Advanced ticket sales for Incredibles 2 are currently out-pacing fellow Pixar hit Finding Dory, setting the stage for a lucrative opening weekend. After 14 long years, audiences are finally going to reunite with the Parr family in the hotly-anticipated superhero sequel. Opening in theaters next week (as of this writing), Incredibles 2 is already generating plenty of positive buzz following its premiere screening, as many in attendance felt it delivered on the promise. Since Pixar has something of a mixed track record with sequels, this came as a relief.
Last summer's Pixar film, Cars 3, stumbled commercially and grossed only $152.9 million in its entire domestic run (which is the second-lowest total in the studio's remarkable history). Fortunately, it looks like Incredibles 2 will be a very different story. Early projections point to Brad Bird's sequel earning $140 million in its first three days, which would be a new high for Pixar. And if the early ticket sales are anything to go by, the film is well on its way to breaking the bank.
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According to Deadline, Fandango reports Incredibles 2 is the site's top animated pre-seller ever, with figures currently out-pacing Finding Dory. The superhero film is also beating out some live-action contemporaries, including Wonder Woman, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Suicide Squad. All of these titles were big box office successes, so it bodes well for Incredibles 2 that numbers are this high.
It is worth keeping in mind that advanced ticket sales are not always indicative of actual commercial performance. Not too long ago, Solo: A Star Wars Story was out-pacing the juggernaut that is Black Panther, but the Star Wars spinoff fell well short of expectations and became the first installment in the franchise to lose money. That does not seem like a fate Incredibles 2 will suffer, however. Not only are the early reactions very enthusiastic, but there has been pent-up demand for this movie for a very long time. Ever since the original Incredibles won people over with its heart and humor, audiences have clamored for a sequel. Plus, enough time has passed since the initial wave of summer blockbusters that moviegoers (especially families) are ready for something new.
It'll be interesting to see how high Incredibles 2 goes during its time in theaters and if it can top the totals of Finding Dory ($486.2 million). There aren't any other high-profile animated films until Hotel Transylvania 3 debuts in mid-July, but Incredibles 2 will be going up against some major live-action tentpoles between now and then, including Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Ant-Man and the Wasp. Those are expected to do well at the box office, meaning they could take away business from Incredibles 2 when they roll into theaters. Regardless, Pixar should have one of the summer's biggest hits when it's all said and done.
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Source: Deadline
