Toy Story 5 is poised to shatter franchise records at Thursday night previews, pulling in an estimated $13 million to $14 million before its Friday official launch. Disney and Pixar's latest installment in the beloved toy-centric saga will surpass Toy Story 4's 2019 preview haul of $12 million, marking the strongest preview night in franchise history.
The robust Thursday numbers signal exceptional audience appetite for Woody and Buzz's return. Toy Story 4 grossed $434 million globally during its theatrical run, making it one of Pixar's most profitable ventures. The franchise has remained a box office juggernaut despite evolving audience tastes and the shift toward streaming during the pandemic years.
Preview night strength typically translates to solid opening weekend performance, and these figures suggest Toy Story 5 could open well above $100 million domestically. The film arrives during a competitive late-spring corridor when families seek theatrical experiences before summer tentpole season fully accelerates. Disney has positioned the release as a major event, banking on nostalgia among millennial audiences who grew up with the original 1995 film while targeting younger demographics discovering the characters through streaming and merchandising.
The franchise's endurance reflects Pixar's storytelling prowess and the emotional resonance these characters maintain across generations. Though some critics and audiences expressed fatigue with the Toy Story universe after four installments, the preview numbers demonstrate the IP's commercial resilience and Disney's marketing effectiveness.
Box office watchers will track whether these preview figures convert into a blockbuster opening weekend, particularly as the industry monitors theatrical recovery and audience willingness to spend on big-budget animated features in theaters rather than waiting for streaming debuts. The strong Thursday previews position Toy Story 5 as a potential box office winner heading into the weekend.