Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office, becoming the third film released in 2026 to reach the milestone. The animated sequel has earned $1.022 billion globally, including $448 million domestically and $573 million from international markets, joining The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael in this year’s exclusive billion-dollar club.
The list is expected to grow in the coming months. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has already amassed $639.6 million worldwide after just two weekends in theatres and is widely expected to become the fourth billion-dollar release of the year. Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which opens on July 31, enters cinemas as another strong contender to join the club, potentially making 2026 one of the strongest post-pandemic years for blockbuster releases.
For Pixar, Toy Story 5 marks another major milestone for one of the studio’s most successful franchises. The film is now the third Toy Story installment to cross the billion-dollar mark, following Toy Story 3 (2010) and Toy Story 4 (2019). It also becomes Pixar Animation Studios’ sixth film to earn more than $1 billion worldwide, reinforcing the enduring popularity of the studio’s flagship series.
The sequel is also on track to become the highest-grossing entry in the franchise. With $1.022 billion already in the bank, it needs roughly $50 million more to surpass Toy Story 4, which concluded its theatrical run with $1.073 billion globally. Given its continued momentum in cinemas, the latest installment has a realistic chance of setting a new franchise record before ending its theatrical run.
Directed by Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton, Toy Story 5 reunites audiences with Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the rest of Bonnie’s toys. This time, the gang finds itself competing with modern technology after Bonnie becomes attached to a children’s smart tablet known as Lilypad, forcing the toys to confront a world where traditional play is increasingly being replaced by digital entertainment.
The film enjoyed the biggest opening weekend in the franchise’s history, debuting with $160 million domestically before maintaining strong momentum throughout the summer. Positive reviews, enthusiastic audience reception and limited competition in the family market helped sustain its theatrical run. The release also benefited from additional cultural attention through Taylor Swift’s original song “I Knew It, I Knew You,” which featured on the soundtrack.
Despite Toy Story 5‘s remarkable success, Pixar has experienced a contrasting year. Disney recently announced layoffs affecting Pixar Animation Studios, while the studio’s original animated feature Hoppers failed to match the commercial staying power of its latest sequel. The contrast once again highlights a growing trend in theatrical exhibition, with established animated franchises continuing to dominate the global box office while original animated films face a more challenging path to blockbuster success.
The broader industry tells a similarly encouraging story. After the pandemic brought theatrical business to a standstill in 2020, billion-dollar releases became increasingly rare. There was only one billion-dollar film in 2021, followed by three in 2022, two in 2023, three in 2024 and three again in 2025. With three films already crossing the milestone in 2026—and more expected to follow—the global box office continues to show renewed strength as audiences return to theatres for event cinema.
More than three decades after Woody and Buzz first appeared on the big screen, Toy Story continues to prove its lasting appeal across generations. By joining the billion-dollar club once again, Toy Story 5 has reaffirmed the franchise’s status as one of Disney and Pixar’s most valuable cinematic properties, with its box office journey still far from over.
