NEW YORK – “Toy Story” still has a friend in moviegoers.
The fifth installment in the beloved Pixar series, “Toy Story 5,” has made a splash at the box office, debuting with a staggering $160 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates released on Sunday. This remarkable figure not only sets a new franchise record but also marks the biggest opening weekend of the year.
Launched 31 years after the original “Toy Story” first hit theaters, “Toy Story 5” far exceeded the previous record set by “Toy Story 4,” which opened with $120 million in 2019. On the international front, it was equally successful, raking in $152 million in its opening weekend, leading to a worldwide total of $312 million.
The “Toy Story” franchise stands as one of the most lucrative for The Walt Disney Company. Before the release of “Toy Story 5,” the films had collectively grossed over $3 billion, not to mention the additional billions generated from merchandise sales.
While many thought the series had reached a satisfying conclusion with 2010’s “Toy Story 3,” reviving the franchise nearly a decade later has proven to be a smart and lucrative move. “Toy Story 4” surpassed the $1 billion mark at the box office, and it seems likely that “Toy Story 5” will follow suit.
In the realm of animated films, only 2018’s “Incredibles 2” had a bigger opening weekend, with $182.7 million, compared to “Toy Story 5.”
However, keeping the “Toy Story” franchise alive has come at a higher cost. The production of the fifth movie set Disney back $250 million, excluding marketing expenses. The voice cast returns with fan-favorites Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), and Joan Cusack (Jessie).
In this sequel, the toys find themselves pushed aside when Bonnie, their owner, gets a new tablet. Directed by Andrew Stanton, a Pixar veteran known for classics like “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E,” “Toy Story 5” also features a new song by Taylor Swift titled “I Knew It, I Knew You.”
Critics have responded positively to the film, and audiences gave “Toy Story 5” an “A” on CinemaScore, suggesting it will continue to perform well in theaters for weeks to come.
Following its impressive debut, Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” dropped to second place, earning $17 million in its second weekend. This 61% decline from its opening weekend indicates that Universal Pictures may be concerned about its potential for sustained success this summer.
Despite this, “Disclosure Day,” which has a budget of $115 million and stars Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor, has grossed $160.4 million globally in just two weeks. It is likely to remain a leading option for adult audiences in the upcoming weeks.
“Toy Story 5” faced minimal competition from new releases. One such competitor, A24’s “The Death of Robin Hood,” a violent reimagining of the classic tale, opened weakly with just $2.6 million across 1,762 screens. Despite a modest budget of $20 million and a star-studded cast, the film received mixed reviews, leading to a lackluster audience turnout.
Neon’s “Leviticus” performed slightly better, grossing $2.7 million from 1,076 theaters. Written and directed by Adrian Chiarella, this low-budget horror film has garnered attention for its unique premise involving two teen boys at a conversion therapy camp. However, it contended with strong competition from successful horror films like “Obsession” and “Backrooms.”
Continuing to dominate the box office, “Obsession,” a microbudget horror film by 26-year-old Curry Barker, added $14.2 million in its sixth weekend. With a domestic total of $215.8 million and a global haul of $333.3 million, it has proven to be a remarkable success.
Thanks to the successes of “Toy Story 5” and “Obsession,” the summer box office is up 15% compared to 2025, and ticket sales are nearly on par with the pre-pandemic summer of 2019. According to Rentrak, summer ticket sales are down just 1.9% compared to that year.
Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, predicts that Hollywood is gearing up for its strongest summer since before the pandemic. He notes that this success is coming from both expected blockbusters and surprising indie hits.
“This is a hybrid summer, and it could serve as the new blueprint for building the perfect summer box office,” Dergarabedian stated. “A mix of eclectic films, not just the usual big franchise hits, is key.”
