Pixar Chief Reflects on Original Film Challenges Amid Elio's Box Office Struggles

Pixar veteran Pete Docter addressed the difficulties of launching new films and franchises, as the studio's latest release, Elio, faces a tough box office run.

Emphasizing the need to anticipate audience desires, Docter noted that simply producing familiar content leads to repetitive sequels.

"We’d end up with Toy Story 27," Docter remarked at Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Summit, just before the debut of Pixar’s newest film.

In the U.S., Elio grossed just $20.8 million during its opening weekend, marking Pixar’s lowest debut ever, competing against new releases like 28 Years Later and the live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake.

Globally, Elio has earned $14 million, totaling $34.8 million worldwide—well below its $150 million budget, excluding marketing expenses.

"It’s a tough period, and we focus on creating films we believe in," Docter said. "The effort is the same whether a movie profits or not. Success often comes down to finding the right mix of elements, which isn’t always predictable."

Despite positive critical reception, Elio hasn’t captured the audience enthusiasm Pixar anticipated, unlike their previous hit, Inside Out 2, which exceeded expectations and became Disney’s highest-grossing film with $1.69 billion.

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Beyond individual film performance, broader trends like lingering post-Covid audience caution and expectations for quick streaming availability are impacting results.

To balance risks, Docter explained that Pixar alternates between original films and sequels to proven hits. Accordingly, 2026 will feature Toy Story 5, extending a franchise many considered concluded with Toy Story 3, especially after the underperforming Lightyear spin-off.

Moving forward, Pixar’s lineup reflects Docter’s strategy: blending fresh concepts with sequels. Alongside Toy Story 5, 2026 introduces Hoppers, a human-animal body-swap comedy, followed by the cat-themed Gatto in 2027, Incredibles 3 in 2028, and Coco 2 in 2029.