Credit: Inside the MagicPixar has been enjoying an amazing run at the box office since mid-June 2024–and not a moment too soon. But could the recent unbridled success of Pixar’s newest animated sequel ultimately backfire on the animation studios based in Emeryville, California?
Leave It to the Emotions to Pull Pixar Out of Its Slump
Inside Out 2 has now become the top-grossing animated film of all time, but Pixar’s impressive stroke of luck could ultimately lead to the studio’s undoing, though fans likely can’t tell that from the pomp, circumstance, hoopla, and fanfare that seem to have overtaken Pixar and Disney alike as the two studios celebrate a massive win at the box office following dismal performance after dismal performance in recent years.
Inside Out 2 debuted in mid-June, and immediately, it exceeded even critics’ most generous projections.
Only days after its theatrical release, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office—something that no Disney or Pixar film has done very recently.
But in all the joy and excitement over the film’s impressive success, Pixar may be overlooking something: the unbridled success and popularity of the sequel to its 2015 film Inside Out might be baby-stepping the studio to certain doom.
Take It Easy, Pixar
No one is suggesting that Pixar abstain from celebrating its recent achievement. Inside Out 2 is, without a doubt, a well-made, thoughtful, and engaging film that offers audiences . . . well . . . all the feels. But in the midst of the celebrations, Pixar might ultimately be drawing the wrong conclusion from the success of Inside Out 2.
As writer Kayla Laguerre-Lewis says in her post at ScreenRant, the success of Pixar’s latest animated film shouldn’t make the studio laser-focused on producing sequels alone.
Instead, the company should take note of the unexpected success of an original movie like “Elemental” and continue to invest in creating fresh, innovative content. Some of the best recent Pixar films, like “Luca” and “Soul,” were original stories. Hopefully, Pixar will avoid the trend of overemphasizing remakes, reboots, and sequels that other studios have followed.
Could Pixar Really Be Heading For Disaster?
Whether you like or dislike Pixar’s films, there’s no denying that the studio clearly differentiates itself from its competition, including Sony Animation and Illumination.
The studio has long been at the top of its game in storytelling, new story development, and the development of cutting-edge technology with which to tell its stories.
Is it even possible that Pixar could make such a mistake and move forward with only (or mostly) sequels? And as fans, how do we feel about Pixar ramping up its efforts in creating multiple take-twos of the studios’ most successful film projects?