Pixar has officially hit a new low with the Elio opening weekend box office.
The animation studio once hailed as the gold standard of cinematic storytelling has now delivered the worst opening weekend in its 39-year history with Elio, a space-themed original film that limped to just $21 million domestically and $14 million internationally, making for a mere $35 million global debut.
Elio and Glordon in the trailer for the Pixar movie Elio – YouTube, Pixar
For a company that once kicked off weekends with over $180 million in ticket sales, this marks a stunning fall from grace.
And the real sting? Elio was supposed to be the heartwarming return to original storytelling. Instead, it’s now a cautionary tale.
Elio’s mom in the trailer for the Pixar movie Elio – YouTube, Pixar
While Pixar’s corporate parent, Disney, is publicly confident the film will leg out like last year’s surprise performer Elemental (which eventually grossed nearly $500 million worldwide), early signs suggest that Elio won’t enjoy the same second wind. That film opened stronger than Elio, with $29.6 million in North America. Even the underperforming Lightyear pulled $50.5 million domestically on debut.
A Budget Black Hole?
Disney and Pixar have been officially pushing Elio as a $150 million production. But multiple Hollywood insiders are disputing that figure, suggesting the real number could be closer to $300 million after extensive rewrites, last-minute restructuring, and costly production delays. While “reshoots” aren’t the typical term in animation, the concept still applies—major scenes were reportedly reanimated or repurposed multiple times as the film struggled to find its tone and identity.
Elio in the trailer for the Pixar movie Elio – YouTube, Pixar
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Even before its release, industry whispers pegged Elio as a troubled project. Creative and cast turnover during production along with a pressure to balance heartfelt storytelling with marketable sci-fi spectacle may have contributed to its uneven reception and bloated reported production costs.
Box Office Bloodbath
Adding insult to injury, Elio was completely steamrolled by the competition. In its second weekend, DreamWorks’ live-action How To Train Your Dragon live-action remake brought in $37 million, outpacing Elio by a wide margin. Meanwhile, Danny Boyle’s long-awaited zombie sequel 28 Years Later snagged $30 million in North America and a staggering $60 million globally—nearly doubling Elio’s entire worldwide take.
Elio in the trailer for the Pixar movie Elio – YouTube, Pixar
It’s a brutal reminder that even glowing CinemaScore results (Elio scored an A, with kids giving it an A+) can’t save a film without a strong opening punch. And most critics labeled the film as forgettable at best and the worst Pixar film of all time at worst.
A Franchise-First Future?
Pixar has recently found itself thriving almost exclusively with sequels. Inside Out 2, released last year, stunned with a $155 million opening and has since soared past $1.7 billion globally. That contrast only makes Elio’s failure more stark.
WHAT IS HAPPENING? – In Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith), Anger (voice of Lewis Black), Fear (voice of Tony Hale) and Disgust (voice of Liza Lapira) are awakened to an alarming reality: everything is changing now that Riley is 13. Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen, “Inside Out 2” releases only in theaters Summer 2024. © 2023 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
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Original storytelling, once Pixar’s hallmark, has become a financial gamble—and one the company increasingly seems less willing to take. With Toy Story 5 and Finding Marlin already in the works, it’s clear where the studio is betting its future.
The Final Verdict
Elio may find a second life on Disney+, but its theatrical run has already made box office history for all the wrong reasons.
Elio in the trailer for the Pixar movie Elio – YouTube, Pixar
Whether the film eventually climbs to sleeper-hit status or fades into the void of forgotten Pixar titles, one thing is clear: the studio that redefined animation is facing a galaxy-sized crisis when it comes to launching new ideas.
How do you feel about the Elio box office? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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