Toy Story 5 has achieved the biggest box office opening weekend of 2026, earning $160 million in domestic ticket sales according to studio estimates. The animated sequel also collected $152 million internationally, bringing its worldwide opening total to $312 million. The film, which cost $250 million to produce not including marketing, marks the strongest debut in the franchise’s history.
The previous franchise record belonged to Toy Story 4, which opened with $120 million in 2019. Toy Story 5 surpassed that figure by $40 million, demonstrating continued audience enthusiasm for the beloved animated series 31 years after the original Toy Story first introduced audiences to Woody and Buzz Lightyear.
Main Developments
The record-breaking opening positions Toy Story 5 as a major success for the franchise, which had already grossed more than $3 billion in ticket sales before this latest installment. Toy Story 4 went on to exceed $1 billion in ticket sales during its theatrical run in 2019.
Toy Story 5 received an A CinemaScore from audiences, indicating strong word-of-mouth potential that could sustain its theatrical performance in coming weeks. The film features the return of Tom Hanks as the voice of Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie. Andrew Stanton directed the sequel, and Taylor Swift contributed a new song titled “I Knew It, I Knew You” to the soundtrack.
Among animated films, only Incredibles 2 has achieved a larger opening weekend, earning $182.7 million when it debuted in 2018. Both films share the Pixar Animation Studios pedigree, demonstrating the studio’s ability to generate exceptional opening weekend performance.
Summer Box Office Performance
The success of Toy Story 5 contributes to a strong summer movie season. The summer box office is up 15% compared to summer 2025, and ticket sales are just 1.9% down from 2019 at the same point in the calendar.
Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, offered perspective on the current theatrical landscape. “To me, this is a hybrid summer and this could be the new blueprint for how you build the perfect summer box-office beast. 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,'” Dergarabedian said.
Other Films at the Box Office
Toy Story 5 dominated a competitive marketplace. Disclosure Day, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, and Colman Domingo, earned $17 million in its second weekend, representing a 61% drop from its opening. The film, which cost $115 million to produce, has accumulated $160.4 million globally.
Obsession continued its remarkable theatrical run, adding $14.2 million in its sixth weekend. The film has now earned $215.8 million domestically and $333.3 million globally. Made for less than $1 million, Obsession was directed by 26-year-old filmmaker Curry Barker.
New releases struggled against the Toy Story 5 juggernaut. The Death of Robin Hood, starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Michael Sarnoski, earned $2.6 million on 1,762 screens. The film had a production budget of $20 million.
Leviticus, written and directed by Adrian Chiarella, collected $2.7 million from 1,076 theaters. The film was made for $3.5 million.
What We Know So Far
The Toy Story 5 opening weekend figures are studio estimates that will be finalized with Monday reporting. The $160 million domestic debut and $312 million worldwide total represent the strongest opening in Toy Story franchise history. The film launched 31 years after the original Toy Story, which was a groundbreaking achievement in computer animation.
Director Andrew Stanton brings significant Pixar experience to the project, having previously directed Finding Nemo in 2003 and WALL-E in 2008. The film continues the stories of characters audiences have followed since the first film, including the core trio voiced by Hanks, Allen, and Cusack.
The A CinemaScore rating suggests audiences responded positively to the film, which could support strong performance in upcoming weekends as word spreads about the quality of the sequel.
What Happens Next
Final box office figures for the weekend will be reported after Monday tallies are completed. The studio estimates provide a strong indicator of the film’s performance, but official numbers may adjust slightly.
Toy Story 5 will face continued competition as the summer movie season progresses. The film’s strong audience reception, indicated by the A CinemaScore, suggests it may maintain solid performance in its second weekend and beyond.
The summer box office trajectory, currently 15% ahead of summer 2025, could continue to strengthen if Toy Story 5 maintains momentum and upcoming releases perform well.
Historical Context of the Toy Story Franchise
The Toy Story franchise has been a consistent performer for Pixar Animation Studios. Toy Story 3 was released in 2010, and Toy Story 4 followed in 2019, with the latter going on to surpass $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales.
The franchise’s combined box office gross exceeded $3 billion before Toy Story 5 opened, making it one of the most successful animated film series in history. The original Toy Story was released 31 years before the current installment, establishing a multi-generational audience that continues to support new entries in the series.
Production Details
Toy Story 5 was produced with a budget of $250 million, not including marketing costs. This represents a significant investment that the opening weekend performance appears to justify.
The film features returning voice cast members Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack in their iconic roles as Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie respectively. Andrew Stanton directed the sequel.
Taylor Swift contributed the song “I Knew It, I Knew You” to the film’s soundtrack, adding star power beyond the established voice cast.
Important Details
The $160 million domestic opening for Toy Story 5 represents a 33% increase over the previous franchise record of $120 million set by Toy Story 4 in 2019. The worldwide opening of $312 million demonstrates strong international appeal, with $152 million earned outside domestic markets.
The summer box office increase of 15% compared to summer 2025 indicates recovering theatrical attendance. The fact that summer ticket sales are just 1.9% down from 2019 levels at the same calendar point suggests the movie theater industry continues to regain ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Toy Story 5 make opening weekend?
Toy Story 5 earned $160 million domestically and $312 million worldwide in its opening weekend, according to studio estimates.
Is Toy Story 5 the biggest animated movie opening ever?
Toy Story 5 is the biggest opening in franchise history, but Incredibles 2 holds the record for largest animated film opening with $182.7 million in 2018.
Who voices the characters in Toy Story 5?
Tom Hanks voices Woody, Tim Allen voices Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack voices Jessie. The film is directed by Andrew Stanton and features a new Taylor Swift song.
How much did Toy Story 5 cost to make?
Toy Story 5 had a production budget of $250 million, not including marketing costs.
The strong opening weekend performance of Toy Story 5 establishes it as a major theatrical event and the leading film of the summer 2026 movie season. Final box office figures will be confirmed following Monday reporting.
