Toy Story 5 roars to a record $312m global opening — the biggest debut of 2026
Pixar's long-awaited fifth instalment took an estimated $160m in North America and $312m worldwide, the franchise's strongest-ever launch and the year's biggest opening so far.
Sophie Bennett
Writer ·
Pixar has proved the enduring pull of its most beloved franchise, with Toy Story 5 opening to an estimated $160m in North America and $312m worldwide, according to studio estimates reported by the Associated Press. It is the biggest film debut of 2026 so far and the strongest opening in the Toy Story series.
Arriving 31 years after the original reinvented family animation, the sequel reunites Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of Bonnie's toys for a story built around a thoroughly modern anxiety: the battle for a child's attention in an age of screens.
A record-breaking debut
The worldwide haul gives Disney and Pixar their most lucrative launch of the year and the highest opening the franchise has recorded, comfortably clearing the previous instalment. Directed by Andrew Stanton, the film landed an A CinemaScore from opening-night audiences and warm reviews — a combination that historically points to strong word of mouth and durable midweek and weekend holds.
Why it is connecting
Pixar leaned into nostalgia while giving the story a contemporary hook, pitting old-fashioned playtime against a slick new piece of technology that muscles its way into Bonnie's room. That framing has given long-standing characters a fresh emotional problem to solve, broadening the film's appeal beyond the children who grew up with the originals to a new generation of family audiences.
- Estimated $160m opening in North America
- $312m worldwide debut
- Biggest opening in Toy Story history
- A CinemaScore and strong critical reviews
What it means for the summer
A debut of this scale resets expectations for the 2026 summer box office, handing cinemas a much-needed tentpole and reaffirming the commercial firepower of established family brands. With school holidays approaching across key markets, exhibitors will be hoping the film's strong reception translates into the kind of long, steady run that has defined the franchise's biggest earners.
Referenced coverage: Our reporting and analysis draws on coverage first reported by Associated Press. The NE Times publishes original reporting and independent analysis written by our editorial team. We credit and link the outlets whose primary reporting informed this article.
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