‘Toy Story 5’ Shines in Record-Breaking Opening Weekend

The release of ‘Toy Story 5’ marked a successful return to theaters for the beloved Pixar series. The film opened to a domestic box office of $160 million, setting a new franchise record and securing the highest opening weekend of the year. This achievement surpasses the previous record set by ‘Toy Story 4’ in 2019, which debuted with $120 million.

Internationally, ‘Toy Story 5’ also performed well, bringing in $152 million in its opening weekend. This resulted in a total worldwide take of $312 million. The ‘Toy Story’ series remains a highly profitable venture for The Walt Disney Co., with the films collectively earning over $3 billion before the release of the fifth installment. Merchandising further boosts the franchise’s profitability.

The decision to extend the franchise after ‘Toy Story 3’ in 2010 proved controversial but financially rewarding. ‘Toy Story 4’ grossed over $1 billion in ticket sales, and ‘Toy Story 5’ is likely to achieve the same milestone. Among animated films, only ‘Incredibles 2’ in 2018 had a larger opening weekend with $182.7 million.

Despite its success, ‘Toy Story 5’ was costly to produce. The film’s production budget was $250 million, excluding marketing expenses. The movie features a voice cast including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie. Directed by Andrew Stanton, known for ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘WALL-E,’ the movie explores the toys’ struggles as Bonnie receives a new tablet. Additionally, the sequel includes a new song by Taylor Swift titled ‘I Knew It, I Knew You.’

Critical reception has been positive, with ‘Toy Story 5’ earning an ‘A’ CinemaScore, indicating strong audience approval that may keep it in theaters for an extended period.

The summer box office has seen a 15% increase compared to 2025, largely driven by ‘Toy Story 5’ and other popular films like ‘Obsession.’ Ticket sales are nearly matching 2019 levels, reflecting a recovering cinema industry.

Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak notes the successful mix of franchise movies and original films in this summer’s box office, suggesting a promising outlook for Hollywood. The diverse offerings could shape future box-office strategies.

Top 10 Movies by Domestic Box Office

1. ‘Toy Story 5,’ $160 million
2. ‘Disclosure Day,’ $17 million
3. ‘Obsession,’ $14.2 million
4. ‘Backrooms,’ $7.3 million
5. ‘Scary Movie,’ $6.7 million
6. ‘Masters of the Universe,’ $5.6 million
7. ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,’ $3.9 million
8. ‘Leviticus,’ $2.7 million
9. ‘The Death of Robin Hood,’ $2.6 million
10. ‘Michael,’ $2.2 million