Pixar’s latest original film, Elio, has landed with a thud, posting the studio’s lowest-ever opening weekend at just $21 million domestically and $35 million globally against a $150 million budget. Speaking at Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies Summit, Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter addressed the studio’s struggles with original films, saying, “We have to find out what people want before they know it. Because if we just gave them more of what they know, we’d be making Toy Story 27.” The remark underscores Pixar’s pivot to balancing risky originals with safer sequels as it navigates a post-pandemic box office slump.
Elio, a sci-fi adventure about an alien-obsessed boy (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) mistaken for Earth’s ambassador in a cosmic Communiverse, earned strong reviews (84% on Rotten Tomatoes, A CinemaScore) but faced stiff competition from How to Train Your Dragon’s live-action remake and 28 Years Later. Critics praised its dazzling animation and emotional depth, with Zoe Saldaña and Brad Garrett’s voice work shining, but audiences stayed away, echoing the fate of recent originals like Onward and Lightyear. Disney remains hopeful, citing Elemental’s slow-burn success, which climbed to $496 million globally after a $29.6 million debut.
Docter outlined Pixar’s strategy to alternate originals like 2026’s Hoppers and 2027’s Gatto with sequels like Toy Story 5 (2026), Incredibles 3 (2028), and Coco 2 (2029). Fans on X are split, with some lamenting Pixar’s reliance on sequels—“Toy Story 5 feels like a cash grab”—while others root for Elio’s heartfelt story. The film’s vibrant bloopers, a nostalgic nod to A Bug’s Life, aim to charm, but its box office fate hangs in the balance. Can Pixar rediscover its original magic, or will sequels dominate its future?
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