The legendary animation studio Pixar, once renowned for groundbreaking classics like Toy Story, Wall-E, and Inside Out, is currently navigating turbulent waters. Its latest release, Elio, has officially become the studio’s lowest-grossing film to date, further fueling concerns about Pixar’s waning influence.
Debuting on June 28, Elio earned just $21 million during its opening weekend in the U.S., placing it at the very bottom of Pixar’s box office history. Globally, the situation was even bleaker. With only $14 million from international markets, the film managed a dismal $35 million worldwide debut—despite a hefty production budget estimated at $150 million.
Over the past five years, Pixar’s output has largely struggled to resonate with audiences. With the exception of Inside Out 2, recent original films have either bypassed theaters altogether or failed to generate strong box office returns. This decline may prompt Disney to greenlight fewer original stories from Pixar, shifting focus toward established franchises.
In fact, of the five upcoming Pixar projects, three are sequels: Toy Story 5, The Incredibles 3, and Coco 2. This indicates a strategic pivot away from risky original narratives.
As for Elio, the story centers around a dreamy, space-obsessed boy who suddenly finds himself in Communiverse, an intergalactic hub for alien civilizations. Mistakenly declared Earth’s ambassador, Elio must connect with bizarre and diverse species to avoid a galactic catastrophe. However, the quirky premise wasn’t enough to save it from box office failure.