Pixar’s latest original film Elio had a lukewarm debut at the box office, earning $21 million domestically and a total of $35 million globally. This placed it third over the weekend, behind the How to Train Your Dragon remake and 28 Years Later. The opening fell short of industry expectations, which projected $25–30 million. The film’s international performance also did little to boost its standing, highlighting a disappointing start for what was hoped to be a major animated release.
Pandemic Effects and Weak Marketing Cloud Elio’s Launch but Hope Remains Alive
Several reasons may have contributed to Elio’s underwhelming performance. Pixar is still grappling with the effects of the pandemic, during which many of its films were released directly to streaming. This has changed audience expectations, especially among families, who may now wait for home release rather than going to theaters.
Additionally, Disney’s marketing efforts were minimal and only increased after critics gave the film favorable reviews. Even then, promotional material focused more on general sci-fi aesthetics than on the emotional core that critics praised.
Elio Stumbles at Box Office as Pixar’s Original Stories Struggle Against Sequel-Driven MarketDespite its rocky start, Elio’s journey may not be over. A similar situation occurred with Elemental in 2023, which had a lackluster opening but managed to earn nearly $500 million globally thanks to strong word of mouth. Given the parallels in marketing challenges and release timing, there’s hope that Elio could also find its audience over time. Its critical reception could spark the kind of long-term interest that revives its financial performance.
Franchise Familiarity Now Outshines Originality in Pixar’s Post-Pandemic Box Office Strategy
Even if Elio recovers somewhat, it still falls short of the standard historically set for Pixar films. Not all post-pandemic releases have struggled—Inside Out 2 broke box office records and surpassed $1 billion. This contrast points to a broader shift in the industry: while kids’ films are regaining box office traction post-COVID, success increasingly depends on familiar franchises. Sequels and remakes like Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon are outperforming original titles like Elio.
Pixar’s upcoming slate also reflects this trend. Of the five upcoming films, only two—Hoppers (2026) and Gatto (2027)—are original concepts. The rest are sequels: Toy Story 5, Incredibles 3, and Coco 2. Whether Elio ultimately succeeds or not, its initial stumble may signal a concerning shift away from original storytelling at Pixar, as the studio leans more heavily on familiar intellectual properties to drive future success.