Inside Out 2 was not only a box office smash hit, but also a streaming sensation, bringing in record numbers on Disney+. It debuted on the streamer on September 25 after an incredible theatrical run, where it was number one at the domestic box office for three weeks. The film grossed $652 million domestically, and $1.69 billion worldwide, to become the highest-grossing movie of 2024. It was known Inside Out 2’s arrival on Disney+ would be a big deal, but the Pixar sequel continues to blow past expectations.
According to Deadline, Inside Out 2 generated 30.5 million views worldwide on Disney+ in its first five days. Inside Out 2 is easily the biggest movie premiere on Disney+ in 2024, but also the largest debut since Encanto dropped on Disney+ on Christmas Eve of 2021. It is also the biggest premiere on Disney+ in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and in Latin America, continuing the film’s strong performances in the region as it is the highest-grossing movie in Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Moreover, Inside Out 2 increased interest in the first Inside Out, as the 2015 movie has generated over 121 million views since the teaser trailer for the sequel debuted on November 9, 2023.
Disney+ is Booming, But Employees Are Not
Inside Out 2 is another in a long line of positive stories for Disney+ streaming numbers. Agatha All Along topped Disney+’s most-watched programs, temporarily taking the spot from the hit series Bluey. Audiences who enjoyed both Inside Out and Inside Out 2 will undoubtedly be looking forward to Dream Productions, a spin-off series set between the two movies that will debut all four episodes on December 11, 2024. It will be interesting to see if Deadpool & Wolverine will be able to break the Disney+ streaming record set by Inside Out 2, as the MCU film did move past the animated film’s box office numbers for the biggest opening weekend of 2024.
Inside Out 2’s record-breaking box office run and incredible debut on streaming, which likely won’t slow down anytime soon, certainly might be good news for Disney shareholders, but these riches will not be felt by many Disney employees. Disney laid off 175 Pixar employees in May, just one month before Inside Out 2 opened in theaters. Not only did many of these employees work overtime to deliver Inside Out 2 on schedule, but being laid off before the movie hit theaters meant that they were denied the bonuses they should have received after its record-shattering box office run. The same day Inside Out 2 debuted on Disney+, it was reported that Disney was laying off at least 300 more employees across the company to cut costs. Despite all the money Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine brought, many of Disney’s employees will not see the benefits of it.