Pixar veteran Pete Docter has opened up about the studio’s current challenges in developing fresh films and franchises, as the latest release, Elio, struggles to gain traction at the box office.
Emphasizing the need to “discover what people want before they know it,” Docter warned that the alternative is simply serving audiences “more of the same”—fueling an endless cycle of sequels and repetitive stories.
“We’d be making Toy Story 27,” he said during Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies Summit, just ahead of the studio’s new film’s release.
In the U.S., Elio earned only $20.8 million in its opening weekend—the lowest debut in Pixar’s history—amid stiff competition from fellow newcomer 28 Years Later and the recent live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon.Globally, Elio has brought in $14 million, pushing its total box office to $34.8 million—far below its $150 million production budget, not including marketing expenses.
“It’s a tough period, and all we can do is make movies we truly believe in,” Docter said. “It takes just as much effort to create something that doesn’t earn money as it does to make something that does. You can’t really plan for this. Sometimes, you just get lucky with the right mix of elements.”
Elio has received strong praise from critics, yet it hasn’t resonated with audiences the way Pixar hoped. This marks a sharp contrast to the reception of its predecessor, Inside Out 2, which exceeded expectations and became Disney’s highest-grossing film ever with $1.69 billion in revenue.
Pixar's Elio: 10 New Trailer Screenshots
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Beyond individual film performance, deeper trends are at play—persistent audience hesitation stemming from pandemic-era shifts and the growing expectation that animated films will quickly land on streaming platforms.
To reduce risk, Docter revealed Pixar is now following a loose rhythm: one original film followed by a sequel to a proven franchise. Indeed, 2026 will bring Toy Story 5. While not quite the Toy Story 27 he joked about, it still adds another chapter to a story many believed concluded perfectly with Toy Story 3—especially after the underperformance of the Buzz-focused spin-off Lightyear.
Looking ahead, Pixar’s upcoming lineup aligns with Docter’s strategy: a blend of original ideas and sequels. Alongside Toy Story 5, next year introduces the human-animal body-swap comedy Hoppers, followed by Gatto, centered on a feline protagonist, in 2027. Then comes Incredibles 3 in 2028 and Coco 2 in 2029.
