Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has become a cultural phenomenon since its release last month. The film has broken records in the global box office, surpassing $1 billion, making it the first film to do so since “Barbie.” It is also currently the highest-grossing film of 2024.
The family-friendly movie has sparked discussions about emotions and coping mechanisms as children navigate growing up. Licensed therapist Trey Tucker of Rugged Counseling spoke with KXAN about the interest in therapy that the movie has generated.
Tucker noted that the film is based on a therapy concept known as “internal family systems.” In this approach, each individual has different internal “parts” or characters that play different roles, just like in a family. He explained that the movie does an excellent job of portraying how these internal parts interact and sometimes conflict with each other. While each part is trying to help, their methods can sometimes be harmful.
What impressed Tucker was how the producers managed to simplify complex emotional concepts, making them accessible even to young children. He was impressed by how they managed to explain these ideas in a way that children could understand.
For more insights from Tucker about the therapeutic aspects of “Inside Out 2,” you can watch the Q&A interview in the video player at the top of this page.
