'Toy Story 5' Achieves Second-Biggest Animated Preview Night in Box Office History

The ‘Toy Story’ franchise continues to showcase its remarkable multigenerational appeal, as ‘Toy Story 5’ demonstrates that the love for Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Pixar’s cherished toy ensemble remains as strong as ever.

Since the debut of the original film in 1995, each new installment has transcended mere entertainment, uniting families through a unique blend of nostalgia and heartfelt storytelling that few Hollywood properties can replicate. With a seven-year gap since the last film, excitement for this opening weekend was understandably high.

Directed by Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Kenna Harris, the fifth installment brings back much of the beloved voice cast. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack reprise their roles, joined by newcomers like Greta Lee, who voices Lilypad, a new tablet device that shakes up playtime in Bonnie’s household.

‘TOY STORY 5’ earned $17.5M from Thursday previews at the domestic box office.

The biggest preview gross of 2026 and the second-biggest ever for an animated film. pic.twitter.com/dsUDEOSFcY

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) June 19, 2026

Adding to the film’s cultural significance, Taylor Swift announced her contribution of an original song titled “I Knew It, I Knew You” for the character Jessie.

Audiences flocked to theaters even before the weekend officially started. ‘Toy Story 5’ previews reached $17.5 million, marking not only a franchise record but also the second-highest for Pixar and any animated film, making it the strongest preview performance of 2026 thus far. This positions the fifth installment in record-breaking territory before its official opening day.

The only animated preview that surpasses this figure is ‘Incredibles 2’, which holds the all-time record at $18.5 million. Following ‘Toy Story 5’ are ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ at $17.4 million, ‘Moana 2’ at $13.8 million, and ‘Inside Out 2’ at $13 million. For context, ‘Toy Story 4’ had $12 million in Thursday previews leading to a $120 million opening weekend in 2019, meaning the latest installment is off to a significantly stronger start.

The film also premiered in 28 countries on Thursday, bringing its international total to $26 million over the first two days and raising the early global total to $43.5 million. According to Variety, the domestic opening weekend is currently projected between $145 million and $150 million, with some estimates reaching as high as $160 million to $175 million, buoyed by positive critical reviews.

‘Toy Story 5’ boasts a 94 percent Certified Fresh rating from critics ahead of its opening weekend, with early audience reactions also trending positively, reflected in a 93 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This alignment between critics and viewers indicates strong enthusiasm for Pixar’s latest narrative direction.

While ‘Incredibles 2’ holds the record for the highest animated opening weekend at $182.7 million, the impressive Thursday night figures raise the intriguing question of whether Woody and Buzz can finally seize that title. Join the conversation in the comments below.