Inside Out (2015)
Movie · 2015 · Animation, Family, Adventure, Drama, Comedy · 1h 35m · PG · English
Curator score: 8.4/10 (3.8M ratings)
Tagline: Meet the little voices inside your head.
When 11-year-old Riley moves to a new city, her Emotions team up to help her through the transition. Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness work together, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, they must journey through unfamiliar places to get back home.
Ratings:
- Curator score: 8.4/10
- IMDb: 8.1/10
- Letterboxd: 3.83/5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
- Metacritic: 94
- TMDB: 7.9/10
Director: Pete Docter
Production: Pixar
Cast: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Paula Poundstone, Bobby Moynihan, Paula Pell, Dave Goelz, Frank Oz, Josh Cooley, Flea, John Ratzenberger, Carlos Alazraqui, Peter Sagal, Rashida Jones
Where to watch: Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict: A smart, emotionally precise Pixar film that turns an abstract idea into a vivid coming-of-age story. It balances humor, invention, and genuine sadness in a way that feels both kid-friendly and unusually honest about growing up.
Best for: families looking for a thoughtful animated movie; viewers who like heartfelt stories about childhood and change; fans of inventive high-concept animation; people who want an emotional but accessible tearjerker
Skip if: you want a purely action-driven adventure; you dislike sentimental storytelling; you prefer animation that stays light and uncomplicated
Overview: Inside Out is one of those rare family films that feels like it understands children without talking down to them. Its central conceit is simple enough for young viewers, but the emotional logic underneath it is sophisticated: growing up means learning that sadness is not a problem to be solved, but part of how we connect and heal.
Worth noting: Pete Docter’s direction gives the movie a constant sense of invention. The mind-world is playful and visually elastic, yet every joke and visual gag is serving a real emotional purpose. That’s what makes the film land so hard: it is funny, imaginative, and deeply organized around feeling rather than plot mechanics.
Bottom line: What lingers most is its compassion. The movie doesn’t just celebrate joy; it argues for emotional complexity, memory, and the messy transition out of childhood. It’s a polished crowd-pleaser, but also one of Pixar’s most humane and psychologically astute films.
Top Letterboxd reviews:
- Ellie ✨: it's unfortunate that i'm 19 now and still have a tragic vampire romance island
- alor: "take her to the moon for me, okay?" y’all ever just cry.. uncontrollably?
- cerys: a24 island incoming
- Ash: this movie is for mentally ill people (me)
- Sean Fennessey: This is a documentary.
Recommended similar titles:
- Up (2009 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 36m · PG · Curator 9.1/10 (4M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
Another Pixar film that uses a fantastical premise to explore grief, memory, and emotional growth with real tenderness.
- WALL·E (2008 · Animation, Family, Science Fiction · 1h 38m · G · Curator 9.5/10 (3.8M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
A visually inventive animated film with enormous heart, strong emotion, and minimal reliance on dialogue.
- Finding Nemo (2003 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 40m · G · Curator 8.9/10 (3.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu)
Warm, funny, and emotionally direct, with a strong focus on family bonds and fear of loss.
- The Incredibles (2004 · Action, Adventure, Animation · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
Shares Pixar’s knack for combining genre fun with family dynamics and personal identity.
- Monsters, Inc. (2001 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 32m · G · Curator 8.7/10 (3.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
Playful worldbuilding and a surprisingly moving story about fear, care, and attachment.
- Toy Story 3 (2010 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 42m · G · Curator 8.9/10 (2.5M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, fuboTV)
A poignant story about growing up, separation, and the bittersweet end of childhood.
- Coco (2017 · Family, Animation, Music · 1h 45m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
A richly emotional family film about memory, loss, and the importance of honoring loved ones.
- Soul (2020 · Animation, Family, Drama · 1h 41m · PG · Curator 8.1/10 (2.6M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
A thoughtful Pixar film about purpose, selfhood, and the emotional texture of ordinary life.
- The Iron Giant (1999 · Animation, Drama, Family · 1h 26m · PG · Curator 9.4/10 (886K ratings))
A gentle, deeply moving story about empathy, identity, and choosing who you want to be.
- Kubo and the Two Strings (2016 · Animation, Adventure, Family · 1h 42m · PG · Curator 8.2/10 (496.8K ratings))
An imaginative animated adventure that blends wonder with themes of grief and family legacy.
- The Little Prince (2015 · Adventure, Animation, Fantasy · 1h 46m · PG · Curator 7.7/10 (247.5K ratings))
A reflective animated film about childhood, imagination, and the emotional cost of growing up.
- Ratatouille (2007 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 51m · G · Curator 9.6/10 (4.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu)
A clever, heartfelt story about talent, self-belief, and finding your place in the world.
Topics: animated family drama, coming-of-age, emotional metaphor, heartfelt, psychological, whimsical, tearjerker, 2010s animation, imaginative worldbuilding, feel-good
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/movie/inside-out/150540
Inside Out (2015)
Movie · 2015 · Animation, Family, Adventure, Drama, Comedy · 1h 35m · PG · English
Curator score: 8.4/10 (3.8M ratings)
Meet the little voices inside your head.
Overview When 11-year-old Riley moves to a new city, her Emotions team up to help her through the transition. Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness work together, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, they must journey through unfamiliar places to get back home.
Ratings
Curator score: 8.4/10
IMDb: 8.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.83/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Metacritic: 94
TMDB: 7.9/10
Cast Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Paula Poundstone, Bobby Moynihan, Paula Pell, Dave Goelz, Frank Oz, Josh Cooley, Flea, John Ratzenberger, Carlos Alazraqui, Peter Sagal, Rashida Jones
Where to watch Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A smart, emotionally precise Pixar film that turns an abstract idea into a vivid coming-of-age story. It balances humor, invention, and genuine sadness in a way that feels both kid-friendly and unusually honest about growing up.
Best for
families looking for a thoughtful animated movie
viewers who like heartfelt stories about childhood and change
fans of inventive high-concept animation
people who want an emotional but accessible tearjerker
Skip if
you want a purely action-driven adventure
you dislike sentimental storytelling
you prefer animation that stays light and uncomplicated
Overview
Inside Out is one of those rare family films that feels like it understands children without talking down to them. Its central conceit is simple enough for young viewers, but the emotional logic underneath it is sophisticated: growing up means learning that sadness is not a problem to be solved, but part of how we connect and heal.
Worth noting
Pete Docter’s direction gives the movie a constant sense of invention. The mind-world is playful and visually elastic, yet every joke and visual gag is serving a real emotional purpose. That’s what makes the film land so hard: it is funny, imaginative, and deeply organized around feeling rather than plot mechanics.
Bottom line
What lingers most is its compassion. The movie doesn’t just celebrate joy; it argues for emotional complexity, memory, and the messy transition out of childhood. It’s a polished crowd-pleaser, but also one of Pixar’s most humane and psychologically astute films.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Ellie ✨ (4.5★) · 7593 likes
it's unfortunate that i'm 19 now and still have a tragic vampire romance island
alor (4★) · 6930 likes
"take her to the moon for me, okay?" y’all ever just cry.. uncontrollably?
cerys (4.5★) · 4824 likes
a24 island incoming
Ash (5★) · 2527 likes
this movie is for mentally ill people (me)
Sean Fennessey (4.5★) · 2472 likes
This is a documentary.
Recommended similar titles
2009 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 36m · PG · Curator 9.1/10 (4M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
Another Pixar film that uses a fantastical premise to explore grief, memory, and emotional growth with real tenderness.
2008 · Animation, Family, Science Fiction · 1h 38m · G · Curator 9.5/10 (3.8M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A visually inventive animated film with enormous heart, strong emotion, and minimal reliance on dialogue.
2003 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 40m · G · Curator 8.9/10 (3.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu
Warm, funny, and emotionally direct, with a strong focus on family bonds and fear of loss.
2004 · Action, Adventure, Animation · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
Shares Pixar’s knack for combining genre fun with family dynamics and personal identity.
2001 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 32m · G · Curator 8.7/10 (3.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
Playful worldbuilding and a surprisingly moving story about fear, care, and attachment.
2010 · Animation, Family, Comedy · 1h 42m · G · Curator 8.9/10 (2.5M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, fuboTV
A poignant story about growing up, separation, and the bittersweet end of childhood.
2017 · Family, Animation, Music · 1h 45m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A richly emotional family film about memory, loss, and the importance of honoring loved ones.
2020 · Animation, Family, Drama · 1h 41m · PG · Curator 8.1/10 (2.6M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A thoughtful Pixar film about purpose, selfhood, and the emotional texture of ordinary life.
1999 · Animation, Drama, Family · 1h 26m · PG · Curator 9.4/10 (886K ratings)
A gentle, deeply moving story about empathy, identity, and choosing who you want to be.
2016 · Animation, Adventure, Family · 1h 42m · PG · Curator 8.2/10 (496.8K ratings)
An imaginative animated adventure that blends wonder with themes of grief and family legacy.
2015 · Adventure, Animation, Fantasy · 1h 46m · PG · Curator 7.7/10 (247.5K ratings)
A reflective animated film about childhood, imagination, and the emotional cost of growing up.
2007 · Animation, Comedy, Family · 1h 51m · G · Curator 9.6/10 (4.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu
A clever, heartfelt story about talent, self-belief, and finding your place in the world.
Topics
animated family drama, coming-of-age, emotional metaphor, heartfelt, psychological, whimsical, tearjerker, 2010s animation, imaginative worldbuilding, feel-good
Open Inside Out (2015) on Curator TV