Incredibles 2

Fourteen years after The Incredibles, Brad Bird returns to direct this sequel that shifts the family dynamic. Helen Parr, voiced by Holly Hunter, takes center stage as Elastigirl, recruited by tech mogul Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) for a public relations campaign to legalize superheroes. Bob, played by Craig T. Nelson, stays home to manage Violet's teenage troubles, Dash's hyperactivity, and baby Jack-Jack's emerging powers. The film cost $200 million and grossed over $1.24 billion worldwide, making it Pixar's highest-grossing release at the time. Michael Giacchino's brassy score and the animation team's work on Jack-Jack's 15 distinct powers highlight the technical achievement. New characters include Evelyn Deavor (Catherine Keener), the brilliant sister who designs Elastigirl's gadgets, and the villainous Screenslaver, who hypnotizes people through screens.

The story picks up immediately after the first film, with the Parr family still banned from using their powers. The Underminer's attack leaves them in legal trouble, prompting the Deavors' intervention. Elastigirl's missions are filmed and broadcast to sway public opinion, while Bob discovers that domestic life is more challenging than fighting crime. The film balances action with commentary on media manipulation, parenting, and gender roles. Bird co-wrote the script with contributions from Sanjay Patel, Brian Kalin O'Connell, Dean Kelly, and Peter Sohn. The voice cast also includes Samuel L. Jackson as Frozone, Sophia Bush as the fan-hero Voyd, and Brad Bird reprising Edna Mode.[edit]

The Parr family, still living under the Superhero Relocation Program, attempts to stop the Underminer from robbing a bank. Their efforts cause significant property damage, and they are sued, losing their government protection. Winston Deavor, a wealthy fan of Elastigirl, proposes a plan to legalize superheroes through a public relations campaign. He selects Helen to be the face of the initiative, believing her compassionate approach will win over skeptics. Bob supports the idea, eager to be a stay-at-home dad, but struggles to manage the household.

Helen, as Elastigirl, begins a series of high-profile rescues, each broadcast live. She stops a runaway train, foils a hijacking, and captures criminals, gradually improving public perception. Meanwhile, Bob faces chaos at home: Violet is embarrassed by her father's attempts to help with her crush on Tony Rydinger; Dash's energy leads to property damage; and Jack-Jack's powers manifest unpredictably, including teleportation, laser vision, and multiplication. Edna Mode designs a special suit to help contain Jack-Jack's abilities, but Bob's parenting efforts remain comically unsuccessful.

A new villain, the Screenslaver, begins hypnotizing people through television screens, using them to commit crimes. During a stunt at a gala, the Screenslaver hypnotizes Elastigirl, forcing her to attack Winston. She breaks free but is shaken. Winston and Evelyn reveal that the Screenslaver is targeting the campaign. Helen investigates and discovers that the Screenslaver is using pizza delivery drivers as unwitting pawns. She tracks down a signal source and encounters the villain, who escapes. The Screenslaver's true identity remains a mystery, but the attacks escalate, threatening to undo all the progress made.

Bob, feeling useless at home, decides to help by using his old connections. He discovers that the Screenslaver's technology is linked to a company owned by the Deavors. Suspicious, he investigates but is captured. Helen realizes that the Screenslaver is Evelyn Deavor, who blames superheroes for her father's death years earlier. Evelyn reveals her plan to use a hypnotic broadcast to control all superheroes and turn them against the public, permanently outlawing them. The Parr family must unite to stop her, with Jack-Jack's unpredictable powers proving key to breaking the hypnosis.[edit]