‘Toy Story 5’ Smashes Box Office Records With $160 Million Opening Weekend/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ “Toy Story 5” opened with a franchise-record $160 million domestic debut. The Pixar sequel earned $312 million globally during its first weekend in theaters. The blockbuster now holds the biggest opening weekend of any movie released in 2026.
Toy Story 5 Box Office Success Quick Looks
- “Toy Story 5” earned $160 million domestically in its opening weekend.
- Global opening weekend revenue reached $312 million.
- The film set a new franchise record, surpassing “Toy Story 4.”
- Pixar’s latest sequel cost approximately $250 million to produce.
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack returned to voice their iconic characters.
- Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” finished second with $17 million.
- Horror hit “Obsession” continued its remarkable box office run.
- Summer box office revenue is tracking near pre-pandemic levels.
Deep Look
Toy Story 5 Delivers Biggest Opening Weekend of the Year
More than three decades after Woody and Buzz Lightyear first captured audiences’ imaginations, Pixar’s beloved franchise has once again proven its staying power.
“Toy Story 5″ stormed into theaters with an impressive $160 million domestic debut, according to studio estimates, becoming the biggest opening weekend of 2026 and setting a new franchise record in the process.
The latest installment significantly surpassed the previous franchise-best launch of $120 million set by “Toy Story 4” in 2019.
The success extended well beyond North America. International audiences contributed an additional $152 million, pushing the film’s worldwide opening weekend total to a remarkable $312 million.
The massive debut reinforces the enduring popularity of one of Disney and Pixar’s most valuable entertainment properties.
A Franchise That Keeps Growing
The “Toy Story” series remains among the most successful film franchises in animation history.
Before the release of “Toy Story 5,” the four previous films had generated more than $3 billion at the global box office. Beyond ticket sales, the franchise has generated billions more through merchandise, theme park attractions, licensing agreements and consumer products.
Many fans believed the story had reached its emotional conclusion with 2010’s “Toy Story 3.” However, Disney and Pixar revived the series nearly a decade later with “Toy Story 4,” a decision that initially generated debate among audiences but ultimately proved highly profitable.
That fourth installment surpassed $1 billion globally, and industry analysts expect “Toy Story 5” to achieve a similar milestone given its strong opening performance and positive audience reaction.
Among animated films, only the 2018 Pixar blockbuster “Incredibles 2” opened higher, earning $182.7 million during its debut weekend.
Familiar Voices Return
The newest chapter reunites much of the franchise’s iconic cast.
Tom Hanks returns as Woody, Tim Allen reprises his role as Buzz Lightyear and Joan Cusack once again voices Jessie.
The story follows the toys as they struggle to remain relevant when Bonnie becomes increasingly attached to a new tablet device, introducing a modern challenge that reflects changing childhood habits.
The film is directed by Andrew Stanton, one of Pixar’s most respected filmmakers and the creative force behind acclaimed classics such as “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E.”
Adding to the film’s appeal is a brand-new original song from Taylor Swift titled “I Knew It, I Knew You,” which has generated significant attention among both moviegoers and music fans.
Expensive But Profitable
Keeping the “Toy Story” franchise alive has not come cheaply.
Production costs for “Toy Story 5” reportedly reached $250 million, excluding the substantial global marketing campaign that accompanied the release.
However, with more than $312 million already generated worldwide during its opening weekend, the film appears well positioned to recoup its investment quickly.
Strong reviews and enthusiastic audience reactions have further boosted confidence in the film’s long-term prospects.
Moviegoers awarded the sequel an “A” CinemaScore, a strong indicator of positive word-of-mouth and repeat business.
With schools out for summer and family audiences driving attendance, industry analysts expect “Toy Story 5” to remain a dominant force at the box office for weeks.
Disclosure Day Falls in Second Weekend
While “Toy Story 5” dominated headlines, Steven Spielberg’s science-fiction thriller “Disclosure Day” slipped to second place.
The Universal Pictures release earned $17 million during its second weekend in theaters.
Although the film has now grossed $160.4 million worldwide, its 61% decline from opening weekend raised concerns about its staying power.
Starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor and Colman Domingo, the film carries a reported production budget of $115 million.
Despite the drop, “Disclosure Day” remains one of the strongest adult-oriented releases currently playing in theaters and could continue attracting audiences through the remainder of the summer.
Mixed Results for New Releases
Several newcomers attempted to challenge Pixar’s dominance but struggled to gain traction.
A24’s “The Death of Robin Hood,” starring Hugh Jackman, debuted with just $2.6 million from 1,762 locations. Despite a modest $20 million budget, mixed critical reviews and lukewarm audience reactions limited its appeal.
The film received a disappointing “C+” CinemaScore.
Neon’s independent horror release “Leviticus” performed slightly better, earning $2.7 million from 1,076 theaters.
Written and directed by Adrian Chiarella, the low-budget thriller centers on two teenage boys who meet at a conversion therapy program.
Produced for only $3.5 million, the film’s opening is considered a respectable start, especially given strong competition within the horror genre.
Obsession Continues Stunning Run
One of the summer’s biggest surprises remains “Obsession.”
The microbudget horror sensation from filmmaker Curry Barker added another $14.2 million during its sixth weekend, nearly matching its original opening weekend earnings.
Produced for less than $1 million, the Focus Features release has become one of the most profitable films of the year.
Its domestic total now stands at $215.8 million, while worldwide earnings have reached an impressive $333.3 million.
The continued success of “Obsession” highlights the growing power of original genre filmmaking alongside major studio franchises.
Summer Box Office Nears Pre-Pandemic Levels
The strong performances of both “Toy Story 5” and “Obsession” are helping fuel one of the healthiest summer movie seasons in years.
According to Rentrak, summer box office revenue is currently running 15% ahead of the same period in 2025.
Even more notably, overall ticket sales are approaching levels last seen before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted theatrical exhibition.
Current summer revenues are only 1.9% below comparable figures from 2019, widely considered one of the strongest years in modern box office history.
Industry experts see the momentum as evidence that moviegoing continues to rebound.
“To me, this is a hybrid summer and this could be the new blueprint for how you build the perfect summer box-office beast,” says Dergarabedian. “You throw in a mix of very eclectic films and not just the usual suspects — the big franchise films, the known brands — but also films like ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ and original films like ‘Disclosure Day.’”
Top 10 Movies at the Domestic Box Office
- Toy Story 5 — $160 million
- Disclosure Day — $17 million
- Obsession — $14.2 million
- Backrooms — $7.3 million
- Scary Movie — $6.7 million
- Masters of the Universe — $5.6 million
- Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu — $3.9 million
- Leviticus — $2.7 million
- The Death of Robin Hood — $2.6 million
- Michael — $2.2 million
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