Pixar needed a win. After a string of original films that struggled to find their theatrical footing in a post-pandemic landscape, the studio brought back Woody and Buzz, and audiences showed up in numbers that no one was fully prepared for. Toy Story 5 is the biggest animated opening since The Incredibles 2 in 2018, and in its second weekend it is holding dominance against two fresh wide releases.
The Opening Weekend Numbers
Toy Story 5 launched to $160 million domestically in its opening weekend - the biggest opening of 2026 so far and the second-best opening ever for an animated film in North America, trailing only Incredibles 2's $183.6 million from 2018. Internationally, the film added $152 million for a global debut of $312 million.
For context, Toy Story 4 - which was itself considered a strong performer - opened to $120.9 million in 2019. Toy Story 5 has already surpassed that number in its domestic opening weekend alone. Audiences gave the film an A CinemaScore, and it holds a 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling exceptional word of mouth that should sustain strong numbers through the summer.
What the Film Is About
Toy Story 5 is directed by Andrew Stanton, a Pixar veteran whose credits include Finding Nemo and Wall-E. The film reunites Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of Bonnie's toy collection for a new story built around a genuinely modern anxiety: Bonnie has become increasingly attached to her Lilypad, a kiddie smart tablet that is pulling her attention away from her toys.
The setup positions technology and childhood imagination in direct conflict - a theme that lands differently depending on how old you are when you watch it. For kids, it is a story about a toy feeling left behind. For the parents in the audience who grew up with the original trilogy, it carries a pointed and slightly uncomfortable reflection on what screens have done to the ways children play.
Whether the film earns its emotional payoff in the same way the original trilogy did is a matter of some debate among critics, but the broad consensus is that Stanton's direction brings Pixar's craft to bear on a story that has real things to say.
Second Weekend Projections
Toy Story 5 is projected to earn $80 million to $90 million in its second weekend - a hold that would be remarkable even by strong film standards. That number comes despite the film facing two significant new wide releases: Supergirl and Jackass: Best and Last, both opening today.
Supergirl is projected at $47-50 million domestically. Jackass: Best and Last is expected to land around $20-25 million. Neither threatens Toy Story 5 in terms of head-to-head competition - the film is playing to a different audience with a level of goodwill that opening weekend releases rarely carry into their second weekends at this scale.
If the $80-90 million second weekend projection holds, Toy Story 5 will have crossed $250 million domestically in two weekends, putting it firmly on a trajectory toward the franchise's best domestic run ever.
Why This Matters for Pixar
The studio's original films have had a rough few years commercially. Lightyear, Elemental, and Turning Red all underperformed theatrically for various reasons - a mix of pandemic-era streaming releases that conditioned audiences to expect Pixar on Disney+ and a string of films that, despite often receiving solid critical reception, did not generate the kind of theatrical urgency that the IP sequels reliably produce.
Toy Story 5 arriving with a $160 million opening sends a clear message about what Pixar's theatrical ceiling still is when it brings back its most beloved franchise. It also raises the now-familiar question of how much runway original Pixar films have in a market that increasingly rewards recognizable IP above everything else.
The Franchise Record Context
Toy Story 5's opening pushes the franchise into new territory across every meaningful metric:
- Biggest domestic opening in the Toy Story franchise, surpassing Toy Story 4's $120.9M
- Biggest global opening in the franchise
- Second-best animated opening ever in North America
- 93% on Rotten Tomatoes - on par with Toy Story (100%), Toy Story 2 (100%), and Toy Story 3 (98%), and above Toy Story 4 (97%)
Strong critical scores for animated sequels tend to correlate with very long theatrical runs, driven by repeat viewings from families and word-of-mouth that sustains admissions through the summer.
Is It as Good as Toy Story 3?
Every Toy Story sequel since Toy Story 3 has faced the same unanswerable critical question, and Toy Story 5 is not immune to it. Toy Story 3 is widely considered one of the most emotionally complete animated films ever made and one of the best trilogy-cappers in cinema. Toy Story 4 took the franchise to a different emotional place and divided longtime fans who felt the trilogy had its ending.
Toy Story 5 is not trying to be Toy Story 3. From what critics describe, it is making a more specific argument about technology and childhood rather than reaching for the same generational catharsis that the third film provided. What is not in question is that audiences are responding. $160 million in a single weekend does not happen by accident.
Conclusion
Toy Story 5 is a certified hit and one of Pixar's biggest moments in years. Whatever the long-term critical conversation looks like once the dust settles, the film has already done something significant: it reminded audiences that a Pixar theatrical event is still worth leaving the house for. That is not nothing in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Toy Story 5 make opening weekend?
$160 million domestically, $312 million worldwide. The second-biggest animated opening ever in North America.
What is Toy Story 5 about?
Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Bonnie's toys face a new challenge when Bonnie becomes increasingly attached to a smart tablet called a Lilypad, pulling her away from her toys.
Who directed Toy Story 5?
Andrew Stanton, director of Finding Nemo and Wall-E.
What is Toy Story 5's Rotten Tomatoes score?
93% as of its opening weekend.
How does Toy Story 5 compare to the other Toy Story films?
It is the highest-grossing domestic opening in the franchise's history, surpassing Toy Story 4. It holds a critics score on par with Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.
Is Toy Story 5 on Disney+?
As of opening weekend, Toy Story 5 is a theatrical-only release. No Disney+ date has been announced.
Have you seen Toy Story 5 yet? Is it up there with the original trilogy for you? Tell us what you thought in the comments.