The Pixar Slump

Are we witnessing a Pixar slump?

After all, the recently released Disney/Pixar film “Elio” had a historical opening weekend…and not in a good way.

In fact, “Elio” enjoyed, if you can say that, the lowest-grossing opening weekend of any Pixar movie in history.

It seems that the only successful Pixar movies are sequels such as “Inside Out 2” and of course the “Toy Story” sequels.

Earlier this decade the Pixar films “Turning Red, “Luca”, and “Soul” also had dreadful showings and the official feeling from the Disney confines was that those films were victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Personally I think there is some truth to that…with the operative word being “some.”

Of course there is a lot to be said that Disney/Pixar films may be suffering in the theaters because potential theater goers are waiting for the films to show up on the Disney+ streaming service. Again, another good point.

Movie experts have been quick to point out that studios like Universal and Warner Bros. have shipped successful movies such as “Wicked” faster to their streaming services than Disney’s frequency. Unlike the Pixar products, the Universal and Warner Bros. films DID enjoy a successful run in the theaters.

So what’s the deal with Pixar?

Well, sometimes timing is everything. “Elio”, an original concept, was released a week after the live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” was released. Movie-goers have been known to “trust” familiar titles so sequels are more likely to enjoy a healthier opening weekend than movies based on original concept.

This SubStack is not a review of “Elio” as I have yet to see the film and full disclosure, I may also be one of those who will wait to see it stream on Disney+, although don’t hold me to that.

I have also refrained from reading reviews on the film because I don’t want to be influenced by any opinions prior to my viewing of the film.

Having said that I have read somewhere that “Elio” was delayed in production because the originally produced film did not seem to have all the components needed to attract a broader audience. Details surrounding that have been kept behind closed doors so I have no idea what was added, removed, or changed to achieve that broader audience goal.

What I do know however is that Pixar is in a slump and if you look at the upcoming Pixar releases you can see that the sequels outnumber the originals.

Upcoming Pixar Films

• Hoppers: Release date: March 6, 2026 is about how a young girl’s consciousness hops into a robotic beaver to communicate with wildlife.

  

• Toy Story 5: Release date: June 19, 2026 in which Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang face off with modern technology (a tablet) for Bonnie’s attention.

  

• Zootopia 2: Release date: November 25 or 26, 2025 features Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde on a new criminal investigation.

  

• Gatto:Release date: June 18, 2027 is an original story centered on a cat in Venice.

  

• Incredibles 3: Release status: In development, announced at D23. More adventures from the Incredibles Family.

  

• Coco 2: Release status: In development Release timeframe: Targeting 2029 when Miguel learns about how music brings worlds together

So of the six films I’ve named only two are original concepts. It’s also important to note that those two original films will have an animal as its centerpiece. That is not a coincidence as most of the successful Disney produced films have usually had as its “star” an animal such as our friend Simba from”the Lion King.”

Remember. Sequels have a better chance for success than originals.

See you next time.