Does Elio, Pixar’s worst box office opener, show people only want animated film sequels?

With poor opening weekend US box office takings, Elio raises questions about viewers’ preferences for animated sequels over new stories

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A still from Pixar’s Elio. The animated movie saw opening weekend box office takings in North America amount to an estimated US$21 million, making it Pixar’s worst opening-weekend result ever. Photo: TNS

Published: 5:15pm, 23 Jun 2025

For decades, Pixar could hardly miss with its original animated films.

Whether the subject was toys, fish or a cantankerous old man, the California-based computer animation studio churned out hit after hit.

But since the Covid-19 pandemic, Walt Disney-owned Pixar and other animation studios have struggled to break through at the box office with the same kinds of original films that defined the industry. Instead, sequels such as Inside Out 2 have ruled the genre.

The weekend release of Elio, an original film from Pixar about a young boy who seeks connection with aliens to make up for his loneliness on Earth, saw box office takings in North America from Thursday evening to Sunday amount to an estimated US$21 million, making it Pixar’s worst opening-weekend result ever.

A still from Pixar’s Inside Out 2. Photo: TNS

That also highlights the dilemma the animation business – and the movie industry at large – faces with original content. While audiences often say they want to see new stories, box office ticket sales show they gravitate toward sequels, reboots and other familiar fare.

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