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“Elio” Box Office: Initial Figures Revealed
Disney and Pixar’s latest animated feature, “Elio,” has opened to a disappointing box office performance, marking the lowest domestic debut in Pixar’s illustrious history. Released on June 20, 2025, the film earned an estimated $9 million on its opening Friday, including preview screenings, from approximately 3,750 locations. Industry projections suggest an opening weekend in the range of $20-$22 million, falling significantly short of expectations.
Related – Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ Blasts into Disney Parks Worldwide
“Elio,” an original animated adventure centered on a young boy mistakenly identified as Earth’s intergalactic ambassador, faced stiff competition in its opening weekend. It was overshadowed by Universal’s live-action fantasy film “How to Train Your Dragon,” which continued to perform strongly in its second weekend, and the horror sequel “28 Years Later,” which topped Friday’s chart.
The film’s opening figures are a stark contrast to previous Pixar releases. The studio’s prior lowest domestic debut in the modern era was “Elemental” in 2023, which opened with $29.6 million. While “Elemental” eventually found its legs and went on to gross around $500 million globally as a sleeper hit, “Elio” faces an uphill battle to recoup its reported $150 million production budget with such a soft start.
Despite the box office struggles, “Elio” has garnered generally positive reviews from critics, boasting an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and an “A” CinemaScore from audiences, indicating strong reception from those who have seen it. This suggests that positive word-of-mouth could potentially help the film’s longevity in theaters, though it would need exceptional “legs” to significantly improve its overall gross.
The modest opening for “Elio” continues a recent trend for original Pixar films, which have sometimes struggled to capture the same immediate audience attention as their franchise counterparts. However, Pixar’s upcoming slate includes “Toy Story 5” in 2026, a sequel expected to perform exceptionally well given the franchise’s history of billion-dollar global grosses. This suggests that while “Elio” may be a bump in the road, Pixar’s long-term box office outlook remains strong, particularly with beloved franchises.
Did you see “Elio” this weekend?
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