I cried three times during Inside Out 2. Not just misty-eyed—full-on, wet-cheeked crying. And I’m not ashamed to admit it. Pixar has a way of sneaking up on you, and this sequel does it better than anything they’ve made since Coco in 2017. I went in skeptical—sequels to perfect movies usually disappoint. But director Kelsey Mann and the team at Pixar pulled off something remarkable.
The movie picks up two years after the original. Riley is now 13, going through puberty, and dealing with new emotions: Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and a hilarious character called Nostalgia (voiced by Maya Rudolph). The original emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust—are back, but they’re struggling to adapt. And the story is about how anxiety takes over, pushing Joy aside. It’s heavy. It’s real. And it works.
Why This Movie Hits Different as an Adult
The original Inside Out was about sadness being necessary. This one is about anxiety—specifically, how anxiety can protect you but also paralyze you. I’m 34, and I felt seen. The scene where Anxiety creates a “disaster simulation” loop in Riley’s mind—showing her all the worst-case scenarios at school—hit me like a truck. That’s exactly what my anxiety does. Pixar turned a mental health concept into a visual story that’s both entertaining and therapeutic.
The Voice Cast Is Perfect
Amy Poehler is back as Joy, and she’s still great. But the new additions steal the show. Maya Hawke voices Anxiety, and she’s incredible—she brings a nervous energy that makes you feel both uncomfortable and understanding. Lewis Black’s Anger has some of the funniest lines, but the real surprise is Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment. His character is a giant, blushing shadow of a man, and his physical comedy is perfect. Definitely one of the best voice casts in a Pixar film.