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Photograph: (Image Courtesy: The Hollywood Reporter)
Pixar’s latest original film, Elio, has delivered the studio’s weakest box office opening to date, earning an estimated $21 million in North America and an additional $14 million internationally over its debut weekend. Despite receiving largely positive reviews, the alien-themed animation struggled to attract audiences in a crowded market.
The film centres on a lonely boy who finds himself accidentally appointed as Earth’s ambassador to an intergalactic council after being abducted by friendly aliens. While the concept was praised for its charm and emotional depth, Elio faced stiff competition from other major releases. These included DreamWorks’ live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon, which brought in $37 million in its second weekend, and 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle’s long-anticipated zombie sequel, which raked in $30 million domestically and $60 million globally.
Pixar had reportedly anticipated a muted performance for Elio, acknowledging the current industry trend where original animations often underperform compared to sequels, reboots, and established franchises. This stands in contrast to the studio’s massive success with Inside Out 2, which grossed $155 million on its opening weekend and soared to $1.7 billion globally in 2024.
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Ahead of its release, projections suggested Elio would perform similarly to Pixar’s 2023 original Elemental, which debuted with just under $30 million before eventually turning into a sleeper hit, grossing nearly $500 million worldwide. Disney, Pixar’s parent company, has expressed confidence that Elio may follow a similar trajectory. Early audience response appears promising, with the film receiving an ‘A’ CinemaScore and particularly strong reactions from younger viewers, who gave it an ‘A+’.
Mixed Reviews and Box Office Comparisons for ‘Elio’
Critics have also generally responded well, though some have described the film as uneven. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian noted that while Elio had “charm, likability and that potent ingredient: childhood loneliness and vulnerability,” parts of the story set in space occasionally felt formulaic.
To date, Pixar’s most successful box office debut remains Incredibles 2, which opened in 2018 with $182.6 million domestically and $231.5 million globally.
