Pixar is back with another sequel just three months after the studio’s last original movie. While some fans are bemoaning the arrival of Toy Story 5the animated sequel is an important part of Pixar and is the reason why we are getting originals like Elio and Hoppers in the first place.
Pixar needs sequels more than fans think it does
Pixar used to have a stranglehold on CG animation. It was the king of the medium. However, the playing field has widened considerably since Toy Story was first released 31 years ago. DreamWorks, Illumination, and Sony Pictures Animation are now animation powerhouses in their own right.
With more competition comes more choices, meaning that Pixar is no longer in a place where 90% of its film slate can be original movies. Sequels have become a vital part of the Pixar ecosystem, and fans need to look no further than the global opening box office of Toy Story 5 to see why.
Toy Story 5 just opened to $312 million worldwide. In three days, Toy Story 5 almost surpassed the entire $389 million box office run of Pixar’s other 2026 release, the original Hoppers. While fans have already taken to social media to criticize how audiences don’t show up for original movies, seeing Toy Story 5 does support Pixar’s other titles, just in a roundabout sort of way.
Toy Story 5 conquering the box office — it’s all but guaranteed to crack $1 billion now after that strong opening — gives Pixar the financial freedom to keep taking creative risks with original films that could either bomb or hopefully become the studio’s next major franchise.
The last two Toy Story sequels may be considered unnecessary additions to the franchise by some of the fandom, but their built-in box office gives Pixar the padding it needs to invest in original movies like Inside Out and Coco. Those two originals not only found critical and commercial success but are now the studio’s newest franchises.
Now, what if Toy Story 5 had flopped at the box office? Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that Pixar would believe the movie’s failure meant audiences craved more original stories. Instead, Pixar would likely be forced to rely even further on proven box office IP like The Incredibles and Inside Out to make up the financial losses.
As it stands, Pixar fans are currently getting the best of both worlds. Not only do they get to revisit their favorite characters once a decade with new sequels like Toy Story 5, but those sequels in turn help produce more creatively risky features like Gatto and Ono Ghost Market made, which, if successful like Inside Out and Coco before them, could become their own crowd-pleasing franchises.
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