• Official Release Date: June 19, 2026
• Production Budget: $250 million
• The Stat: A staggering $17.5 million USD pulled in across North American theaters during Thursday night preview screenings alone.
• Core Creative Team: Directed by Andrew Stanton, co-directed by Kenna Harris, and produced by Lindsey Collins.

Pixar’s Toy Story 5 officially opens in theaters today, but it’s Thursday night previews already make it a record breaker. According to The Wrap, the fifth installment earned the best Thursday preview box office total ever for a “Toy Story” film and the best for any film this year with $17.5 million grossed, making it set to earn one of the highest opening weekends ever for an animated film. Needless to say, this massive early theatrical turnout signals a powerful return to form for the beloved animation pipeline, completely outpacing early industry expectations and setting the stage for a weekend performance that could challenge recent franchise milestones.

RELATED: The Billion-Dollar Playbook: How ‘Toy Story 5’ Anchors Disney’s Massive 2026 Retail Strategy

Box Office Metrics & Projections

Securing $17.5 million on a Thursday night places this latest installment in elite company. Not only does this number eclipse standard summer blockbusters, but it also reflects the profound, multi-generational hold that the franchise maintains over audiences. Or as The Wrap notes, Toy Story 4 earned a $12 million preview total en route to a $120 million opening weekend in 2019, meaning 5 has blown by it. With $17.5 million already banked, the animated feature is pacing toward a historic domestic opening weekend. At the time of this writing, its global total sits at $43.5 million.

The Demand

As we noted earlier, Toy Story has never been just a movie franchise; it is a multi-billion dollar lifestyle brand. Launching the sequel on a hefty $250 million production budget ensures that Disney locks down prime real estate in big-box toy aisles like Target and Walmart. Plus, Disney’s marketing playbook has executed a brilliant multi-industry cross-over campaign with a brand-new original song from pop titan Taylor Swift titled “I Knew It, I Knew You.” Additionally, the film has boasted a massive presence inside Disney Parks—where attractions and character experiences have been systematically updated to reflect the new characters.

The Synopsis

Developed and written by Andrew Stanton—the filmmaker behind Finding Nemo and WALL-E—the synopsis centers on Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the gang going head-to-head with the ultimate threat to traditional playtime: smart tablets and personal electronics. As eight-year-old Bonnie loses her imagination to a new device named Lilypad (Greta Lee), the toys must fight for her attention.

Featured Photo: Disney/Pixar

While Pixar wins big with Toy Story, Disney’s history is full of massive animation swings like their 2002 space epic Treasure Planet.

RELATED: Every Returning Character Confirmed for Toy Story 5 — and the Fan Favorites Still Missing