New York (AP) – The latest installment in the beloved Pixar series, “Toy Story 5,” has made a significant impact on moviegoers. The film opened with a remarkable $160 million in domestic ticket sales, setting a new franchise record and achieving the biggest opening weekend of the year, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
Launching 31 years after the original “Toy Story” premiered, “Toy Story 5” exceeded the prior series-best debut of $120 million by “Toy Story 4” in 2019. The film also found success internationally, generating $152 million, culminating in a worldwide total of $312 million.
The “Toy Story” franchise, a staple for The Walt Disney Co., has historically been profitable. Prior to “Toy Story 5,” the series had collectively grossed over $3 billion. The films also brought in billions through merchandising.
The decision to revive the series after seemingly concluding with “Toy Story 3” in 2010 proved financially rewarding. Though controversial, it led to “Toy Story 4” surpassing $1 billion in ticket sales. “Toy Story 5” is poised to replicate this success.
Among animated films, only 2018’s “Incredibles 2” outperformed “Toy Story 5” on its opening weekend, with $182.7 million.
Production Costs
Continuing the “Toy Story” legacy has become more costly. The fifth movie required a budget of $250 million, excluding marketing expenses. It features a stellar voice cast with Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie.
In this sequel, Bonnie’s new tablet sidelines the toys. Directed by Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton (known for “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E”), the film includes a fresh song by Taylor Swift, titled “I Knew It, I Knew You.”
Critics have responded positively, and audiences awarded “Toy Story 5” an “A” CinemaScore, indicating that the film may continue its strong box office performance in the upcoming weeks.
Competition at the Box Office
Following its dominating debut, Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” moved to second place with $17 million in its second weekend. Despite hopes for stronger results from Universal Pictures, the film saw a 61% drop from its debut weekend. With a $115 million production cost, “Disclosure Day” has earned $160.4 million globally in two weeks. It appears likely to remain the primary choice for adult-oriented viewers.
“Toy Story 5” faced little competition from new releases. A24’s “The Death of Robin Hood,” with Hugh Jackman in the lead role, struggled with $2.6 million across 1,762 screens. Receiving mixed reviews, the film, directed by Michael Sarnoski and modestly budgeted at $20 million, earned a “C+” CinemaScore.
Neon’s “Leviticus” secured just above “The Death of Robin Hood” with $2.7 million from 1,076 theaters. Written and directed by Adrian Chiarella, this indie horror film had a budget of $3.5 million and benefited from strong word-of-mouth. Nevertheless, it faced stiff competition from the continuing success of horror films “Obsession” and “Backrooms.”
The standout horror film remained “Obsession,” produced by Curry Barker. In its sixth weekend, it nearly matched its $17 million opening from mid-May. Less than $1 million was spent producing the Focus Features release, which added $14.2 million, bringing its domestic total to $215.8 million and its global earnings to $333.3 million.
With “Toy Story 5” and “Obsession” driving sales, the summer box office has improved by 15% compared to the 2025 summer, as reported by Rentrak. Furthermore, summer ticket sales are close to the figures from 2019, not taking inflation into account. Only a 1.9% decline from that year has been registered.
Paul Dergarabedian, Rentrak’s head of marketplace trends, projects Hollywood’s best summer since the pandemic. He notes the success is rooted in both traditional and non-traditional sources. According to Dergarabedian, “The eclectic mix of films this summer could serve as a new model for creating blockbuster seasons.”
Top 10 Movies by Domestic Box Office
As final domestic figures are released on Monday, here are the estimated sales from Friday to Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak:
- 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.