Toy Story 5 Sets Record with $312 M Global Debut and Tech vs Play

Disney and Pixar’s fifth installment of the Toy Story franchise opened to a $160 million domestic weekend, the biggest opening ever for the series and the largest domestic debut of 2026. Internationally it added $152 million, bringing the worldwide total to $312 million, surpassing previous franchise highs and beating other 2026 releases such as the Super Mario Galaxy movie.

The film’s storyline pits the classic toys against a new technological rival – the Lilypad tablet – and centers on Jessie’s emotional arc. Reviewers note that the movie uses the tablet conflict to comment on modern screen‑time habits, while a separate analysis highlights how Toy Story 5 finally addresses the long‑standing Buzz Lightyear “freeze” inconsistency.

Critically, the picture holds a 92 % Rotten Tomatoes rating and is being discussed as a strong contender for the Best Animated Feature Oscar. Its commercial success also outperformed Disney’s recent Star Wars theatrical effort, earning more than $328 million globally within its first week.