The future of Pixar has been clear for some time, although the recent box office failure of Elio has certainly not helped. The new film has been an enormous box office disappointment for Pixar, but this performance only solidifies a trend that has plagued the studio in recent years.

Pixar used to be one of the most dependable brands in Hollywood. The best Pixar movies have examined rich characters of all kinds, from rats and bugs to emotions themselves. While the studio’s quality has become more mixed with recent efforts like Lightyear, they still have seemed to remain important to moviegoers.

With that said, not every Pixar movie is now able to connect. What went wrong with Elio is a complex and multifaceted situation and, while there are certainly lessons to be learned from the film’s box office failure, the bulk of Pixar’s future direction is not nearly as influenced by Elio‘s performance as one might think.

Sequels & Franchises Are A Big Part Of Pixar’s Future, Even Before Elio

The Studio Is Moving Forward With Many Sequels After The Success Of Inside Out 2

Pixar has been pivoting to a model that would see more sequels for some time. Elio‘s performance only further reiterated the necessity of this move. The studio currently has a series of sequels in the works for the future, including Toy Story 5 and Incredibles 3, and there will likely be even more of these announced in the near future.

Every hit Pixar movie from the past could conceivably be used for franchise opportunities. While a Ratatouille 2 did not happen in the past, there are rumors of Pixar considering one now. Sequels to WALL-E and even A Bug’s Life could be good opportunities for Pixar moving forward, which has built a strong library of high-quality intellectual properties.

The global box office has shifted to prioritizing sequels over originals in general. Every American film in 2024’s highest-grossing films was a sequel, except for Wicked, which was an adaptation of a hit Broadway musical. Audiences are drawn to seeing things that they are familiar with, which has impacted box office opportunities for original films.

This trend is bigger than Pixar, and there are many reasons for it. The theatrical to streaming window has shortened, theatrical costs have grown higher, and income disparity has become an increasing problem. In order for audiences to go to the cinema, the movie must feel like a genuine event. This is much harder to do with an original film.

With great creativity, these Pixar sequels still have the opportunity to tell original stories. The Toy Story films have tackled unique stories and themes from one another, as have the Incredibles movies. While it is disappointing to see original films fare so poorly in cinemas lately, there is still an opportunity for Pixar to continue providing quality stories.

Pixar Has To Rely On Sequels More At This Point

Originals Are Important, But Sequels Are A Greater Draw

Many have spoken about Pixar’s pivot to releasing films directly on Disney+ during the Covid-19 pandemic, and how this has hurt the brand’s reputation. By doing this with great films like Luca, Soul, and Turning Red, Pixar seemed to set a precedent and an expectation. With big-screen TVs in many homes, the theatrical viewing experience arguably seems less essential.

The studio has been trying to combat this by making movies that emphasize great visuals. Pete Docter previously spoke about Disney+ and its impact on Pixar, speaking about how the studio now must listen to audiences and figure out how to best entice them to come to cinemas. In an interview with Variety, he explained this further:

In the long run, there’s been a bit of a mixed blessing because we’ve trained audiences that these films will be available for you on Disney+. And it’s more expensive for a family of four to go to a theater when they know they can wait, and it’ll come out on the platform.

Looking at the box office performance helps to show why Pixar has chosen to move forward this way. Granted, the COVID-19 pandemic and the studio’s move to release movies directly to streaming did not help, but audiences were already becoming less enamored with Pixar’s original offerings.

Onward and Lightyear were well-liked, but not loved by general audiences, and that was reflected in their box office grosses. Even Elemental, which was a moderate hit at the box office after a disappointing start, performed lower than Pixar’s hopes and expectations.

Unfortunately, Pixar has become a less consistent brand at the box office. With the quality of a Pixar film being less dependable, audiences have chosen to invest their money in sequels while leaving the originals to watch at home. This allowed Inside Out 2 to become the biggest animated movie of all time until Ne Zha 2 was released in 2025.

Pixar has to depend on its brands, although they are also well aware of the necessity of building new ones. Movies like Hoppers and Gatto are exciting new projects, but are unlikely to hit the box office highs of Toy Story 5 and Incredibles 3. Unfortunately, Elio may be the last movie of its kind from Pixar for some time.

Source: Variety