- author, Joao da Silva
- stock, Business Correspondent
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Pixar’s Inside Out 2 has broken box office records over the weekend, grossing an estimated $295m (£232.6m) worldwide.
In North America, ticket sales hit around $155 million, beating Toon: Part Two for the year’s top box office opening weekend.
This marks a big win for theaters that have seen some lackluster box office collections for some new movies this year.
Inside Out 2 had a much stronger first weekend than the original, which took in $90m in its opening weekend before taking in $858m worldwide.
It was the second best opening for the company in the North American market behind 2018’s The Incredibles 2.
A blockbuster opening weekend is a boost for Pixar after relatively weak opening performances for some of its recent releases.
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 Oscar-winning first, which centers on the emotions of a young woman named Riley.
While the original dealt with emotions like happiness, fear and anger, the latest installment tackles issues like jealousy and anxiety.
Inside Out 2’s successful opening has been a bright spot in what has been a slow summer for film companies so far.
The bulk of the annual ticket sales usually take place from the first weekend of May to early September.
However, last year’s actors and screenwriters’ strikes meant that fewer films were set to release this year.
The industry had to contend with streaming services for content and customers.