Box office: Toy Story 5 posts $160M debut in North America

Toy Story 5 opened to $160 million in U.S. and Canada ticket sales, topping the weekend box office and registering 2026’s biggest debut to date.

The result puts Walt Disney Co.’s Pixar Animation Studios back at the front of the theatrical market as cinemas moved through a long Juneteenth holiday frame that concluded with Father’s Day on Sunday.

Record debut leads 2026 releases so far

The $160 million start is the strongest opening weekend reported in North America this year, surpassing the launch of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie from Comcast Corp.’s Universal Pictures, which had held the 2026 benchmark after its April debut.

Boxoffice Pro, an industry tracking service, had projected the film would reach at least $160 million, meaning the release arrived at the high end of expectations rather than falling short of them.

For Disney, the performance provides early momentum as studios continue leaning on recognizable brands to draw audiences to theaters. Animated franchise entries, in particular, have remained a reliable category when reviews and timing align.

Franchise high for Toy Story, near the top for Pixar

Within its own series, Toy Story 5 delivered the biggest opening weekend ever for the Toy Story brand, which began in 1995 and has become one of the longest-running animated franchises in modern film.

In Pixar’s internal record book, the debut ranks as the company’s second-largest opening weekend. Only Incredibles 2, which opened in 2018, posted a higher first-weekend gross for the studio.

The new milestone underscores how rare it is for animated sequels to expand their launch footprint decades after a franchise begins. Maintaining that kind of turnout typically depends on a combination of generational familiarity and broad appeal beyond families with young children.

Reviews, holiday timing, and soundtrack buzz add lift

The release entered theaters with strong critical notices, which can help sustain demand during premium weekend sessions and reduce the typical front-loaded drop seen after a big debut.

The calendar also worked in the film’s favor, arriving ahead of a holiday corridor that included Juneteenth and ended on Father’s Day. Longer weekends often translate into more group outings and repeat viewings for family-oriented titles.

Beyond the film itself, the soundtrack brought an extra marketing tailwind through a Taylor Swift track, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” described as a chart-topping hit. Popular music tie-ins can widen awareness, especially when the artist has an established fan base that intersects with mainstream entertainment audiences.

Early box-office leadership does not guarantee a long run, but it does position Toy Story 5 as a key revenue driver for Disney’s theatrical slate in the weeks ahead. The next indicator to watch will be how well the film holds after its opening surge, particularly as competing releases arrive later in the summer.