Disney and Pixar have a genuine hit on their hands. Toy Story 5 has taken more than $312m (£236m) at the global box office in its first three days, the strongest opening weekend in the history of the animated franchise and a much-needed shot in the arm for a studio that has endured a bumpy few years.
Released on 19 June, the fifth chapter in the Toy Story saga reunites Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear, only this time their fiercest rival is not a rival toy but a tablet computer. The premise has clearly landed with families: audiences handed the film a coveted “A” CinemaScore, and the numbers followed.
The opening split roughly $160m in North America and around $152m across international markets, according to figures reported by Variety. That makes it the second-biggest global launch of the year so far, behind only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which remains 2026’s highest-grossing release with takings north of $1bn.
For the business behind the toys, the result carries real weight. With a production budget estimated at $250m, Toy Story 5 needs to earn at least double that figure to cover marketing and distribution costs before it moves into profit. On the evidence of the opening weekend, that looks comfortably achievable.
Pixar has form here. The studio’s films have historically recouped their budgets, often several times over, with a number of titles taking three times what they cost to make and promote. Sequels in particular have been reliable earners: The Incredibles 2 and Inside Out 2 both sailed past the $1bn mark, as did the third and fourth Toy Story instalments.
The win is all the more important given the run that preceded it. Recent Pixar and Disney releases such as the alien adventure Elio and the Toy Story spin-off Lightyear underperformed sharply, while The Mandalorian and Grogu, the studio’s latest big-budget Star Wars outing, has yet to double its $165m cost. A franchise-best opening helps steady the ship, and it follows a wider recovery for Disney’s UK business as its theatrical and streaming arms have found firmer footing.
The result lands against a challenging industry picture. Overall box office revenues have fallen since the Covid-19 pandemic, as studios have struggled to coax audiences back into cinemas and viewing habits have shifted towards streaming platforms. The pressure has been felt most acutely by big-budget blockbusters, many of which have stumbled despite heavy marketing spend, and the squeeze on household budgets has prompted some viewers to trim their streaming subscriptions altogether.
Against that backdrop, a tentpole release that overperforms is exactly the kind of result distributors and exhibitors have been waiting for, much as the trade is hoping a strong summer slate, including Apple’s heavily promoted F1 motor-racing feature, can keep momentum going.
Toy Story remains one of Pixar’s most lucrative properties, having generated more than $3bn at the global box office since Woody and Buzz first arrived on screen in 1995. The original film, set in a world where toys spring to life when no one is watching, transformed the use of computer-generated imagery and propelled Pixar into the front rank of animation studios.
This latest opening, which Deadline had flagged as a likely franchise and year-to-date record before release, suggests the appetite for the series has not dimmed. After a difficult stretch, Disney and Pixar will hope it marks the moment the magic came back.