Inside Out vs Inside Out 2: Which is better?

Mark (Inside Out 2)

In one of those rare instances where the sequel surpasses the first installment, Inside Out 2 is simply a better movie than its predecessor. Pixar and Inside Out 2 should be praised for balancing family-friendly entertainment with a coming-of-age story that can sometimes be slightly uncomfortable. The sequel is a smoother and more digestible viewing experience than the first. In fact, critics and audiences alike have lauded Inside Out 2 for its character development and creative storytelling. Critics and audiences rarely agree in some cases, but Inside Out 2 pleases all.  

Inside Out 2 is a movie that understands its audience, yet still finds a way to tastefully demand your attention. Unlike the sequel, the original Inside Out seems to lack a singular focus. However, Inside Out 2 takes it a step further, weaving a complex tapestry of emotions, yet is still easy to understand and relate to. The film has the potential to bring families closer together by inspiring a discourse on issues that all teenagers face. One could argue that is precisely the purpose these types of movies serve, in addition to simply being entertaining. 

Inside Out 2 also achieves excellence in terms of animation and special effects. In fact, many are calling it the best ever in terms of visual presentation, which is certainly saying something. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Inside Out 2 broke something of a losing streak for Pixar. It’s the first major success for the studio in some time, grossing $155 million at the domestic box office and $140 million internationally. The original Inside Out was a respectable offering, but the sequel has outdone it. 

Emily (Inside Out)

While Inside Out 2 introduces more complex emotions to its story, the movie plot, voice casting, and music fall short of the original. Also, Pixar movies are generally geared toward people of any age, from children to adults. Unfortunately, the way Inside Out 2 highlights the complex feelings teenage Riley is experiencing does not resonate well with everyone in the audience. 

For instance, children might find Inside Out 2 confusing and unrelatable since they may not yet be familiar with these new emotions introduced in this movie. In fact, some adult viewers also struggled to feel connected to Riley and who she is in this film compared to the original.

Moreover, Inside Out 2 had significant casting changes from the first that made a very noticeable difference. For example, Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling no longer voice Fear and Disgust. While Tony Hale and Liza Lapira did a great job, it can be jarring for some, especially those fond of the original, to accept this change. Additionally, the music for the second film was composed by Andrea Datzman rather than Michael Giacchino, who has scored some of the most popular and acclaimed film projects in recent history, such as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).

As a result, these disconnects are reflected in the Rotten Tomatoes scoring. Inside Out scored 98% on the Tomatometer, whereas Inside Out 2 scored 91%. While change can be good, the sequel did not have to change the things that helped make the original great.