This article originally appeared on DownTheHobbitHoleBlog, our old website. It was written by Nathaniel and Sarah. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Watch Inside Out 2
Movie: Inside Out 2
Rating: PG
Genre: Family, Comedy, Animated
Length: 1 hr. 36 mins.
Age suggested: 5+ Check out our Inside Out 2 parent review below for more info!
Streaming: As of January 2026 it is streaming on Disney Plus
Warnings: Anxiety, panic attacks, mild discussions about what puberty is but nothing more than G/PG. One use of moron.
Do you need to see Inside Out 1 before you see Inside Out 2?!
No! There is a nice little recap of who all the emotions are and who Riley is at the beginning of this movie. I was surprised that the 2nd movie is actually more friendly for young kids than the first one is, even though it deals with puberty. This is one of the few Disney/Pixar movies that has a healthy family dynamic, engaging story, and is packed full of goodness for all ages. Adults can learn a lot from Inside Out 2 lessons too!
**SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT**
Inside Out 2 Parent Review: (May Contain Spoilers)
When I heard that this movie was going to focus on puberty and anxiety, I thought it would be more like Turning Red or Ruby Gillman and I was surprised! This is a friendly watch for younger viewers! The first movie has a lot of slower and very intense sad spots, and character loss. The second movie does not. It’s fast paced, there’s no major losses or language. And I loved what a fantastic reminder it was for parents that our kiddos brains and sense of self are in constant construction mode.
The movie was fantastic, and we will be watching it again. It would have been nice to see inside a friends brain, maybe some neurodivergence. And I would have loved to see another positive emotion be added to the team with puberty. Especially since one of the main themes of the movie is that puberty isn’t all bad. But overall a fantastic watch that I SO appreciate being able to talk about it with my kids.
Is Inside Out 2 Appropriate for Little Kids?
Yes. I have very few warnings for this movie. It shows a healthy family dynamic, there is no death, very little language, and the puberty talk is very appropriate for littles. There is a big monster (Riley’s deep dark secret) that could be a little scary. The hockey game at the beginning has very loud buzzers.
There is one use of the word moron. Anger says ‘kill me.’ at one point.
If anxiety is something that you or your kiddo struggle with, this could be a really good resource to talk through together! It might also be too triggering for this moment in time.
But overall, this is one of the most appropriate and meaningful movies we have seen in a long time. It could be engaging for kids and adults of all ages.
Our Favorite 15 Inside Out 2 Quotes
“Pardon our dust. Puberty is messy.”
“Have I ever steered you wrong? ‘Yeah, many times.’”- Joy and Sadness
“I know new emotions can seem unhelpful at first, but I’ve learned that every emotion is a good emotion.” -Joy
“I know you! You’re strong! I can’t give you a specific example right now…”- Joy to Sadness
“The long way around ending up being longer than I thought!”- Joy
“Ever since this puberty alarm went off- nothing works like it’s supposed to.” -Fear
“Jimminy mother lung toaster strudel!”- Joy
“Fear, you have a parachute?! ‘Uh, yes. The real question is why don’t all of you?!’”- Fear and Joy
“Don’t let mistakes stop you.”- Anger
“Look, I don’t like her words. And I don’t like her actions. But I just think I can change her.”- Fear about Anxiety
“Delusional?! Of course I’m delusional! Do you know how hard it is to stay positive all the time?”- Joy
“Anxiety has you all chained to desks. Drawing negative projections. But you don’t have to take it anymore.”
“Hey kids, do you know Latin? Quid Pro Quo!”- Bluefy
“We love all of our girl. Every messy, beautiful, piece of her.”
“This film is dedicated to our kids. We love you just the way you are.”
Inside Out 2 Discussion Questions and Themes
Inside Out 2 Themes to Discuss: Sense of Self, Friendship, Puberty, Trying to Impress Others, Confidence, Embracing Positive and Negative Emotions, Teamwork
- What new emotion did you think was the most surprising?
- What old shows do you still love? Are there animated characters from shows you don’t watch anymore that would make you smile?
- Do you feel like they got the new emotions and puberty right?
- What’s really hard about being the age you are right now? What’s the funnest thing about being the age you are right now?
- Do you feel like you can change the projections in your mind?
- Who do you feel like you could talk to if you were having a panic attack? Do you know what to do if you have a panic attack?
- How many blue strings do you feel like you have? Orange?
In Inside Out 2, Riley is experiencing typical teen emotions and anxiety. It’s important to be able to recognize when we need more help, because our depression or anxiety is too big to handle on our own. Here are some resources…
–National Institute of Mental Health Resources
-Online Counseling Options. You can fine coupon codes on this list. Check out Talk Space and Brightside.
What did Riley do that helped pull her out of her panic attack? Can we use it too?!
Absolutely! It’s not all inclusive, but after a couple of years of grief counseling, I’d like to share 3 grounding techniques that you can see in the movie and use yourself- that have personally helped me!
- 5 Senses: What are 5 things you can see? What 4 things can you touch? What 3 things can you hear? What 2 things can you smell? What’s 1 thing you can taste? More here.
- Talking to a Friend: This can be a wonderful distraction that distracts your brain into feeling safe. I’ve also found that when I mention I’m having a panic attack and need distraction, and the friend obliges, it helps a ton.
- Deep Breathing: When you’re panicking, your body goes into flight mode. Elevated heart rate and quick breathing. Intentionally taking deeper breathes and breathing out for longer can help.
Thanks for checking out our Inside Out 2 lessons and parent review post. Before you go, check out these related articles!
-What’s ‘In Your Dreams?’ the new Netflix movie.
This post: Parent Review of Inside Out 2 on Read Reel Reviews uses affiliate links. We only link products we think you’ll like and you are never charged extra for them. We earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. All images used in this post were either original designs from Canva and generously shared by Disney’s media kit. We also use cookies to gather analytics and present advertisements. Check out our other posts on movies, books, and other family related topics.