Pixar Exec Laments Original Films' Struggles After Elio Flop

Pixar veteran Pete Docter has opened up about the creative challenges the studio currently faces in developing new films and franchises, with their latest release, Elio, struggling to find its footing at the box office.

Emphasizing the need to "discover what audiences desire before they realize it themselves," Docter warned that the alternative is simply offering "more of the familiar," a path that leads to an endless stream of sequels and repetitive storytelling.

"We'd be making Toy Story 27," Docter remarked during his appearance at Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Summit, just before the studio's new film premiered.

In the United States, Elio garnered a mere $20.8 million during its opening weekend, marking the lowest debut for any Pixar film. It faced stiff competition from fellow new release 28 Years Later and the recent live-action adaptation of How To Train Your Dragon.

Overseas, Elio has added $14 million to its tally, bringing its current global earnings to $34.8 million—a figure that falls significantly short of the film's $150 million production budget, not to mention additional marketing expenditures.

"It's a challenging period, and our only recourse is to focus on creating films that we genuinely believe in," Docter stated. "The same immense effort goes into a project that doesn't perform financially as one that does. You can't predict these outcomes with certainty; sometimes, you just find the right combination of elements."

While Elio has been well-received by critics, it has clearly failed to generate the level of audience engagement Pixar had anticipated. This stands in stark contrast to the studio's previous release, Inside Out 2, which surpassed all expectations to become Disney's highest-grossing film of all time, earning a staggering $1.69 billion worldwide.

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Beyond the performance of individual films, broader industry trends are also at play. Lingering audience reluctance stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with an expectation established during that era for animated films to quickly become available on streaming platforms, continues to impact theatrical performance.

To manage these risks, Docter explained that Pixar is adopting a strategic approach: roughly alternating between one original film and a sequel to a past blockbuster. True to this plan, 2026 will see the release of Toy Story 5. While not quite the "Toy Story 27" Docter humorously referenced, this new installment adds another chapter to a franchise many felt reached a satisfying conclusion with Toy Story 3, especially following the underwhelming performance of the Buzz Lightyear-centric spin-off, Lightyear.

Looking forward, Pixar's upcoming slate reflects Docter's stated strategy—a blend of fresh concepts and beloved continuations. Alongside Toy Story 5, next year will introduce Hoppers, a comedy about a human-animal body swap, followed by the feline-focused Gatto in 2027. These are succeeded by Incredibles 3 in 2028 and Coco 2 in 2029.