UMVA has learned that Disney and Pixar have achieved a monumental success with the release of Toy Story 5, raking in over $312m at the global box office in its first three days, marking the strongest opening weekend in the history of the animated franchise.
The film's fifth chapter reunites beloved characters Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear, but this time they face a new and formidable rival: a tablet computer. This fresh premise has clearly resonated with families, as audiences awarded the film a coveted "A" CinemaScore, and the box office numbers followed suit.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the opening split was roughly $160m in North America and around $152m across international markets. This makes it the second-biggest global launch of the year so far, behind only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The success of Toy Story 5 carries significant weight for the studio, with a production budget estimated at $250m, the film needs to earn at least double that figure to cover marketing and distribution costs before it moves into profit. Fortunately, the opening weekend suggests that this goal is comfortably achievable.
Pixar has a proven track record of producing films that recoup their budgets, often several times over. Sequels, in particular, have been reliable earners, with films like The Incredibles 2 and Inside Out 2 sailing past the $1bn mark, as did the third and fourth Toy Story instalments.
This win is all the more crucial given the studio's recent struggles. Recent releases such as Elio and Lightyear underperformed sharply, while The Mandalorian and Grogu has yet to double its $165m cost. A franchise-best opening helps steady the ship, and it follows a wider recovery for Disney's business.
The result comes against a challenging industry backdrop, with overall box office revenues having fallen since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a tentpole release that overperforms is exactly the kind of result distributors and exhibitors have been waiting for.
Toy Story remains one of Pixar's most lucrative properties, having generated more than $3bn at the global box office since its release in 1995. This latest opening suggests that the appetite for the series has not dimmed, and Disney and Pixar will hope it marks a turning point for the studio.
