Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 has delivered the biggest preview performance of 2026 so far, collecting an impressive $17.5 million in Thursday previews ahead of its wide theatrical launch. The animated sequel’s preview haul surpassed the previous yearly best set by Lionsgate’s Michael, which earned $12.6 million in previews before going on to debut with $97 million domestically. Toy Story 5 also outperformed Amazon MGM Studios’ Project Hail Mary and Disney/Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, both of which opened with $12 million in previews.
The strong start immediately positions Toy Story 5 as one of the year’s biggest box office events and further reinforces Disney’s dominance in the family entertainment market. The preview performance is also significant within Pixar’s own history. The $17.5 million figure ranks as the second-largest preview haul ever for a Pixar title, trailing only Incredibles 2, which earned $18.5 million in previews in 2018 before going on to launch with a record-breaking $182.7 million domestic opening weekend.
By comparison, Toy Story 4 earned approximately $12 million in previews before opening to $120.9 million domestically in 2019. The latest installment has already surpassed that figure by a comfortable margin, putting several franchise records firmly within reach.
The strong preview performance reinforces earlier industry projections that had Toy Story 5 tracking for one of the biggest openings of the year. Most forecasts heading into the weekend placed the Pixar sequel in the $150 million to $175 million range domestically, which would not only establish a new franchise record but also challenge for the biggest opening weekend of 2026. Should those projections hold, the film would comfortably surpass the opening weekends of both Toy Story 4 ($120.9 million) and Toy Story 3 ($110.3 million). It would also overtake Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which currently holds the year’s biggest domestic opening with $131.7 million.
Beyond nostalgia and franchise recognition, Toy Story 5 has also benefited from strong critical reception heading into release. The film currently holds one of Pixar’s strongest review scores in recent years, with critics praising its emotional storytelling, humor, animation, and contemporary themes. Positive reviews have helped maintain momentum throughout the final stretch of the marketing campaign and have further strengthened confidence in the film’s long-term box office prospects.
Directed by Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton, Toy Story 5 reunites Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of the beloved toy gang for a new adventure that explores the growing influence of technology in children’s lives. The story introduces Lilypad, a smart tablet device that becomes Bonnie’s favorite companion, forcing the toys to confront a world where screens increasingly compete with traditional playtime.
The film also marks the return of franchise mainstays Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack as Woody, Buzz, and Jessie, respectively. Their return has been a major selling point for longtime fans of the series, which has grossed more than $3 billion worldwide across its previous installments.
Disney has launched Toy Story 5 in more than 4,400 North American theaters, giving the film one of the widest releases of the year. Combined with premium large-format screens and strong family appeal, the sequel appears well-positioned to dominate the weekend box office.
For now, the $17.5 million preview haul represents another milestone for Pixar and signals strong audience demand heading into the weekend. Whether Toy Story 5 can challenge Incredibles 2‘s opening weekend record remains to be seen, but it has already secured the biggest preview performance of 2026 and one of the strongest starts in the studio’s history.
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