The domestic total for the last weekend of June 2024 was around $155.5 million, on par with the previous week’s demonstration but up 19% from last year’s frame. You see, it’s more of a predicated philosophy that pre-COVID films can still open to pre-COVID figures, and while we’re still not at the rate compared to 2019 levels, we’re raking in some numbers that portray a box office indicative of finally recovering for the summer season. Take a look at the numbers rolling in currently: Bad Boys: Ride or Die is playing like its predecessor’s legs, the Quiet Place spinoff nabbed an opening weekend record for that franchise, and Inside Out 2 is playing like a Pixar film in the previous decade on a mountain of drugs spiking its box office spree. Granted, the Pixar sequel can at least show signs of recovery for an enormous brand, unlike folks who took center stage for a debate last week. However, let’s not get too entrenched in the wobbly political affairs and appreciate something else on the film side.

So, Inside Out 2 has passed the $1 billion mark globally, nearing $470 million domestically and earning $1.015 billion. Only dipping 43% in its third weekend ensures that business will stay strong, even without China’s help. Another bonus is that each year, one Hollywood blockbuster has still dismantled records despite shrinking theatrical windows and streaming competition (see Spider-Man: No Way Home for 2021, Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water for 2022, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Barbenheimer in 2023). Gone are the times when we relied on the next Marvel/DC or Universal project to carry the weight for another $1 billion (or $2 billion) grosser; the playing field is open once more to prominent IPs and audacious new tales. Anyway, at this rate, Inside Out 2 should have no issue pushing for total earnings of around $1.3 billion. (Fun fact: it’s the fastest-earning animated film to reach $1 billion and would only need to top Incredibles 2‘s $608 million domestic to become the highest-earning domestic animated feature, but that’s another conversation for another day.)

In second place, A Quiet Place: Day One nabbed $53 million. That’s above both predecessors in 2018 and 2021, and a given sign this franchise has inherent value to keep rolling the dice for an event audiences will want to see. As we noted in our review, this was not a necessary tale to spin out, but John Krasinski found a goldmine to invest further since he can “only” be appreciated as our favorite Jim Halpert for so long. Paramount and all sought a new environment (in NYC) and more giant setpieces for our nefarious extraterrestrial creatures to come and attack anything resembling noise. The added value was that Lupita Nyong’o did whatever it took to carry this feature (the one actress who was sadly deprived of an Academy Award a few years back). Since IF started to leg out too late, this will be Paramount’s victory as the new PG-13 affair till Twisters arrives on July 19th. With an opening like this, expect legs to put it on par with its predecessors, somewhere between $160-185 million domestically. For now, it’ll be passing $100 million globally before this article is shipped out.

Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 landed with a thud for an $11 million opening. Tracking estimates were relatively accurate, as most older demographics weren’t keen to see this (or Yellowstone fans). Kevin Costner might be the biggest loser here, putting over $38 million alongside other investors for its massive $100 million budget. It’s a bit underwhelming to see directors whip out these cliffhanger episodes, so we’ll parade on for the next few months for the follow-up, but it’s an understandable out-of-the-box direction that negates the whole “it looked good on PVOD, so maybe the sequel will be better in theaters!”.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die has passed $333 million globally; again, it’s performing pretty well but will not quite reach its predecessor’s $426 million total. The Bikeriders earned $3.3 million in its second weekend, The Garfield Movie continues to inch towards $250 million worldwide, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will near $400 million worldwide (even without any assistance from China).

Next weekend, we will see the release of Despicable Me 4, MaXXXine, Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (on Netflix).