'Inside Out' earns P97.17-M in 5 days in Manila

MANILA,Philippines – Filipino audiences met the little voices inside their heads and apparently loved the experience, as Disney-Pixar's “Inside Out” shot to the top of the box-office with a record-breaking P97.17 million gross in five days (August 19 to 23).

This was announced on Monday by Walt Disney Studios Philippines which distributed the film through Columbia Pictures.

A comedy adventure featuring a team of Emotions who help guide an 11-year-old girl through an unsettling change in her life, “Inside Out” now holds the record for the Biggest Walt Disney/Pixar opening weekend of all-time, beating last year's “Big Hero 6” (P69.99-M) and third biggest animation opening weekend of all-time, bumping off “How to Train Your Dragon 2's” P84.9-M.

The success of “Inside Out” in the Philippines is significant and impressive as the film had the handicap of opening here two months after its US release.

Moviegoers in Manila have been accustomed to watching their films ahead of everyone else in the world, but the delay of “Inside Out” proved to be a wise move.

“Inside Out” also benefitted from the Manila press tour of director Pete Docter and co-director Ronnie del Carmen two weeks ago which generated buzz and goodwill, and allowed Filipinos to celebrate its hometown hero in Cavite-born Del Carmen.

The film opened in the U.S. June 19 with a monumental $92-million haul, the biggest debut ever for an original film. On its third week of release, “Inside Out” catapulted to the number one spot of the US domestic box-office. Its cumulative worldwide gross now stands at $689.9-million and still growing.

In the Philippines, the three biggest-grossing cinemas are SM North EDSA (P4.16-M), Trinoma (P4.03-M) and SM Megamall (P3.95-M). They're followed by Power Plant (P3.31-M), SM Mall of Asia (P3.18-M), Eastwood (P2.72-M), Glorietta 4 (P2.58-M), Greenhills Promenade (P2.37-M), Alabang Town Center (P2.159-M) and Robinsons Magnolia (P2.155-M).

Also posting high receipts are Greenbelt 3 (P1.79-M), SM Aura (P1.77-M), Shang Cineplex (P1.74-M), Fisher Mall (P1.65-M), SM Cebu (P1.60-M), Ayala Cebu (P1.42-M), SM Fairview (P1.35-M), Bonifacio High Street (P1.319-M), SM Marikina (P1.317-M) and SM Southmall (P1.30M).

Beside the abovementioned records, “Inside Out” also smashed the following milestones.

• Biggest Walt Disney/Pixar animation Thursday of all-time (P10.64-M), beating “Big Hero 6” (P8.4-M)
• Biggest Walt Disney/Pixar animation Friday of all-time (P27-M), beating “Up” (P13-M)
• Biggest Walt Disney/Pixar Single Day (Friday, P27-M), beating “Big Hero 6” (P25.4-M)

From an adventurous balloon ride above the clouds to a monster-filled metropolis, Academy Award-winning director Pete Docter has taken audiences to unique and imaginative places. In Disney•Pixar’s original movie “ Inside Out,” he will take us to the most extraordinary location of all—inside the mind.

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life.

As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.

Still playing to record crowds across the Philippines, “Inside Out” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.