Pixar is predicted to have a very strong year in 2026, largely thanks to the release of Toy Story 5 in the summer. The film is projected to earn over a billion dollars and continue Pixar’s recent success with sequels, building on the impressive $1.6 billion earned by Inside Out 2. However, despite this potential, Pixar has faced some challenges in recent years.
Pixar heavily depended on making sequels throughout the 2010s, but shifting to original stories in the 2020s seemed like a good move. However, the pandemic disrupted those plans, and viewers became accustomed to watching original content on Disney+. This leaves Pixar’s new film, Hoppers, in a difficult position.
Pixar’s original movies haven’t performed as well in theaters this decade, with last year’s Elio being one of their lowest-earning films. Their newest original, Hoppers – a sci-fi story about a girl who transforms into a robotic beaver and teams up with animals to protect a wildlife preserve – could be their biggest success in a while.
Hoppers’ Opening Weekend Projects Are Much Better Than Pixar’s Other Recent Originals
With just under a month to go until Hoppers arrives in theaters on March 6th, early predictions about how much money it will make are starting to appear. While official numbers won’t be available until closer to the release date, Box Office Pro currently estimates that Hoppers will earn between $40 million and $50 million domestically during its opening weekend.
If the film performs well, it could have the strongest opening weekend for a brand new Pixar movie since 2017, when Coco earned $50.8 million. Pixar’s original stories haven’t reached $40 million in their opening weekends since then. If it surpasses expectations, it would become Pixar’s biggest original film since 2015, when Inside Out debuted with $90.4 million.
| Pixar Original Movies (In Last Decade) | Domestic Opening Weekend Box Office |
|---|---|
| Coco (2017) | $50.8 million |
| Onward (2020) | $39.1 million |
| Elemental (2023) | $29.6 million |
| Elio (2025) | $20.8 million |
| Soul (2020), Luca (2021), & Turning Red (2022) | N/A, released on Disney+ |
Although current estimates suggest Hoppers could gross between $40 and $50 million, that’s not a guarantee. Box Office Pro previously predicted $28-$38 million for Elemental and $35-$45 million for Elio before their releases. Elemental barely met the lower end of its forecast, while Elio performed far worse than expected.
Pixar’s previous two original films didn’t perform as well at the box office, likely because their advertising wasn’t as strong and reviews were only moderately positive. However, the marketing for Hoppers has been straightforward and humorous, focusing on a clear and appealing idea. Plus, initial reactions to the film online have been overwhelmingly positive.
This should significantly improve the chances of “Hoppers” connecting with audiences when it’s released in theaters next month. Its success is important for everyone involved. While Pixar will always create original stories, if those stories don’t perform well in theaters, the future is uncertain – especially with Disney’s new leadership team in place.
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2026-02-05 20:51