Overview

• Elio earned just $21 million domestically over its first three days, marking the lowest opening in Pixar’s history.
• The film’s debut falls dramatically short of its $250 million production budget, deepening financial pressure on the studio.
• Box office data show original animated features underperforming while sequels and established franchises continue to attract larger audiences.
• Pixar has released only one theatrical feature this summer after pandemic-era shifts led titles like Soul and Luca to premiere on Disney+.
• Analysts warn that Pixar must retool its storytelling approach to compete as audiences increasingly favor familiar franchise content.