After almost 10 years of waiting, Inside Out 2 finally premieres in 2024, and based on its projected budget and early box office projections, the highly anticipated sequel should have no trouble making a profit. Pixar’s animated coming-of-age film, directed by Kelsey Mann and written by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, serves as a sequel to the studio’s hit 2015 movie about the anthropomorphic emotions inside a preteen’s head. Inside Out 2‘s story takes place about a year following the events of the first movie, with Riley entering her teenage years, meaning new emotions (like Anxiety) are moving into headquarters.

Many Inside Out cast members reprise their voice roles in the sequel, including Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger. Meanwhile, Tony Hale takes over voicing Fear from Bill Hader, and Liza Lapira replaces Mindy Kaling as Disgust. Despite these changes, Pixar should have high hopes for Inside Out 2‘s box office chances, due to the precedent set by the first movie and the hype and promotion leading up to the sequel’s premiere. Given the studio’s last few disappointing theatrical releases, Inside Out 2 should be able to turn things around for Pixar.

Inside Out 2’s Budget Is Likely At Least $175 Million

The Sequel Will At Least Match The First Film’s Budget

Pixar hasn’t confirmed how much it cost to make Inside Out 2, but it had to have been at least $175 million because that was the budget for the original animated movie. However, some sources claim that the sequel’s budget could have exceeded Inside Out‘s by $10 to 25 million, meaning it might have cost around $185 to $200 million to produce. Nevertheless, the 2024 coming-of-age film’s budget hasn’t been officially released. So, it’s safe to assume that it’s around the $175 million range, which would be on par with the cost of Pixar and Disney movies as of late.

Inside Out 2’s Box Office Needs To Make At Least $400 Million To Succeed

The Inside Out Sequel Must Double Its Budget

If Inside Out 2‘s budget is $175 million, it would need to earn $350 million to break even and make more than that amount to turn a profit. However, since the 2024 animated coming-of-age film’s cost is technically unknown (and might be greater than $175 million), it’s best to err on the side of caution. If the budget is closer to $200 million, the sequel would need to gross $400 million to break even and earn more than $400 million to be considered a success.

Inside Out 2 is projected to gross between $80 and $85 million during its domestic opening weekend, putting it on track to earn more than $400 million during its 100-day theatrical run. For reference, Inside Out made $90.4 million over the course of its opening weekend in 2015, and the most recent Pixar movie, Elemental, grossed $29.6 million in its first weekend in theaters. So, while box office projections aren’t always right, it still seems as if Inside Out 2‘s earnings could return Pixar to its former glory.