Pixar’s ‘Elio’ Opens to Lowest Box Office in Studio History Despite Positive Reviews

Pixar’s latest original film Elio has opened to just $21 million domestically and $14 million overseas, marking the weakest opening weekend in Pixar’s 30‑year history.

Despite the disappointingly low box office performance—trailing behind Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon and Sony’s 28 Years Later—the film has surprisingly strong audience reception. It earned a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, an A CinemaScore, and a promising PostTrak rating.

Analysts attribute the underperformance to stiff competition from branded franchises, limited marketing reach, and lukewarm pre-release recognition. One media analyst noted, “The brand identity for this actual film and its characters wasn’t there”.

This follows a similar trend—2023’s Elemental saw a modest start yet went on to earn $496 million globally, suggesting Elio may still recover through strong word-of-mouth and a Disney+ rollout.

Box office staples like sequels and remakes (Inside Out 2, Moana 2, etc.) continue to dominate the market, reinforcing the challenges original features face in today’s market.