The second-highest animation opening ever was achieved by 'Inside Out 2' with a $155 million domestic debut.

• The second-highest theatrical opening of an animated film was achieved by Disney and Pixar's "Inside Out 2," with an estimated $155 million domestically.
• Since "Barbie," Warner Bros.' latest film has been the first to earn over $100 million in its opening weekend.
• It is predicted that the movie will gross $295 million worldwide over the weekend.

This weekend, the box office was filled with joy thanks to Pixar.

"Barbie" was the last animated film to debut with over $100 million, and "Inside Out 2" opened with an estimated $155 million domestically, making it the second-highest theatrical opening for an animated film.

Disney does not classify its 2019 live-action adaptation of "The Lion King," which grossed $191.7 million in its opening weekend, as an animated film.

The weekend global earnings for "Inside Out 2" are predicted to be $295 million.

"Shawn Robbins, founder and owner of Box Office Theory, stated, "We extend a joint 'welcome back' to Disney, Pixar, and the summer box office.""

Both Pixar and Walt Disney Animation faced challenges in reestablishing their presence at the box office following the easing of pandemic restrictions and the return of audiences to theaters. Disney had chosen to release a few animated films exclusively on Disney+, which caused parents to become accustomed to searching for new Disney content on streaming platforms rather than in theaters, even when they resumed visiting cinemas.

Disney faced additional challenges as some viewers felt that their content had become too philosophical and focused on adult social issues, which were beyond the comprehension of children.

Robbins stated that the recent narratives about the two studios and moviegoing have been numerous, so the powerful debut of 'Inside Out 2' is a refreshing change.

The film is the fifth Pixar movie to earn over $100 million in its North American debut and the second-highest opening weekend ticket seller for the studio, with 2018's "The Incredibles 2" being the first. Approximately 12 million people went to theaters to watch the film, according to EntTelligence data.

"Pixar has achieved an even bigger win with theaters, according to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore."

The theatrical industry has faced challenges this year due to fewer titles, as production shutdowns from the pandemic were compounded by a labor strike that halted filming for nearly five months last year. As a result, ticket sales have declined by 26% compared to 2023 and 42% from 2019 levels, according to Comscore data. Going into this weekend, the domestic box office stood at $2.8 billion.

Despite impressive performances from films such as "Dune: Part Two" and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," as well as "Kung Fu Panda 4," the 2024 box office has struggled to maintain a steady pace of releases and ticket sales.

For the first time since 2009, Marvel Cinematic Universe did not have a film in the early summer slate. These movies usually generate openings of $100 million to $200 million, with "Avengers: Endgame" setting a record of $357.1 million in 2019. In contrast, Universal's "The Fall Guy" opened to $28 million this year.

The summer box office could experience a decline of up to $800 million in 2023 if there are fewer films and blockbusters, according to Comscore's Dergarabedian. This could have a ripple effect on the entire year, as the key summer period, which runs from May to Labor Day, typically accounts for 40% of the total annual domestic box office.

"Dune: Part Two" was surpassed by "Inside Out 2" in terms of domestic debut in 2024, with "Inside Out 2" achieving a bigger opening weekend of $82.5 million.

Robbins stated that this performance does not completely erase concerns about evolving consumer behavior. However, it should prevent those who believe Disney or Pixar have permanently lost their commercial power due to an aggressive streaming strategy and subpar films from making hasty decisions.

Some big names are wrapping up the summer and ending the year.

Marvel's first R-rated film, featuring Deadpool and Wolverine, is set to hit theaters in July and is predicted to have a successful opening weekend and continuous ticket sales throughout its duration.

In early September, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" arrives, followed by "Joker: Folie a Deux" in October, along with "Venom: The Last Dance." November brings "Gladiator II," "Moana 2," and "Wicked." Finally, December will see the release of "Kraven the Hunter," "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," and "Mufasa: The Lion King."

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC.