On the heels of an incredibly successful year for Pixar, after they secured the highest-grossing movie of 2024, the company is beginning 2025 with streaming domination thanks to five of their most beloved features. Spanning out of Lucasfilm, thanks to the aid of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, the animation studio pioneered the field of animation with Toy Story, developing the first fully computer-generated animated movie to critical and financial success in 1995. After collaborating with Disney from 1999 to 2006, Pixar was brought under the company’s control in a $7.4 billion-dollar acquisition.

Alongside impressive and ground-breaking animation, Pixar has also become known for its relatable and emotional features. Whether heartwarming or heartwrenching, their movies have tackled relatable themes of growth and self-improvement that transcend generations. As such, Pixar’s filmography is accessible to all and can introduce new perspectives and difficult subjects to everyone, bringing moviegoers together.

Pixar Is Dominating Hulu’s Streaming Charts

Beloved Classics Are Climbing The Service’s Charts

After a four-year stint of their features released straight to streaming and lackluster financial success, Inside Out 2 seemingly ended Pixar’s post-COVID-19 difficulties upon release in 2024. The animated sequel revisited their 2015 coming-of-age movie, as the established personified emotions of Riley Anderson (Kensington Tallman) were introduced to new emotions while navigating high school and social woes. Inside Out 2 was well-received by critics and audiences alike, earning $1.699 billion on a $200 million budget, becoming 2024’s highest-earning feature and the highest-performing animated feature of all time.

As Inside Out 2 braces itself for a potential Academy Award win, Pixar is beginning 2025 with dominance on the Hulu streaming charts, claiming five of the top 10 spots. The studio netted three spots within the service’s top five highest-viewed movies, as Ratatouille, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles claimed third, fourth, and fifth places. Meanwhile, WALL-E and the original Inside Out were able to claim eighth place and fifteenth place, respectively.

What Pixar’s Hulu Success Could Mean For Pixar

The Studio Has Seemingly Escaped A Troubled Period

Pixar’s resurgence is welcome for both the studios and audiences alike, proving that the studio is still incredibly beloved alongside their filmography. While their straight-to-streaming releases, Soul, Luca, and Turning Red, were critical hits, their release situation didn’t allow them to recoup their costs at the box office. Toy Story spin-off Lightyear’s failure to launch during its theatrical run created a dark period for the company. However, Elemental’s 2023 summer box-office comeback and Inside Out 2‘s success have created a redemptive atmosphere that suggests brighter days are ahead.

Pixar’s future isn’t free from criticism just yet, as layoffs in 2024 and a controversial shift in strategy have opened the company up to understandable skepticism. The company is still fulfilling its Disney+ contributions as it ventures into television through Dream Productions and Win or Lose. An emphasis on sequels in Pixar’s upcoming film slate has some viewers worried that their spark of originality will be snuffed out in favor of safer productions. However, Pixar’s Hulu success could hint at a positive direction, showing that viewers will continue to support the studio going forward.

Source: Hulu