Summary
Since the first movie is known for its tear-jerker moments, it was inevitable thatInside Out 2would contain its fair share of emotional scenes and devastating lines. As a matter of fact,the sequel might have had more tear-inducing moments thanInside Outdidwhen the Pixar film premiered in 2015, which is a tremendous feat. With the addition ofnewInside Outemotions(Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui), Riley hitting puberty, and the reality of growing up getting thrown in the characters' faces overnight,Inside Out 2had many heartbreaking and heartwarming moments to spare.
Inside Out 2picks up one year afterInside Out’s ending, with Riley turning 13 and about to enter high school. One day, Riley’s puberty alarm goes off, resulting in the arrival of four new emotions — Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. Anxiety is undoubtedly the leader of the group and immediately (successfully) tries to take over control from Joy. AsInside Out 2continues,the original emotions (Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger) struggle to adapt to the changes in Riley’s mind,while the young teenager consequently faces an identity crisis in real life.
10Riley’s Reaction To Learning Her Friends Were Going To A Different School
The Teen Breaks Down At Hockey Camp
Inside Out 2introduces the audience to Riley’s two best friends — Bree and Grace,who also happen to be her hockey teammates. The trio is evidently very close, so, it’s just as heartbreaking to viewers as it is to Riley when she learns that Bree and Grace will be attending a different high school than Riley. This revelation arguably kick-startsInside Out 2’s story(at least, for Riley) as it immediately sends Riley into a spiral.
While she holds it together in the car, once they get to hockey camp, Riley says goodbye to her parents as Bree and Grace run off somewhere. After her mom and dad drive away,Riley breaks down and Sadness guides her through her tears.Joy, having learned a lot since the events ofInside Out,tells Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger, “It’s okay. We need this.” The originalemotions in Riley’s mind inInside Out 2let Riley cry before she wipes her tears away and marches on toward hockey camp.
Inside Out 2’s Massive Success Just Makes Me More Worried About Pixar’s Newest Movie
Inside Out 2 has performed beautifully at the global box office, but this only sets the bar higher for Pixar’s next (highly essential) project.
9Riley’s New Sense Of Self
Anxiety Throws Away Riley’s Original Sense Of Self & Creates A New One
The concept of one’s Sense of Self is established at the beginning ofthe box office record-breaking movieInside Out 2.Riley’s Sense of Self is made up of all her beliefs, including that she’s a good person, kind, strong, brave, and many more positive attributes. However, when Anxiety enters the picture, she gets rid of Riley’s original Sense of Self and constructs a new one with anxiety-ridden memories. Instead of being proud of herself,Riley’s new Sense of Self tells her she’s not good enough.
Without meaning to do so, Anxiety puts too much pressure on Riley by making her think that she’ll have friends if she’s good at hockey and many other dangerous beliefs. Of course, this leads to many other tear-jerking moments, buthearing Riley’s voice in her mind say that she’s not good enough is utterly heartbreaking.ThisInside Out 2scene can also be uncomfortablebecause it’s relatable to many, possibly making those who can empathize shed a tear or two.
8Joy Snapping At Fear, Anger, & Disgust
Joy Subsequently Breaks Down Over Riley Not Needing Her
Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger’s mission to return to headquarters is extremely difficult inInside Out 2.At one point, when everything seems hopeless, Joy persists. However, Fear, Disgust, and Anger are resigned to giving up, thinking that the old Riley is gone and nothing can be done about it.Anger even tells Joy she’s delusional for having hope,which sets offAmy Poehler’s character in theInside Outsequel, resulting in her breakdown.
Steve Purcell
Deep Dark Secret
Joy expresses (quite loudly) that she knows she’s delusional and that it’s so hard to remain positive when everyone else is complaining. After getting that all out of her system, Joy sits down, pulls her knees to her chest, and, with tears in her eyes, says, “Anxiety is right. Riley doesn’t need us as much as she needs them. And that hurts. It really hurts.” Surprisingly,Anger is the one to give Joy a pep talkand makes her see that they can’t give up. Despite all their losses, they carry on inInside Out 2,resulting in a tear-inducing moment.
7Joy’s Quote About Growing Up
“Maybe This Is What Happens When You Grow Up. You Feel Less Joy.”
One ofthe best quotes inInside Out 2comes after Anxiety destroys Joy, Fear, Disgust, and Anger’s seemingly last hope of returning to headquarters with Riley’s original Sense of Self. Disgust asks Joy what their plan is, and Joy responds that she doesn’t know. Utterly defeated, Joy says, “I don’t know how to stop Anxiety. Maybe we can’t. Maybe this is what happens when you grow up — you feel less joy.” And thatInside Out 2quote has the power to break any adult’s heart.
[Joy’s] realization that Riley might feel less joy as she gets older (and therefore, doesn’t need Amy Poehler’sInside Out 2character as much) is among the biggest and most memorable moments in the 2024 Pixar film.
Of course, Joy carries on and refuses to give up. However, her realization that Riley might feel less joy as she gets older (and therefore, doesn’t need Amy Poehler’sInside Out 2characteras much) is amongthe biggest and most memorable moments in the 2024 Pixar film.After seeing it in theaters, many took to the internet and social media to express how Joy’s quote about being less happy as one grows up made them feel and how they could relate to it.
6Riley’s Anxiety Attack
Anxiety Overwhelms Headquarters
The most significant and harrowing scene inInside Out 2comes during its climax when Riley experiences an anxiety attack,which had been building since Anxiety arrived at headquarters. During a hockey game, Riley, too absorbed in her thoughts (telling her she isn’t good enough), is determined to change Coach Roberts' mind about her. However, Riley is too focused on proving herself when she accidentally runs into Grace, injuring her. Consequently, Riley is sent to the penalty box, where she has an anxiety attack.
Inside Out 2’s anxiety attack scene is very accurateto what it’s like to have one in real life, and for anyone who experiences anxiety attacks, the moment is heartwrenching. It will make many cry as they watch asRiley struggles to breathe in the penalty box and Anxiety causes a storm in headquarters.The sequence is much too relatable for many, and seeing anxiety being represented so well in a Pixar movie is wonderful (even if it brings about tears).
5Anxiety’s Apology To Joy
Anxiety Thought She Was Protecting Riley
Maya Hawke’s Anxietycomes to realize howshe was wrong to make Riley fear everything and always prepare for the worst inInside Out 2.During the anxiety attack, Joy breaks through Anxiety’s storm and attempts to stir her from her paralysis. Joy tells Anxiety that she doesn’t get to choose who Riley is and that she needs to let her go. The original emotion breaks through to the new one and pulls her out of the storm once she lets go of the control panel.
Inside Out 2is the first film of 2024 to make over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, and it’s well on its way to becoming Pixar’s highest-grossing movie of all time.
Afterward, Anxiety is distraught and tearfully tells Joy, “I’m sorry. I was just trying to protect her. But you’re right. We don’t get to choose who Riley is.” Even thoughAnxiety is regarded as the villain ofInside Out 2,she never had evil intentions. She wholeheartedly believed that she was helping Riley by giving her all these anxiety-ridden beliefs. As a result,viewers can’t help but empathize with Anxietyduring this moment in theInside Outsequel.
4Riley Reconciling With Bree & Grace
Riley Apologizes To Her Friends After Her Anxiety Attack
After Joy lets a new Sense of Self grow,Riley’s anxiety attack subsides inInside Out 2,and her friends, Bree and Grace, come to check on her. Riley immediately apologizes to them for being a jerk and explains her actions over the past couple of days at hockey camp. She expresses how learning that Bree and Grace were going to go to a different high school triggered her. Riley also tells them that she understands if they don’t want to be her friend anymore. Thankfully, that isn’t the case.
Bree and Grace forgive Riley, and the three friends share a tender hug. The characters break apart and return to the hockey game, and the moment between Riley, Bree, and Grace is one of the brighter spots in the 2024 animated coming-of-age movie.Riley finally returns to herself,and it’s difficult to refrain from crying during theInside Out 2scene.
3Riley Wanting Joy After Her Anxiety Attack
Riley’s Mind Calls To Joy
Before Riley returns to the hockey game inInside Out 2,she (unknowingly, of course) calls to Joy. In her mind, Joy’s essence gravitates towards the control panel, and Sadness tellsAmy Poehler’sInside Out 2character, “Joy, Riley wants you.” So, Joy goes to the control panel and touches it, giving Riley some happiness after a long-winded anxiety attack. Knowing how much Joy cares about Riley and the special bond the two characters share,seeing Joy reunite with Riley after a treacherous journey is surely tear-jerking.Of course, Riley won’t always be happy, but she deserves this moment of peace.
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2Riley Rediscovers Her Love For Hockey
Joy Relieves Riley’s Anxiety Concerning Hockey Camp
Once Joy takes over the control panel nearthe end ofInside Out 2,Riley forgets all her previous worries about impressing Coach Roberts. The teenager simply lets herself enjoy being on the ice and playing the game she loves so much. Instead of hockey being a source of anxiety for Riley, as it had been during the entirety of camp,playing the sport brings Riley peace and glee duringInside Out 2’s closing moments.
GivenInside Out 2’s success at the box office and Pixar’s latest promise to focus on sequels, moreInside Outmovies are undoubtedly on the way (perhaps with the introduction of even more new emotions).
With Joy in the driver’s seat, Riley is able to fully take in the hockey game and let go of all the pressure she previously felt to be perfect and “good enough.” The young girl rediscovers her love for the sport, andseeing Riley be so carefree is like a breath of fresh air for the audience.She can finally be herself, and the scene is among the most emotional and heartwarming ones in Pixar’sInside Out 2.
What Riley’s Deep Dark Secret Is In Inside Out 2
Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger happen upon the deep corners of Riley’s mind in Inside Out 2, even finding her Deep Dark Secret.
1Inside Out 2’s Ending Scene
Riley Learns If She Makes The Hockey Team
Inside Out 2’s endingis a bit ambiguous asit does not technically reveal whether Riley makes the high school hockey team(but it implies that she does). It’s up to the audience to interpret whether the proud look on Riley’s face after seeing the results on her phone means she is a Firehawk or if she has to wait another year to be on the team. However, the moment is heartwarming all the same.
AsInside Out 2comes to a close, Joy’s narration expresses how much they all love Riley, with all the good and bad parts of her, and it’s nearly impossible not to be teary-eyed when the movie ends.
Over the course of the 2024 Pixar movie, Riley had been stressed and anxious about being good enough to be a Firehawk. Anxiety made her believe she would make new friends if she scored a spot on the team. However, Riley came to realize that wasn’t the case and was at peace with any outcome. AsInside Out 2comes to a close, Joy’s narration expresses how much they all love Riley, with all the good and bad parts of her, and it’s nearly impossible not to be teary-eyed when the movie ends.
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.
