Inside Out 2 Pips Gladiator II To Malta’s Most Watched Film Of 2024
Inside Out 2 was Malta’s biggest box office hit in 2024, edging out the locally shot Gladiator II to claim the top spot, according to new figures from the National Statistics Office.
The animated Pixar sequel drew 39,209 admissions — around 7.1% of total cinema visits for the year — narrowly beating Gladiator II, which pulled in 34,594 viewers, or 6.2% of the total.
While Gladiator II had the hype, especially in Malta where scenes were filmed in Fort Ricasoli and Mdina, it wasn’t quite enough to dethrone the emotional journey inside Riley’s teenage brain. The result reflects the pulling power of family-friendly animation, even against blockbuster historical epics.
Third place went to Despicable Me 4 with 33,609 admissions, followed closely by Deadpool and Wolverine (32,718), showing that franchise power continues to dominate viewer habits. Moana 2, Wicked and Paddington in Peru also made the list, as did It Ends With Us, Mufasa: The Lion King and Wonka.
All ten of the year’s top films were US productions, spanning both animation and liveaction, and together accounting for more than 250,000 admissions. That figure reflects not just Malta’s appetite for Hollywood, but also the dominance of sequels and spin-offs in cinema programming.
The NSO noted that its data counts the month a film was viewed, not necessarily the month it premiered, meaning late-year releases might see their totals rise into 2025.
Despite the strong turnout for Gladiator II, which offered a rare moment of Malta-made spectacle on the big screen, it was Pixar’s colourful inner world that ultimately captured the island’s audience.
Did you watch either of these films?