Out 2’s remarkable success. With a global total of $1.667 billion, the film has comfortably overtaken The Lion King by a narrow margin. Although the difference is relatively small, it decisively ends any debate over the highest-grossing animated movie.
In comparison, The Lion King enjoyed a record-breaking opening weekend and strong international performance, especially in markets like China and the UK. However, Inside Out 2 has demonstrated sustained domestic strength, with a multiplier of 4.2 compared to The Lion King’s 2.8, indicating continued audience engagement and interest.
As Inside Out 2 continues to climb the box office charts, it reaffirms Pixar’s enduring appeal and success in the animated film industry. The film’s ability to break records and set new benchmarks is a testament to its broad appeal and the effective strategies employed in its release and marketing.
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