Summary
- A Bug's Life 2 never happened due to the original movie's lower profitability compared to theToy Story series.
- Pixar included a clever nod to a potentialBug's Life sequel inToy Story 2, hinting at future possibilities.
- Considering recent financial struggles, a sequel to A Bug's Life could potentially save Pixar from a losing streak.
Toy Story 2 all but confirmed thatA Bug's Life 2 wasn't happening, and just a year after Flik's sole adventure was in cinemas. As Pixar's second feature-length movie,A Bug's Life had a lot to live up to after the success of 1995'sToy Story. Despite being well-received, a second movie following the insects' exploits never materialized. However, two characters fromA Bug's Life briefly returned to the Pixar universe to address their absence in a very clever way.
Out ofevery Pixar movie, the studio's earliest efforts kickstarted some of their most successful franchises. However, of their first seven films,A Bug's Life was the only one not to receive a sequel. While properties likeToy Story and 2001'sMonsters, Inc. have gone on to have a life of their own,A Bug's Life was laid to rest after just a single installment. That being said, the team behind it all is nothing if not self-referential. As such,Pixar included an Easter egg that teased the future ofA Bug's Life in the secondToy Story movie.
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The "Bloopers" At The End Of Toy Story 2 Foreshadowed A Bug's Life 2 Never Happening
Pixar's fake bloopers hinted at a movie that never came
1999'sToy Story 2 used a Pixar quirk that originated a year earlier inA Bug's Life. The firstToy Story sequel included a fake blooper reel that had been animated to the same standard as the movie itself.The scripted gags were mainly staged mistakes of scenes fromToy Story 2, but one of them featured a cameo appearance from Flik and Heimlich fromA Bug's Life. The brief exchange between the two characters shatters the fourth wall, with Flik mistakenly believing they're on the set of the fabledA Bug's Life 2.
Buzz Lightyear could be said to represent theToy Story franchise in the "blooper," and the fact he casts the other Pixar characters aside is potentially a strong hint thatToy Story was taking priority.
Unfortunately,Buzz Lightyear sends the bugs flying from the shot seconds later as he enters the scene, which is dressed as a "take" forToy Story 2. On the surface, the sequence feels like nothing more than a throwaway reference or meta joke. However, 25 years later, the sudden ejection of Flik and Heimlich from the shot feels much more poetically meaningful. Buzz Lightyear could be said to represent theToy Story franchise in the "blooper," and the fact he casts the other Pixar characters aside is potentially a strong hint thatToy Story was taking priority.
Dave Foley and Joe Ranft reprised their respective roles of Flik and Heimlich for theToy Story 2 "blooper" gag. Ranft was also a part of theToy Story 2 cast, lending his voice to Wheezy the Penguin. Woody also physically appeared in a "blooper" inA Bug's Life.
A Bug's Life Wasn't Profitable Enough To Justify A Sequel
Flik's adventures didn't make Pixar as much money as other projects
AlthoughA Bug's Life did turn a profit for Pixar, the money made by the movie paled in comparison toToy Story andToy Story 2. The firstToy Story went on to make around $400 million at the box office on a budget of roughly $30 million.A Bug's Life had a larger budget and yet went on to make around $40 million less thanToy Story.Toy Story 2 also had its budget upped, but this time to around $90 million, yet it still managed to bring in over $500 million at the box office.
From these figures, it's easy to see why Pixar never madeA Bug's Life 2. Of all thehighest-grossing Pixar movies of all time,A Bug's Life ranks near the bottom. Inversely, two of the top three movies in the same list are from theToy Story franchise, with both taking over $1 billion each at the box office. The film series will undoubtedly become even more lucrative withToy Story 5's confirmation of a 2026 release. Whileit's possibleA Bug's Life could have gone on to flourish in a similar way toToy Story, it's impossible to know.
A Bug's Life 2 Could Save Pixar's Recent Losing Streak
Most of Pixar's recent hits have been sequels
Pixar Animation Studios has had a rough time at the box office in recent years. The last two Pixar movies to not crash and burn from a financial perspective were both sequels, with 2018'sIncredibles 2 and 2019'sToy Story 4 both hitting the $1 billion mark. Despite releasing several original movies since,the last Pixar movie to flourish that wasn't a sequel was 2017'sCoco, which made over $800 million.
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Seeing as it's been so long since Pixar had a win,A Bug's Life 2 may be worth reconsidering. It's obvious from the figures that sequels are one of the main things keeping the studio afloat. Audiences want to see continuations of Pixar stories from years past and are largely disinterested in new ideas. The long wait meansA Bug's Life 2 wouldn't just attract the original fanbase likeToy Story 2 did, but possibly even their children too.
A Bug's Life and all theToy Story movies are available to stream on Disney+.
- Cast
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack,Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn,John Ratzenberger,Annie Potts,Wayne Knight, John Morris,Laurie Metcalf,Estelle Harris, R. Lee Ermey, Jodi Benson, Jonathan Harris, Joe Ranft, Andrew Stanton, Jeff Pidgeon, Jack Angel, Bob Bergen, Mary Kay Bergman, Sheryl Bernstein, Rodger Bumpass, Corey Burton
- Runtime
- 92 minutes
- Director
- John Lasseter
