Toy Story 5 Box Office Predictions: Could Pixar Score Its Biggest Opening Since Inside Out 2?

Toy Story 5 Is Almost Here — And The Box Office Numbers Look Insane

Pixar is gearing up for a massive June 19, 2026 release with Toy Story 5, and the early box office projections have everyone in Hollywood paying attention. Long-range forecasts suggest the animated sequel could pull in between $130 million and $160 million during its opening weekend in North America alone. If those numbers hold up, it wouldn't just crush Toy Story 4's $120.9 million debut — it could potentially overtake Inside Out 2's record-shattering $154.2 million three-day opening to become Pixar's biggest launch in years.

Andrew Stanton Steps Behind the Camera — For the First Time on a Toy Story Film

One of the biggest stories surrounding Toy Story 5 is that Andrew Stanton — the legendary Pixar director behind Finding Nemo, Wall-E, and Finding Dory — is taking the director's chair for a Toy Story film for the very first time. Stanton has been involved in writing every Toy Story movie since 1995, but never directed one. So why now?

In a recent interview with Polygon, Stanton was refreshingly honest: "Somebody might fuck it up," he said, explaining that he didn't want to see the franchise done wrong. He spent a summer writing a full draft of what he wanted Toy Story 5 to be, pitched it to Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter, producer Jonas Rivera, and even Disney CEO Bob Iger — and they all gave the green light.

Stanton also brought on McKenna Harris as co-director, emphasizing that Pixar movies are made by a team — "playing in a band," as he put it.

The Plot: Lilypad the Tablet Is the New Villain

Here's where things get really interesting. After Toy Story 4 saw Woody leave Bonnie's room to help lost toys find new owners, Jessie has stepped up as the leader of Bonnie's toy crew, with Buzz Lightyear as her second-in-command. But the real threat in Toy Story 5 isn't a malicious collector or a broken toy — it's technology itself.

Bonnie, now eight years old, has become obsessed with a new favorite plaything: a frog-like tablet named Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee (of The Bear and Everything Everywhere All at Once fame). The film explores what happens when screen time threatens to replace physical play — a theme that hits incredibly close to home for millennial parents raising kids in the iPad era.

Returning voices include Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, and Joan Cusack as Jessie.

Can It Beat Inside Out 2?

The short answer: it's genuinely possible. Inside Out 2 was a cultural phenomenon in 2024, and Toy Story 5 has the advantage of decades of built-in nostalgia. The franchise has been a cornerstone of Pixar since the original revolutionized computer animation in 1995, creating multi-generational appeal that few IPs can match.

Even on the conservative end of projections ($130 million), Toy Story 5 would still be Pixar's strongest debut since Inside Out 2. On the high end ($160 million), it would dethrone it entirely. And let's not forget — we're also heading into a stacked summer 2026 movie season with The Mandalorian & Grogu, Spider-Man: Brand New Day starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey all competing for audiences. If Toy Story 5 dominates in that environment, the numbers will be even more impressive.

Mark your calendars for June 19, 2026. Woody, Buzz, and the whole gang are back — and the box office might never be the same.