Toy Story 5 rockets to $300 million in just 10 days

If you thought we'd reached peak Toy Story about sixteen years ago, you're not alone. Most franchises run out of steam eventually, but not this one – Toy Story refuses to go the way of, say, Shrek after its third encore. Instead, it's smashed its own glass ceiling again, and done so in record-breaking fashion. Get this: Toy Story 5 has managed to pass the $300 million mark at the US box office in just ten days. Not even Toy Story 3 or 4 managed that – they took about three weeks to cross the same line. The numbers are so solid, they'd keep Mr Potato Head awake for a fortnight.

Toy Story 5 Smashes Franchise Records

Let's talk actual figures. As of today, the latest sequel has already made $326.7 million in the US alone. It sailed past the total domestic haul of the first two films in the series (which, by the way, is a proper feat given their places in animation history). At the moment, only Toy Story 4 ($434m) and Toy Story 3 ($415m) have made more, but the gap's closing rapidly.

Opening weekend for Toy Story 5 was a wild one: $159.7 million, the best opening for the series so far. Consider that the franchise has been going strong for three decades – these aren't numbers you'd expect from a series that's been out there since the late '90s.

How Did Toy Story 5 Pull This Off?

Honestly, it's not rocket science, but it's also not down to luck. Disney and Pixar got things right. Critics came out of those early screenings actually smiling (not always guaranteed) and gave the film an A on CinemaScore. Audiences are on board too: 95% positive rating from audiences and 92% from critics over on Rotten Tomatoes, and it's already been stamped 'Certified Fresh'. It's a G-rated film, which means parents don’t think twice about dragging the whole family along. Perfect slot too – it's out during the year’s prime release window, so there’s nothing really competing for the same crowd during those first couple of weeks.

The result? By its second week, Toy Story 5 had already doubled that huge opening. The total global box office stands at $614.5 million, which is just $136 million shy of reaching the point where it actually starts making money. To spell it out, Disney needs a film to make about two and a half times its production budget before the accountants crack open the prosecco. For Toy Story 5, the budget was $250 million, so it's already in healthy shape and looking to go the distance. Ticket sales only dropped about 54% in week two, nothing catastrophic, and it even stayed number one at the box office.

The Competition: Can Woody Hang On?

But things are getting interesting. There's always another animated monster on the prowl, and right now it's Minions & Monsters, which just bagged an A- from CinemaScore and is expected to pull in up to $90 million over the Fourth of July weekend. Not to mention Disney's live-action Moana next in line, aiming for $85m for its US debut. A couple of other contenders are waiting to pounce too: The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are both predicted to take the top spot when they arrive. It's like musical chairs at the multiplex.

• Toy Story 5 opening weekend: $159.7 million
• Current US total: $326.7 million (surpassing Toy Story 1 and 2's entire runs)
• Current global total: $614.5 million
• Budget: $250 million
• Break-even target: Around $686 million
• Movie rating: G
• Critical response: 95% audience, 92% critics (Rotten Tomatoes), A CinemaScore
• Competition: Minions & Monsters, Moana (live-action), The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Box Office Muscles: A Quick Look Back

Toy Story films have always had decent staying power. The original film, back in 1995, ended its US run with $229.9 million – that’s over six times what it made on its opening weekend. Sequels have all kept up, with each taking in several multiples of its first weekend’s earnings (4.3x for Toy Story 2, 3.8x for Toy Story 3, and 3.6x for Toy Story 4). The fifth outing is already well on its way, having fully doubled its massive opening in the second week. Past films have hung around cinemas for up to sixteen weeks, so there’s still loads of time for Toy Story 5 to squeeze every bit out of its big run.

What’s This One About?

If you’re wondering what our favourite plastic crew are up to this time, it’s the usual suspects – Buzz, Woody, Jessie – all facing a new kind of headache: the threat of playtime itself thanks to a bit of fancy technology. Apparently, even toys can’t escape the AI revolution.