Say what you like about Pixar’s ( ) mercenary embrace of the concept of sequels: They do make the ducats flow. that the studio’s latest return to the well, , is on track for the biggest opening weekend of 2024 to date, and will likely become the first Hollywood movie to crack the “$100 million opening weekend” mark in domestic markets since stormed into theaters 11 months ago. Figures are still a little fuzzy, but the film, directed by first-time director Kelsey Mann, picked up $62 million in Friday and preview screenings alone, so: A lot.
( at somewhere in the neighborhood of $140 million on the low end, likely to make it Pixar’s second-best domestic opening of all time, after .) That’s good news for Pixar—if not for the company’s continued efforts to produce -sequel films, the last several of which posted dismal opening weekends by comparison. (Although in some cases, like last year’s , an extremely strong international presence made the situation a bit less dire down the line.
) It’s undeniably the first really serious, out-the-gates for Pixar since the pre-pandemic days of —which, again, it’s probably going to beat, at least in its opening weekend, a major rarity when comparing the for the pre- and post-quarantine box office. (Meanwhile, it doesn’t hurt that has gotten strong reviews to go with the influx of cash. Although given how some of the studio’s recent films have gotten glowing critiques—not you, —accompanied by meager turnouts—yes.
