Pixar’s $154M Sci-Fi Movie Flop Becomes Instant Streaming Hit (& Continues a 5-Year-Old Problem)

by

I used to be absolutely confident that anything with the Pixar name on it would be a huge hit in theaters. They were incredible, whether it was a brand new story or another adventure with beloved characters – except for a few like *The Good Dinosaur*, of course. But lately, things have really changed. It’s been tough to see Pixar struggle at the box office, especially after the pandemic. It felt like a new low when *Elio* came out – it had their worst opening weekend ever, and sadly, it didn’t do well. I’m glad to hear it’s finding an audience now that people can watch it at home, though! It’s a relief to see it getting a bit of a comeback.

The new Pixar film, *Elio*, is now streaming on Disney+ and is quickly gaining popularity. According to FlixPatrol, which tracks streaming trends, *Elio* is currently the most-watched movie on the platform, even beating out the live-action *Lilo & Stitch* remake. While it’s good that people are enjoying *Elio* at home, it also points to a significant issue for Pixar.

Pixar Has Become a Disney+ Franchise

Pixar released three movies – *Soul*, *Luca*, and *Turning Red* – directly on Disney+ during the pandemic. While this allowed many people to see the films easily and without extra cost, it also meant families got used to watching new Pixar releases at home instead of going to the cinema. Now that the pandemic has subsided, Pixar’s ticket sales haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels.

While *Inside Out 2* was a huge hit last summer, earning over $1 billion, Pixar has faced challenges recently. Films like *Lightyear* and *Elio* didn’t perform well, and even *Elemental*, despite becoming a popular word-of-mouth success, didn’t reach the box office numbers Pixar achieved in the 2000s and 2010s. Other family films, like this year’s *Lilo & Stitch* and *A Minecraft Movie*, have been very successful, suggesting the issue isn’t with family audiences in general. The problem seems to be specific to Pixar, and many believe Disney is partly to blame. Once audiences become accustomed to watching new movies at home, it’s difficult to get them back to theaters.

Pixar movies are still popular – the fact that *Elio* is currently the most-watched film on Disney+ proves that. However, the way people watch Pixar films is changing. Unless it’s a sequel to a well-known story, like *Inside Out 2*, audiences aren’t as eager to see new Pixar films in theaters, and Pixar needs to consider this. For years, original stories were what made Pixar famous and successful. While sequels like *Toy Story 5* and *Incredibles 3* are planned, Pixar is still creating new ideas. Their upcoming film *Hoppers*, releasing in March, and another project called *Gatto* – an adventure story about a cat in Venice – show this commitment. But these original films need to perform well, because Disney needs to see a return on its investment. A billion-dollar sequel contrasted with a disappointing original film sends a clear signal.

Disney might want to rethink when it releases Pixar movies in theaters. Traditionally, mid-June has been a successful time, but it’s no longer delivering the same results. For example, *Elio* came out too soon after *Lilo & Stitch* and *How to Train Your Dragon*, meaning there wasn’t enough demand to ensure its success. The upcoming release of *Hoppers* in early March – facing an R-rated film, *The Bride!* – will be a good test case. Unlike *Elio*, *Hoppers* shouldn’t have much direct competition and could attract families looking for entertainment. Hopefully, this will help it do well. Disney could consider releasing Pixar sequels – which are generally more reliable at the box office – during the summer and original films in the spring.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/ranking-2020s-pixar-movies-worst-to-best-including-elio/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-19 17:51