Pixar’s latest original outing, Elio, just claimed a title no studio wants to earn: worst opening weekend in Pixar’s nearly 40-year history. The heartwarming sci-fi film earned just $21 million domestically in its debut, struggling to find its place among summer blockbusters and reminding everyone just how brutal the current box office climate can be.
What is Elio About?
Directed by Adrian Molina (Coco) and featuring a voice cast led by Yonas Kibreab and Zoe Saldaña, Elio tells the story of an introverted eleven-year-old boy who accidentally becomes Earth’s ambassador to a galactic council. It’s quirky, colorful, and emotionally layered—classic Pixar DNA.
Visually, Elio is a triumph. The animation team used a mix of cutting-edge lighting tools and visual storytelling techniques inspired by sci-fi classics like E.T. and Close Encounters. Yet even this technical mastery couldn’t lift the film beyond a disappointing debut.
So, What Went Wrong?
Multiple factors combined to ground Elio‘s takeoff:
1. Ruthless Competition The film launched against serious heavyweights. DreamWorks’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake pulled in $37 million in its second weekend, while Danny Boyle’s horror sequel 28 Years Later exceeded expectations with a $30 million opening. That kind of competition squeezes out anything less than a sure-fire hit.
2. Original vs. Familiar Recent history hasn’t been kind to Pixar’s original content. Films like Luca, Onward, and even Elemental started slow, only finding their audiences well after release. By contrast, sequels like Inside Out 2 are raking in billions globally. In today’s entertainment economy, audiences are showing a clear preference for the familiar over the new.
3. Soft Marketing and Mixed Buzz Despite positive early reviews and a CinemaScore of “A,” Elio didn’t generate the kind of cultural buzz needed to stand out. Some analysts even flagged the title as being too vague or forgettable. While the film’s heartfelt trailer resonated with core Pixar fans, broader marketing just didn’t stick.
4. The Cost of Going to the Movies Here’s the real talk: life is expensive right now. Movie tickets, concessions, parking—it adds up fast. Families are being choosier about what they see in theaters. For many, unless it’s a mega-sequel or a four-quadrant crowd-pleaser, it can wait for streaming.
Is There Still Hope for Elio?
Possibly. Elemental opened even stronger than Elio, yet it eventually brought in over $500 million globally thanks to strong word-of-mouth and an extended theatrical run. Disney is hoping lightning can strike twice.
With Elio now headed into its critical second and third weeks, its long-term prospects depend on its staying power and whether families come around once the box office crowd thins out. Either way, it’s a wake-up call for Pixar that even emotional resonance and jaw-dropping animation aren’t enough without timing, support, and maybe a little nostalgia.
