Family-Friendly Animated Flicks Dominate Summer Box Office

Published: July 9, 2024

Family-Friendly Animated Flicks Dominate Summer Box Office

By Movieguide® Contributor

2024 seems to be the year for animated movies DESPICABLE ME 4 and INSIDE OUT 2.

Both films have smashed it at the box office worldwide, thanks to their family-friendly values.

Illumination/Universal’s DESPICABLE ME 4 “began a staggered overseas release pattern a few weeks back, now counts $229.5M globally with several key majors still to come including France, Germany, China, UK, Japan, Korea and Italy. The international cume to date is $107M,” Deadline reported.

The Hollywood Reporter says DESPICABLE ME 4 “ruled the Fourth of July box office with an estimated five-day domestic opening of $122.6 million from 4,428 theaters, including a three-day weekend haul of $75 million after earning a stellar A CinemaScore.”

Jim Orr, Universal’s distribution chief, explained its success, saying, “Chris Meledandri and Illumination have their finger on the pulse of what families and audiences around the world want to see,” which is certainly true.

Movieguide® praised DESPICABLE ME 4’s “Very strong moral, pro-family worldview.” Part of the review reads:

DESPICABLE ME 4 is often hilarious. It focuses a lot on the comical chaos that the minions bring. DESPICABLE ME 4 has a strong moral, pro-family worldview. Gru protects his family and must save his son from the villain. Also, little Agnes refuses to tell a lie. However, much of the humor focuses on the comical slapstick chaos that the minions cause. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children.

Meanwhile, Disney/Pixar’s INSIDE OUT 2 “continues to jump for joy having reached $1,216.9M globally. It’s also now the No. 5 animated film of all time worldwide and No. 10 internationally,” Deadline said.

INSIDE OUT 2 has even become the biggest film of all time in Mexico.

Disney and Pixar desperately needed INSIDE OUT 2 to succeed following flops — like LIGHTYEAR and ELEMENTAL — over the last few years.

What made the change? A rejection of agenda-driven content in favor of uplifting, family-friendly stories.

“It’s so refreshing — but not surprising — to see that Pixar and Disney listened to Movieguide® and created a project that showcases positive, biblical values,” says Movieguide® CEO Robby Baehr. “We’ve told them for years that including inspirational content will make them money. They missed the mark with LIGHTYEAR and STRANGE NEW WORLD, and it cost them dearly. Now, when they return to Movieguide®’s strategy, they’re back to breaking records.”

Part of Movieguide®’s INSIDE OUT 2 review reads:

INSIDE OUT 2 is a marvelous, family-friendly animated movie. The movie is delightful, funny, inventive, and heartwarming. It has many positive messages. For example, it promotes “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10c) and doing the right thing, controlling your emotions and not letting anxieties overcome your decision making. INSIDE OUT 2 also promotes kindness, friendship, repentance, and forgiveness. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children for scenes of peril and a large scary-looking but nonthreatening character. Unlike other recent animated movies, INSIDE OUT 2 doesn’t have any woke or politically correct content.

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