Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 has delivered the biggest opening weekend in the animated franchise’s history, grossing over $300 million (£227 million) worldwide.

Released on 19 June, the fifth instalment brings back Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear as they confront their most unexpected challenger yet, a tablet computer entering their world.

The strong debut marks a notable rebound for Disney and Pixar after a difficult stretch at the box office in recent years.

It is currently the second-largest global opening of the year, behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which has already surpassed $1 billion to become 2026’s top-grossing film so far.

Toy Story 5 earned about $160 million in North America and more than $150 million internationally in its opening weekend alone.

With a production budget estimated at $250 million, the film will need to significantly outperform that figure to cover marketing and distribution costs, which typically double overall expenses.

Historically, Pixar releases have been strong earners, often generating around three times their production and promotional budgets, with several sequels — including The Incredibles 2 and Inside Out 2 — crossing the $1 billion milestone.

However, recent releases such as Elio and the Toy Story spin-off Lightyear underperformed at the box office, highlighting inconsistent returns for the studio in the post-pandemic era.

Disney’s broader slate has also seen mixed results, with major projects like The Mandalorian and Grogu still working to recoup their $165 million production costs.

Overall, global box office revenues remain below pre-pandemic levels as cinema attendance continues to face pressure from the rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+.