--- title: "Inside Out 2: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/inside-out-2/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/inside-out-2" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 20 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Inside Out 2 (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 20 reviews: 14 positive, 4 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics like it, and the praise clusters in one place: Anxiety, the new emotion, which several reviews call the heart of the film and the best thing in it, with the panic-attack sequence singled out as the point where the animation and the writing come together. The visual invention gets steady credit, as does the film’s willingness to be honest about the less pleasant side of turning thirteen. The reservations cluster just as neatly. A good number of critics, including several who enjoyed it, find the structure too close to the first film’s and say it lacks that film’s emotional weight; the words timid and familiar recur. The spread is wide for a Pixar release. Two outright dissents stand out: Deadline finds it talky and uneventful, with stakes too small to care about, and Vulture reads it as a symptom of the studio’s recent slump, with the inner world crowding out the story. ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 2024. Praises the sequel for maturing the original's emotional journey by focusing on controlling emotions during puberty rather than just accepting them. Singles out Anxiety as the heart of the film for its misguided but relatable portrayal. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/inside-out-2/) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2024. Calls it a faultless sequel that remains faithful while expanding the world in a creative way to explore teenage turmoil. Praises the visual flair, especially Anxiety's comic animation and the battle over Riley's sense of self. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/inside-out-2-review-3107832) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 4/5. 12 June 2024. A sprightly sequel exploring teenage turmoil with assurance, empathy and wit, rich in colour, texture and sight gags against an inventive inner-mind backdrop. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/inside-out-2-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2024. The critic finds it an inventive and moving return to form for Pixar. They single out the panic-attack sequence as visually inventive and emotionally powerful, along with the subtle message that tribalism is toxic. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/jun/15/inside-out-2-review-an-inventive-and-moving-return-to-form-for-pixar) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 4/5. 14 June 2024. The critic calls it a terrific, high-stakes sequel that proves Pixar is still a force. They praise how it juggles big concepts in fun, ingenious and surprisingly moving ways. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2024/06/12/inside-out-2-review-pixar/) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4/5. 12 June 2024. Sparky, kaleidoscopic and boldly honest about the tougher side of growing up, it is Pixar’s most profound and moving movie since the first Inside Out. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/inside-out-2-review-2024) ## Total Film — Kate Stables Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 2024. Describes it as a sassy sequel that takes viewers on a joyful ride, delivering witty gags and expanding the concept brilliantly while remaining a worthy follow-up. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/animation-movies/inside-out-2-review/) ## The AV Club — Cindy White Rating B-. 13 June 2024. The review sees it as a solid but not groundbreaking Pixar sequel that provides comfort and continues the emotional themes effectively, though it lacks deeper emotional investment compared to the original. It praises the new emotions and voice work, especially Anxiety, but notes it doesn't fully innovate. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/inside-out-2-review-an-emotional-support-movie-for-tho-1851536800) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 2024. The sequel entertains with its new emotions, especially Anxiety and Envy voiced by Maya Hawke and Ayo Edebiri, but takes only a timid step into adolescence. It stretches the control-room metaphor too far and fails to offer profound insights for adult viewers. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-06-12/inside-out-2-review-pixar-maya-hawke-amy-poehler) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 3/3/3. 14 June 2024. An enjoyable outing with old friends but unambitious and timid, lacking the emotional gravitas of its predecessor while sticking to a tried-and-tested formula. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/inside-out-2) ## The New Yorker — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2024. The film is a lesser disappointment than its predecessor, with Joy and Sadness no longer central and some cheap gags, but it still offers witty workplace satire and a perceptive take on teen social pressures. It lands on familiar lessons about embracing all emotions but feels dispiriting in execution. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-current-cinema/inside-out-2-once-more-with-feelings) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 2024. The critic views the film as emblematic of Pixar's recent slump, with the inner world overpowering the story and failing to capture the emotional depth of adolescence authentically. They complain about the sequelitis and lack of sophistication in handling the new emotions and Riley's struggles. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/inside-out-2-is-another-product-of-the-pixar-slump.html) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★★☆☆. 12 June 2024. The critic describes a witty but jittery follow-up where Anxiety, Envy and Ennui run rampant as adolescence takes hold. They note mixed feelings about the new regime but find it an engaging if not flawless exploration of teen emotions. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/f724179a-c2eb-45d7-97db-805e9e6577e8) ## Screen Daily 12 June 2024. A deft follow-up to the 2015 smash centered on puberty bringing unpredictable new emotions, strongest when harnessing how emotions define us and occasionally lead us astray. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/inside-out-2-review/5194384.article) ## Sight and Sound 18 June 2024. The sequel is witty but feels too similar to the original, triggering a sense of déjà vu despite its innovations and new emotions. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/inside-out-2-all-its-innovations-takeaway-feeling-from-pixars-sequel-deja-vu) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 12 June 2024. The critic praises the sequel for its inventive personification of teenage emotions and calls it a delightful, heartfelt follow-up that captures the chaos of adolescence with humor and heart. They single out the new emotions like Anxiety and Ennui for their comedic appeal and the film's universal message about accepting all emotions. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/inside-out-2-review-pixar-sequel-amy-poehler-1235918216/) ## The Times — Jonathan Dean Rating ★★★★☆. 15 June 2024. The critic says Pixar is back on form with a smart, tender and knowing film about the angst of being a 13-year-old girl. They highlight how it handles the shift from childhood joy to sarcasm and anxiety lightly but movingly. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/inside-out-2-in-the-mind-of-a-teenager-nzhjr6xls) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Rating Critic's Pick. 12 June 2024. The sequel builds playfully on the first film's brilliance and comes close to matching it, centering on Anxiety as a compelling new force in Riley's battle over her Sense of Self. It is an enchanting ride and one of the most perceptive tales of early adolescence in recent cinema. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/inside-out-2-review-amy-poehler-lewis-black-1236033453/) ## Polygon — Tasha Robinson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2024. The sequel revives Pixar's emotional magic by authentically advancing Riley's story with new emotions and clever metaphors, delivering a heartfelt and believable narrative about teenage struggles that ranks among the studio's strongest recent works. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/24178014/inside-out-2-review/) ## The Playlist — Gregory Ellwood Rating B+. 12 June 2024. The review calls it a nuanced and sophisticated sequel that captures the loss of childhood innocence during puberty. It singles out the character animation of Anxiety losing control as particularly striking and heartbreaking. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/inside-out-2-review-anxiety-attempts-a-takeover-in-a-fantastic-pixar-sequel-20240612/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Rating 4/5. 14 June 2024. The critic calls it a worthy, funny, and inventive follow-up that expands the world with sharp observations on growing up and anxiety. It notes the structure feels overly familiar at times and lacks the same emotional punch as the original. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a61056602/inside-out-2-review-pixar/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Rating 4/5. 12 June 2024. The critic sees it as another Pixar success full of heart, emotion, and silly antics that delivers a message of hope and kindness. It notes the film is not quite as fresh or original as the first but remains a strong entry. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/inside-out-2-review/) ## The Ringer — A.A. Dowd Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2024. The critic finds it a good but not great sequel that thoughtfully expands on the original's themes of emotional growth during puberty, praising its insight into teenage feelings despite lacking the first film's emotional punch. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2024/06/17/movies/inside-out-2-review-cast-pixar-sequels-new-emotions) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 7/10. 12 June 2024. The critic finds the sequel visually inventive and emotionally resonant in its depiction of anxiety but notes it lacks some of the original's freshness and wonder. It singles out the honest portrayal of anxiety and its effects for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1601056/inside-out-2-review/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3/5. 12 June 2024. The critic finds it visually dazzling but not matching the emotional complexity or grace of the first film. It praises the handling of anxiety as a metaphor but notes it leans too heavily on familiarity, nostalgia, and referential gags. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/inside-out-2-review-pixar-need-hug/) ## Deadline — Damon Wise Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 2024. The critic finds the Pixar sequel talky and uneventful, with a long slog instead of imaginative fun and minor stakes that fail to inspire interest in a third film. Some parents may enjoy the sarcastic humor from Ennui's influence. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/06/inside-out-2-review-pixar-amy-poehler-maya-hawk-kelsey-mann-sequel-1235971095/) ## Paste — Amy Amatangelo Rating 7.9. 13 June 2024. The film accurately captures the turmoil of puberty and adolescence through vibrant visuals and new emotions like Anxiety, earning praise for its heartfelt script and relatable portrayal of teenage life. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/pixar/inside-out-2-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/inside-out-2.md