Pixar’s animated film “Elio” has officially become the studio’s biggest box office disappointment, opening with a mere $21 million domestically and $35 million worldwide. This historical low for the animation giant highlights a troubling trend in family entertainment as the once-invincible studio struggles to connect with audiences through original storytelling. Why was “Inside Out 2” so successful compared to “Elio”?
Pixar’s Historic Box Office Failure
Pixar’s latest film, “Elio,” has set an unfortunate record as the worst-performing release in the studio’s 30-year history, generating just $21 million domestically and $35 million globally in its opening weekend. This marks a staggering decline for a studio that previously celebrated opening weekends exceeding $180 million, with Variety bluntly stating the film “face-planted with the worst start in Pixar’s 30-year history.”
The financial implications are concerning as “Elio” reportedly cost well over $250 million to produce and market, with insider sources suggesting the true figure could approach $300 million due to extensive rewrites and production delays. These numbers become even more troubling when compared to recent Pixar releases like “Elemental” ($29.6 million opening) and “Lightyear” ($50.5 million opening), both considered disappointments that still performed better than “Elio.”
‘ELIO’ had the worst box office opening for a Pixar film ever with $21M domestically.
Read our review: https://t.co/sWEbQbysOC pic.twitter.com/woftUZVS2n
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 22, 2025
Creative Challenges and Industry Shifts
Industry analyst David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research noted the stark reality facing the studio: “This would be solid numbers for another original animation film, but this is Pixar. By Pixar’s remarkable standard, this opening is weak.”
The film reportedly struggled with balancing storytelling against marketable sci-fi elements, facing creative and cast turnover throughout its production cycle. Film critic Jason Solomons observed the storytelling issues, stating: “You can feel a need to have another script meeting in which they plot their way out of trouble with another layer of story or another dimension.”
Did the direction change really add that much more to Elio’s budget? Even Good Dinosaur costed under $200M.
I know budgets shouldn’t be the concern of non-investors, but you know studios would use Elio’s possible underperformance to say “original animation isn’t profitable”. https://t.co/FTJ01UU8Lo
— Alb3rt0 (@APPictures9) May 30, 2025
The Future of Pixar Storytelling
Pixar’s recent pattern reveals a stark contrast between original films and sequels, with “Inside Out 2” demonstrating extraordinary success with a $155 million opening and more than $1.7 billion in global earnings. This disparity has pushed the studio toward sequel development, with “Toy Story 5” and “Finding Marlin” now prioritized over original concepts.
The pandemic has fundamentally altered expectations for family films, creating a more challenging environment for animation studios to innovate and connect with audiences. While “Elio” earned an A CinemaScore from viewers who saw it, critics labeled it forgettable, with some considering it the worst Pixar film to date—a concerning assessment for a studio once celebrated for consistent creative excellence.
Disney maintains hope that “Elio” might find long-term success similar to “Elemental,” which started poorly but eventually reached $500 million globally. However, the landscape for family entertainment continues to evolve rapidly, suggesting Pixar’s brand recognition alone no longer guarantees audience engagement without compelling storytelling to match.