In just a month since its release, “Inside Out 2” has surpassed $1 billion in global box office earnings — making it the fastest animated film to reach this milestone, according to The Walt Disney Company.
The star-studded sequel is already the highest-grossing movie of the year, but faces stiff competition this Fourth of July weekend from another animated franchise film.
“Without a doubt ‘Despicable Me,’ which is coming out soon,” said film critic Victor Aragon. “‘Inside Out’ is also fantastic. However, considering the current ticket prices, great options to enjoy at home on Netflix would be ‘Ultraman Rising’ and ‘Thelma The Unicorn.’
Aragon, the co-creator of the family entertainment blog FanDads, is now not only concerned about the content of a movie but also the cost of taking the whole family to the cinema.
The average movie ticket price in the U.S. has reached $10.78, but in cities like Chicago, where Aragon resides, a trip to the movies can cost $20 per person.
“Movies are becoming available for home streaming much sooner now,” Aragon mentioned. “Therefore, if you miss the first two weeks at the cinema, you can wait another week and watch it at home for a much lower cost than going to the theater.”
Currently, streaming is not an option for films like “Inside Out 2,” so Aragon believes that word of mouth will continue to attract audiences to theaters. For older viewers and families with teenagers seeking entertainment this Fourth of July, Aragon suggests a more thrilling choice.
“‘A Quiet Place’ would also be a good option for the whole family,” Aragon proposed, “As it is rated PG-13, it might not be too scary. If they have watched ‘Stranger Things,’ they might be accustomed to what happens in this film.”
The horror prequel “A Quiet Place: Day One” raked in approximately $52 million in the U.S. and Canada towards the end of June. This was not sufficient to dethrone “Inside Out 2” from its top spot at the box office, but the rankings could shift this week as “Despicable Me 4” is anticipated to earn over $125 million upon its release on Wednesday, July 3.