For years, many moviegoers viewed “Toy Story 3” as a fitting conclusion to Pixar’s beloved franchise, while “Toy Story 4” was often seen as an undesired epilogue. Yet the early performance of “Toy Story 5” suggests there is still significant demand for more adventures featuring Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang.
According to Deadline, the film has already generated $129.3 million worldwide and is now expected to outperform its initial global opening forecast of $275 million.
‘Toy Story 5’ Is Delivering One of Pixar’s Strongest Starts
The fifth installment is off to a particularly impressive start in North America, where it collected $71 million on Friday alone. That figure ranks as the second-biggest Friday ever for an animated feature, trailing only “Incredibles 2.” As a result, projections for the domestic opening weekend have climbed considerably, with current estimates ranging between $160 million and $170 million after earlier forecasts hovered closer to $140 million.
Internationally, the picture is proving equally resilient. After expanding into additional territories including the United Kingdom and China, “Toy Story 5” reached 48 markets worldwide. The United Kingdom delivered a $5.5 million opening day, setting a new opening-day benchmark for a Pixar release in the market, while China contributed $7.4 million and secured a leading position at the local box office.
Several major territories have embraced the sequel. Mexico led the way with $11.4 million, while France, Spain, Australia, Brazil, and Italy all posted strong openings. In Argentina, the film recorded one of the country’s best opening days of 2026 and quickly reached a $2 million running total. South Korea also debuted at No. 1 and captured half of the market share on opening day.
The strong results arrive despite years of discussion surrounding the franchise’s future. “Toy Story 5,” directed by Andrew Stanton, takes place two years after the events of “Toy Story 4” and centers on Jessie, Woody, and Buzz as they confront a new challenge in Bonnie’s life: a tablet named Lilypad that becomes her favorite source of entertainment. The story explores the growing role of technology in children’s lives and the struggle of traditional toys to remain relevant in a screen-focused world.
While it remains far from Pixar’s all-time opening record, currently held by “Inside Out 2,” the latest numbers indicate that “Toy Story 5” is positioned for a significantly larger debut than many analysts initially expected. For a franchise that has repeatedly been declared complete, the latest box office figures suggest audiences may not be ready to say goodbye just yet.
