Pixar’s $21M Weekend Flops as Elio Delivers Studio’s Worst Opening in History

Pixar’s dreams for a box office hit are fading into outer space. Disney’sDIS

Pixar animation studio just recorded its most catastrophic theatrical launch ever, with Elio managing only $21M domestically during its debut weekend. The sci-fi tale about an alien-obsessed youngster who becomes Earth’s accidental ambassador couldn’t overcome fierce competition from Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon remake, which held onto the top spot with $37M.

• Adding insult to injury, Elio’s production budget reportedly hit between $150M-$200M excluding marketing expenses, with FranchiseRe’s David Gross calling it “a weak opening for Pixar.”
• The previous low-water mark belonged to 2023’s Elemental, which opened to $29.5M but ultimately recovered to earn $496M worldwide through strong word-of-mouth.

Hoping for a miracle: Despite earning an “A” CinemaScore rating and 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, Elio faces an uphill battle in a marketplace where original animated content struggles against established franchises. The pandemic’s impact still lingers — families grew accustomed to watching Pixar releases like Luca and Turning Red directly on Disney+ during lockdowns, inadvertently training audiences to expect these films at home rather than in theaters. With upcoming blockbusters like F1, Superman, and Jurassic World: Rebirth dominating the summer landscape, Elio will need a lot more than stellar reviews to achieve orbit.