Why Riley Smiles At The End Of Inside Out 2 (2024)

Riley's smile at the end of Inside Out 2 has both narrative and figurative meanings. Inside Out 2 became the highest-grossing movie of 2024 with a worldwide box office total of $1.628 billion, a number that likely will not be topped in the latter half of the year. Inside Out also became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, dethroning 2019's Frozen II, which earned a worldwide total of $1.453 billion. With the massive success of Inside Out 2, Inside Out 3 is an inevitability.

Pixar and director Kelsey Mann landed on Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, Embarrassment, and Nostalgia as the new emotions in Inside Out 2, joining the previously established emotions of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger. Anxiety, portrayed by Maya Hawke, took the driver's seat as one of Riley's most intense and controlling emotions. Riley goes on a roller coaster of emotions as she enters her puberty years in Inside Out 2, which leaves Joy and Anxiety fighting for supremacy over Riley's core personality.

Riley's Smile Indicates That She Made The High School Hockey Team

Riley's biggest goal of the film was to make the elite hockey team

Riley goes through some ups and downs with her two best friends in Inside Out 2 once she catches the eye of a "cooler" high school group at a hockey camp. This key struggle becomes the main conflict for Riley as she tries to maintain her values and loyalties to her childhood friends while also being allured by the perks of running with the cooler, older crowd. Anxiety often fuels Riley's desire to be perceived as cool and fit in with the high school crowd while Joy always brings her back to her best friends.

In the end, Joy and the rest of the emotions are able to thwart Anxiety's whirlwind of energy that sends Riley down intense emotional spirals throughout the movie. They are able to put a lid on Anxiety even though she has good intentions but is causing more harm than good by consuming Riley's psyche entirely. When Riley smiles at the end of Inside Out 2, it's an indication that Riley successfully made the hockey team she had wanted to be on so badly. That's what she was stressed about before, so she's happy at the end likely because she realized her biggest ambition.

Riley Smiling In Inside Out 2's Ending Has A Deeper Meaning

Riley feels a fulfillment that extends deeper than joy or any other emotion alone

Riley isn't only smiling because she made the hockey team at the end of Inside Out 2. It's also a reflection that she's generally happy with life, a notion that she has been struggling with throughout most of the film. She still has the persistent presence of anxiety to deal with as well as an influx of other new emotions, but she's holistically happy now in a way that makes her feel fulfilled. She is still able to maintain her childhood friendships while developing as an individual with her own pursuits and interests, which is a major sign of Riley's maturity in Inside Out 2.

Inside Out 2

3.5

PG

Adventure

Comedy

Animation

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.

Director

Kelsey Mann

Release Date

June 14, 2024

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

Writers

Meg LeFauve , Dave Holstein , Kelsey Mann

Cast

Amy Poehler , Tony Hale , Maya Hawke , Liza Lapira , Lewis Black , Phyllis Smith , Diane Lane

Runtime

96 Minutes

Franchise(s)

Disney

prequel(s)

Inside Out

Main Genre

Animation