Pixar just reminded Hollywood why Toy Story is one of the most bankable brands in cinema. Toy Story 5 opened to a thunderous $312 million worldwide — $160 million in the United States and Canada and $152 million from international markets — making it the single biggest debut the franchise has ever had and the largest North American opening of 2026 so far.
Released 31 years after the 1995 original that put computer animation on the map, the fifth chapter shattered the franchise record set by Toy Story 4 ($120 million in 2019) and scored the second-biggest animated opening of all time in North America — trailing only Incredibles 2. Critics were on board too, with a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score and a coveted "A" CinemaScore from audiences.
Breaking Down the $312 Million Opening
The split tells the story of a true global blockbuster: $160 million domestic from 4,425 North American theaters, paired with $152 million overseas. That domestic figure didn't just break the franchise's own ceiling — it topped Universal's Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131.7M) to claim the biggest U.S. opening of the year, and ranked as the second-largest animated launch in history behind Incredibles 2 ($182.7M, 2018).
For context, the previous franchise best — Toy Story 4 in 2019 — opened to roughly $120 million. Five years and one global pandemic later, the toys came back bigger than ever, carried by sterling reviews and the kind of multi-generational pull few brands can claim.
💡 Worth knowing: While Toy Story 5 owns the biggest domestic opening of 2026, globally the year's largest debut still belongs to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Disney's $312M launch is the franchise's best ever and one of the biggest of the year — just not the single largest worldwide bow of 2026.
Where It Ranks in Pixar Royalty
Pixar has quietly built the most reliable animated machine in the business. Stacked against the studio's other heavyweights, Toy Story 5 lands near the very top:
Domestically, only Incredibles 2 has ever opened bigger for an animated film. Internationally, Toy Story 5's $152 million ranks as the second-highest Pixar debut, with the toys carrying a reported $250 million production budget into one of the strongest launches of the studio's history.
To Infinity and Around the World
Outside North America, four markets led the charge. Mexico was the single biggest international territory — a recurring superpower for Pixar releases.
According to Disney's regional breakdown, the toys posted standout blocs across Latin America (~$55M), Europe, the Middle East & Africa (~$53M) and Asia-Pacific (~$43M, including that record-setting $18M China bow). It was a genuinely worldwide launch rather than a U.S.-only phenomenon.
The Middle East Goes Big — Egypt Leads
The region delivered some of the franchise's most striking records. Per Disney's figures, Toy Story 5 scored the biggest animated opening ever in Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, and the studio's best Pixar debut in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman.
In Egypt — where United Motion Pictures handles distribution — early family and morning screenings repeatedly sold out. A big driver: the Egyptian-dialect Arabic dub, whose playful, local comic energy turned the film into a true crowd event alongside the Modern Standard Arabic version.
Disney called it the biggest opening for the franchise and the biggest of this year as well — a milestone three decades in the making.
— Alan Bergman, Chairman, Disney Entertainment StudiosA World Cup Clash That Barely Dented the Box Office
Opening in the middle of the 2026 FIFA World Cup raised fears that football fever would pull families away from cinemas. It didn't. Any impact was limited to a handful of match days, and the film kept posting strong numbers across markets — proof that a family animated event and a global tournament can coexist on the same weekend.
From Andy's Room to Record Books
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Toy Story 5 make in its opening weekend?
It opened to $312 million worldwide — $160 million in the U.S. and Canada and $152 million from international markets — the biggest debut in the franchise's history.
Is it the biggest animated opening ever?
Not quite. Domestically it's the second-biggest animated opening of all time, behind Incredibles 2 ($182.7M). But it is the biggest opening in Toy Story history.
Who directed Toy Story 5?
Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton directs, with Kenna Harris co-directing and Lindsey Collins producing.
Is it the biggest opening of 2026?
It's the biggest domestic opening of the year. Globally, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie had a larger debut, so Toy Story 5 holds the U.S. crown rather than the worldwide one.
Where can I watch Toy Story 5?
It's playing in cinemas now, including Egyptian-dialect and Modern Standard Arabic dubs across the region. A streaming release on Disney+ is expected later, after the theatrical run.
The Bottom Line
Thirty-one years after Woody and Buzz first lit up the screen, Toy Story 5 proved the magic hasn't faded — a $312M global launch, a franchise record, and a worldwide reminder that Pixar still knows how to fill theaters. With major markets still to open, the toys are only getting started.
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