Inside Out 2
Riley is now a teenager, so her emotional headquarters gets chaotic new feelings
The brief
Inside Out 2 smartly tackles the chaos of teenage emotions without losing the original's gentle wisdom, as Amy Poehler's Joy faces off against Maya Hawke's perfectly anxious new arrival. The film moves at Pixar's best pace - quick enough to hold kids but deep enough that adults will recognize their own mental spirals in Riley's headquarters meltdown. It's surprisingly honest about how growing up means your brain literally rewires itself, which feels both scary and validating. Perfect for anyone who loved the first one, parents navigating their teen's mood swings, or anyone who's ever wondered why their brain betrays them during stressful moments.
The verdict
If you loved the original Inside Out or need a smart way to talk about teenage emotions with your family, this is a brilliant sequel that perfectly captures the chaos of growing up. If you're looking for something completely fresh rather than a familiar formula or find Pixar's emotional earnestness too heavy-handed, you might want to skip this one.
Watch with
- 👨👩👧👦 Perfect for families with tweens/teens
- 👤 Great solo watch for emotional processing
- ⚠️ May be too intense for very young kids
Heads up
- Intense anxiety and panic attack sequences (moderate)
- Emotional overwhelm scenes that mirror real mental health struggles (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Kelsey Mann
- Cast
- Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith
Official synopsis
'Teenager Riley''s mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Both explore teenage identity struggles through colorful animated ensemble adventures.
Total runtime: 1h 37m + 1h 40m = 3h 17m
