Summary

Pixar's original movies are struggling at the box office, putting pressure on Toy Story 5 to save the studio.
Toy Story 5 is a pivotal release for Pixar, relying on beloved characters to guarantee financial success.
Pixar is banking on legacy characters like Woody and Buzz to offset potential box office failures and sustain the studio.

Pixar might have produced some of the greatest animated movies of all time, such as Up and The Incredibles, but that doesn't guarantee success for life. That's something that has become clear in recent years, which is placing growing pressure on the upcoming release of Toy Story 5.

While Pixar has many brilliant legacy characters and franchises that are guaranteed to succeed, that doesn't mean that every release will entertain people. After another box office flop, Toy Story 5 will have an important role in getting Pixar back on track in 2026, potentially saving the studio from another disastrous year.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

Elio Has Failed To Meet Pixar's Expectations

Pixar's Latest Original Movie Has Been A Box Office Flop

Pixar has enjoyed a lot of success over the years in terms of box office results and critical acclaim, managing to provide movies that the general public loves. However, in recent years, the iconic animation studio has started to struggle, particularly when it comes to its original stories. The Good Dinosaur lost the studio an estimated $85 million, while Elemental provided a dreadful $29.6 million opening weekend in North America until strong word of mouth saved it. However, things have gone from bad to worse with their latest movie, Elio. That's because Elio has ended up delivering the worst box office debut in Pixar history, grossing just $35 million worldwide, which is a concerning situation. The downward trajectory of Pixar's original content is worrisome, though, as the studio cannot be sustained on sequels alone.

It Is Toy Story 5 To The Rescue For Pixar's Future

Woody And The Gang Need To Prove Pixar Can Still Deliver At The Box Office

Pixar's latest failure is where Toy Story 5 steps in to save the day. The newest installment into the classic franchise will be released on June 19, 2026, and already has a worldwide audience built in. There's little Pixar needs to do to get people interested in this movie aside from ensuring it isn't a complete disaster. Toy Story is the movie that started it all for Pixar and truly changed the game for animated movies on the whole, but the franchise has gone from strength to strength ever since. So far, the four films have grossed a combined $3.3 billion at the box office; therefore, it's no surprise that Pixar is returning to these characters.

Toy Story 5 is as close to a guaranteed hit as anyone will find in cinema, regardless of genre, as the franchise is simply that popular. That's why Pixar continues to create stories based on Woody and Buzz Lightyear; they know that people of all ages will be interested in seeing what the gang gets up to next. Toy Story 5 is set to put the toys up against technology for the first time, an interesting concept with a lot of potential. Pixar's creative team will likely create another great story from this unique world, proving that Toy Story always delivers. However, the higher-ups at Pixar will keep their fingers crossed because another box office flop is something the studio can ill afford.

Pixar Is Relying On Legacy Characters To Save Them

A New Strategy Has Been created Specifically For This Problem

Pixar is evidently relying on its legacy characters and built-in intellectual properties to save them from any potential box office disasters, which has been the case for a while now. Finding Dory and Monsters University are examples of this, and that's a trend that is continuing to move forward. Toy Story 5 will be released next year, while The Incredibles 3 isn't far behind it, and there's an expectation that Inside Out 3 will eventually be created as well. This aligns with the new strategy that Pixar has created, where they intend to release one sequel after every original release to offset any potential box office failure. That in itself is a troubling strategy, as it's not something that can be sustained in the long term without any original movies taking off to help create new stories for the future.

Pixar has always been innovative, bringing specific ideas to life that once seemed utterly impossible. Whether it's a house taking flight via balloons or a talking rat becoming a chef, Pixar has always been able to take the seemingly impossible and turn it into something special. However, it appears that the creative well might be running dry, at least in terms of ideas that will lead to financial success. Therefore, the classic characters will have to return for another outing with movies that audiences are excited and apprehensive about in equal measure, as they pray that each release isn't the one that destroys the franchise. That's certainly the case for Toy Story 5, with Pixar being under pressure to maintain the same quality level while providing a box office sensation that will prove the studio is still on top of the animated world.

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