Summary
Inside Outstar Amy Poehler has recently shared her clever idea for future sequels in the animated series, and if another successful Pixar franchise is anything to go by, she may be on to something. Poehler voiced the character of Joy in 2015’sInside Outand is one of several stars who have returned for the sequel, which is set to be released in theaters on August 22, 2025. The actress has shown enthusiasm for further installments, and, indeed,Poehler’s ideas for moreInside Outsequelsdemonstrate how this could work.
The firstInside Outmovie centered around the personified emotions of an 11-year-old girl named Rileyfollowing her family’s relocation from Minnesota to San Francisco. Meanwhile,Inside Out 2’s storywill revolve around a teenage Riley learning to deal with a host of new emotions. 2015’sInside Outwas a hit with both critics and audiences, and there’s certainly hope for the franchise to continue beyond the second film. Poehler’s proposed plan for the series certainly shows promise, mainly because it mirrors the approach of another Pixar franchise worth $3.3 billion.
Amy Poehler’s Inside Out Sequel Pitch Mirrors Toy Story’s Franchise Approach
It Would Keep The Movies Going For Years To Come
In an interview withEmpire, Amy Poehler detailed her hopes for the future of theInside Outfranchise, saying, “I just think that they should make these films like Seven Up every couple of years in Riley’s life. A young adult, and a young mother, and I think a middle-aged person – everyone’s having these very distinct new emotions that are showing up all the time.“The idea of following Riley at different stages of her life as she grapples with new emotional challenges is a brilliant one and something thatToy Storyhas already proven can work.
The first threeToy Storymovies depict the relationship between Andy Davis and his collection of toys. He starts out as a young boy with a big imagination and a love of playing with toys and grows up to be a 17-year-old college student who has outgrown the action figures, stuffed toys, and games that once brought him such joy.Across theToy Storyfilms, Andy goes through the many different emotional stages associated with growing up, as seen from the perspective of Woody and the rest of his toys.
The success of theToy Storyapproach lay in the fact that it allowed audiences to grow up alongside Andy.
Poehler’s pitch forInside Outis essentially the same, but instead of Andy, it’s Riley, and instead of toys, it’s Riley’s own emotions.The success of theToy Storyapproach lay in the fact that it allowed audiences to grow up alongside Andy, meaning they not only became attached to him as a character but could relate to the things he was going through.Inside Out 2’s premise indicates the series is already following this strategy, and there is no reason why it can’t continue to do so for future installments.
The Highest-Grossing Pixar Movies Of All Time
The highest-grossing Pixar movies include Toy Story and Inside Out, but which movie from the studio comes out on top?
Toy Story’s $3.3 Billion Success Proves That This Inside Out Strategy Can Work
There’s No Reason It Can’t Be Just As Much Of A Hit
Ultimately,Toy Story’s method turned out to be incredibly successful. The four movies in theToy Storyfranchise have a combined worldwide box office total of just under $3.3 billion (viaThe Numbers), and withToy Story 5currently in development, that number is only set to increase. Additionally, the animated franchise has garnered critical acclaim, with each of theToy Storymovies achieving highRotten Tomatoesscores. As Poehler suggests,Inside Outalready has the constituent parts to replicate theToy Storymodel, meaning there’s no reason it can’t succeed asPixar’sToy Storyreplacement franchise.
TheToy Storymovies have been nominated for a total of 12 Academy Awards.
In some ways,Inside Outactually has the advantage.Toy Story’s focus on toys means that it can only follow its protagonists for so much of their lives. After all, most people don’t tend to keep their toys into adulthood. As such, the end ofToy Story 3introduced a new human protagonist to overcome this problem. In contrast, emotions are something that people have for their entire lives, and, therefore, Riley can continue being the focus of theInside Outmovies for years to come.
Inside Out 2
Cast
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
