Pixar is known for their original movies filled with creativity, and yet, its their biggest franchise that is set to come back in almost exactly one year. After launching in 1995 with Toy Story, the studio primarily focused on ushering in a new era for animated movies built around wholly original concepts that also packed an emotional punch. Yet, many of Pixar’s best movies became so popular and beloved (and financially successful) that they found ways to produce sequels. They currently have six franchises already in motion, and a seventh is coming with Coco 2.
Pixar has not fully abandoned original movies, as demonstrated with the new sci-fi movie Elio – now playing in theaters. The studio even made a concerted effort to get back to more standalone stories during this decade, with only two of the last eight films having any ties to an existing IP. And while Pixar’s next movie, Hoppers – releasing in March 2026, is another totally new world to explore, the studio has also pᴀssed a major milestone concerning when their biggest franchise ever returns.
Toy Story 5 Releases In Theaters In 1 Year
The Franchise Has Been Gone For 6 Years
It’s hard to believe, but we are almost exactly one year away from Toy Story 5. Pixar and Disney have given the sequel a June 19, 2026, release date. It’s coming out in the exact same window as Elio, just one year later, and with one day difference on the actual release date. There are currently no other major movies scheduled to release on June 19, 2026, leaving Pixar in a strong place to watch Toy Story 5 dominate theaters upon its debut.
With the fifth film in the Toy Story franchise already so close, it becomes a bit surreal to think that it’s already been so long since Toy Story 4 came out. The fourth entry hit theaters in June 2019 and became a major sensation. Although it was positioned to be the final film in the series, the box office returns left Pixar unable to leave Woody and Buzz and friends behind forever. Toy Story 5 was officially confirmed in 2023 after Lightyear failed to expand the IP. Now two years later, the film is a lot closer than it seems.
Toy Story Is Pixar’s Biggest Franchise At The Box Office
The Total Sales Is Mᴀssive
Toy Story 5‘s release is a big deal for several reasons, and Pixar is certainly ready for its biggest franchise to come back. The franchise has been on an upward trajectory at the box office with the main installments. After the first made $394 million at the box office, Toy Story 2 grossed $497 million. Pixar really saw interest jump in 2010 with Toy Story 3 becoming the first film from the studio to make over $1 billion. Toy Story 4 then inched above the threequel’s total to set a new franchise record high. Lightyear then set a record low.
|
Toy Story Movie |
Box Office Total |
|---|---|
|
Toy Story (1995) |
$394.4 million |
|
Toy Story 2 (1999) |
$497.3 million |
|
Toy Story 3 (2010) |
$1.067 billion |
|
Toy Story 4 (2019) |
$1.073 billion |
|
Lightyear (2022) |
$226.4 million |
|
Franchise Total |
$3.27 billion |
Thanks to the performance of the previous movies, Toy Story is easily Pixar’s highest-grossing franchise. The four main films, plus Lightyear, have made a combined $3.2 billion at the box office. That not only makes the series Pixar’s top performer, but it also makes Toy Story one of the highest-grossing animated franchises of all time. It already has a sizable lead over Pixar’s other franchises, and that total is only going to get bigger with Toy Story 5‘s release next summer.
|
Pixar Franchise |
# of Movies |
Box Office Total |
|---|---|---|
|
Toy Story |
4 |
$3.27 billion |
|
Inside Out |
2 |
$2.55 billion |
|
Finding Nemo |
2 |
$1.96 billion |
|
The Incredibles |
2 |
$1.87 billion |
|
Cars |
5 |
$1.7 billion |
|
Monsters, Inc. |
2 |
$1.3 billion |
Will Toy Story 5 Be The End Of The Franchise?
The Future Is Unconfirmed
Although we’re still a year away from Toy Story 5‘s release, whether this is the end for Buzz and Woody remains a major question. Pixar has not discussed plans for a sixth film, nor are there any known spinoffs in development. Based on how the studio has handled the property previously, it would seem likely that Toy Story 5 will work as a potential ending for the characters but also leave the door open for another adventure if audiences demand it.
The odds are against Toy Story 5 definitively being the last installment
Considering Pixar has tried to conclude the franchise twice before and turned Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4 into false endings by making sequels, the odds are against Toy Story 5 definitively being the last installment. Audiences love Woody and Buzz, and with the fifth film now venturing into a toys vs tech storyline, there is potential for more stories and characters to enter this world. That could allow Pixar to keep making movies in this series well after next year.
