Moviegoers are proving that their affection for Toy Story remains as strong as ever.
Pixar’s Toy Story 5 opened to an impressive $160 million dollars at the domestic box office, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
The debut easily set a new franchise record and marked the largest opening weekend of the year.
More than three decades after the original Toy Story premiered in theaters, the latest installment surpassed the previous franchise-best opening of $120 million dollars, achieved by Toy Story 4 in 2019. Overseas audiences also turned out in force, helping the film earn $152 million internationally and bringing its global opening-weekend total to $312 million dollars.
The Toy Story series has long been one of the crown jewels of The Walt Disney Company.
Prior to the release of Toy Story 5, the franchise had generated more than $3 billion dollars in worldwide box-office revenue, in addition to billions more from merchandise sales.
Although many fans viewed 2010’s Toy Story 3 as a fitting conclusion to the saga, Disney’s decision to continue the franchise nearly a decade later has paid off financially. Toy Story 4 crossed the $1 billion mark globally, and Toy Story 5 appears poised to achieve a similar milestone.
Among animated features, only Incredibles 2 (2018), which debuted with $182.7 million, has posted a larger opening weekend than Toy Story 5.
The success has come with a hefty price tag. Production costs for the fifth film reportedly reached $250 million, excluding marketing expenses. The movie reunites much of the franchise’s beloved voice cast, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie.
In the new adventure, the toys find themselves competing for attention after Bonnie receives a tablet, leaving them feeling sidelined. The film is directed by Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton, known for directing Finding Nemo and WALL-E. It also features a new original song by Taylor Swift titled “I Knew It, I Knew You.”
Critics have responded positively to the sequel, while audiences awarded it an “A” CinemaScore.
With strong reviews and enthusiastic fan reception, Toy Story 5 is expected to remain a major draw at theaters in the weeks ahead.
