The Revival of Family Films at the Box Office: How Hits like “Inside Out 2” are Bringing Back Momentum

The family film genre has faced significant challenges in the box office in recent years. Many family features were either released on streaming platforms or spaced out on the calendar, causing a lack of momentum in ticket sales. However, there has been a recent surge in family-friendly movies hitting theaters, which has reinvigorated the box office and given hope to movie theater operators for a stronger second half of the year.

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” made a particularly big impact, earning $155 million during its opening weekend. This success has helped restore the reputation of the animation studio after a difficult period. According to Chris Johnson, CEO of Classic Cinemas, “momentum is a huge factor” in ticket sales.

Despite this recent boost, the domestic box office is still down 23% from last year and trails 40% from 2019. It currently stands at $3.08 billion. To further revive the box office, more kid-friendly hits like “Despicable Me 4” could be key.

The definition of a “family-friendly” film can vary among analysts. Some consider the film’s rating to be the qualifier, while others focus on the content itself. Shawn Robbins, founder of Box Office Theory, stated that family movies encompass a wide variety of stories, including animated movies, superhero flicks, live-action adventure films, and comedies. The key is to create films that are friendly, accessible, and relatable to as many demographics as possible.

While some families may consider films like “Twisters” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” to be family-friendly, others may opt for movies like “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” “Transformers One,” or “The Wild Robot.” Upcoming releases like “Moana 2” and a third “Sonic” film are also highly anticipated.

The pandemic had a significant impact on the family film genre, with parents being reluctant to take their children to theaters. However, 2024 has seen a resurgence in family films, which have become the undeniable bright spot of a challenging summer at the box office.

In 2019, there were over two dozen family films released, with several Disney films ranking among the highest-grossing movies of the year. In contrast, 2020 saw less than a dozen family films due to production shutdowns and labor strikes. The absence of family-friendly fare had a noticeable impact on the box office.

The recent success of “Inside Out 2” has provided much-needed momentum for the box office. The film’s strong performance on Monday, earning $22.2 million, indicates that there is an appetite for family films. Johnson believes that the success of films like “IF” and “The Garfield Movie” may have contributed to the success of “Inside Out 2” by creating momentum and generating interest among families.

The upcoming release of “Despicable Me 4” is expected to further capitalize on this momentum. It is projected to earn between $60 million and $80 million during its debut, similar to previous installments in the franchise. The success of “Inside Out 2” could potentially boost the potential for “Despicable Me 4.”

Overall, the family film genre has faced significant challenges in recent years but is now experiencing a resurgence. The recent wave of family-friendly movies has reinvigorated the box office and given hope for a stronger second half of the year. With the continued release of highly anticipated films like “Despicable Me 4,” the family film genre is poised to play a vital role in the box office’s recovery.