Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is heading into theaters with enormous momentum and could be on course for the biggest opening weekend of 2026. The latest installment in Pixar’s flagship franchise is tracking for a franchise-record preview night and a domestic debut that could comfortably surpass previous entries in the series.
According to industry estimates, Toy Story 5 is expected to earn between $13 million and $14 million or more in Thursday previews. If those projections hold, the film will set a new franchise record, surpassing the $12 million preview figure posted by 2019’s Toy Story 4.
The projected preview gross would also make Toy Story 5 the biggest preview performer of 2026 so far, overtaking recent releases such as Michael ($12.6 million), Project Hail Mary ($12 million), and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu ($12 million).
The strong preview numbers are translating into equally impressive opening weekend forecasts. Current industry tracking suggests Toy Story 5 could debut between $145 million and $150 million domestically, while some projections have climbed as high as $160 million to $175 million if family audiences turn out in large numbers throughout the weekend. Should those estimates materialize, Toy Story 5 would easily become the biggest opening in the history of the franchise. The current record belongs to Toy Story 4, which opened to $120 million in 2019, while Toy Story 3 debuted with $110 million in 2010.
The film is also positioned to claim the biggest domestic opening of 2026. The current record is held by Universal’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which launched with $131.7 million earlier this year. Much of the optimism surrounding the film stems from its strong advance ticket sales and positive critical response. Reports indicate that Toy Story 5 had already generated approximately $25 million in advance ticket sales heading into opening weekend, putting it ahead of the pace established by Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The sequel currently holds a 94% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of Pixar’s best-reviewed recent releases. Critics have largely praised Toy Story 5 for balancing nostalgia with new themes while delivering another emotionally engaging adventure for audiences of all ages. Critics have largely praised Toy Story 5, with many calling it one of Pixar’s strongest sequels in years. The strong box office projections also follow overwhelmingly positive first reactions from critics and industry insiders after early screenings. The strong box office projections come after overwhelmingly positive first reactions from critics and industry insiders.
Internationally, Disney is expecting another strong performance. Current forecasts suggest Toy Story 5 could generate approximately $135 million from overseas markets during its opening frame, resulting in a worldwide debut exceeding $275 million.
The film is opening across roughly 87% of international markets, including China, giving it one of the widest global launches of any Pixar title in recent years. If the forecasts are achieved, the sequel would deliver one of the largest global openings in Pixar’s history and provide another major boost to Disney’s already strong 2026 box office slate. The enthusiasm surrounding the film is hardly surprising. The Toy Story franchise remains one of the most successful animated properties in cinema history, generating more than $3.2 billion worldwide across its previous films.
Beyond theatrical revenues, the franchise continues to be a major business driver for Disney. The company reports that Toy Story products generate more than $1 billion annually through merchandise, publishing, games, and consumer products. On Disney+, the franchise has reportedly accumulated more than 2 billion hours of viewing globally.
Another major draw is the return of the franchise’s iconic voice cast. Tom Hanks reprises his role as Woody, Tim Allen returns as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack is back as Jessie. The sequel is directed by Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton, who co-wrote the original Toy Story and previously directed beloved Pixar classics including Finding Nemo, WALL-E, and Finding Dory.
Toy Story 5 introduces a new challenge for Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang as they confront modern technology in a way previous installments never have. The story centers on Bonnie’s growing attachment to a tablet device named Lilypad, whose influence threatens to change the meaning of playtime altogether.
The technology-focused premise represents a contemporary evolution for the franchise while maintaining its long-running focus on friendship, belonging, and childhood imagination. The film is opening in 4,425 theaters across North America, making it the largest theatrical footprint for any release since Inside Out 2 debuted in 4,440 theaters in June 2024.
While several new releases are entering the marketplace this weekend, none are expected to challenge Pixar’s dominance. A24’s The Death of Robin Hood, starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Michael Sarnoski, opens in 1,782 locations and is targeting a debut in the $3 million to $4 million range. Meanwhile, the supernatural horror film Leviticus launches in 1,075 theaters with similar expectations. Last weekend’s winner, Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, is expected to fall roughly 50% to 55% in its second frame, putting the sci-fi thriller on track for a weekend haul of approximately $20 million to $22 million.
All signs currently point toward Toy Story 5 reclaiming the top spot for Pixar and potentially delivering the biggest opening weekend of the year. Whether it reaches the upper end of projections remains to be seen, but the film appears poised to rewrite several franchise records during its debut frame.
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