Pixar director drops the clearest hint yet about Toy Story 6 — and where the franchise goes next

If you thought Pixar might be ready to let the toys have a break, think again. After Toy Story 5 made an absolute killing at the box office last weekend, all signs are pointing to the franchise rolling on for the foreseeable. And frankly, given the numbers they’re pulling in, why wouldn’t they?

Toy Story 5’s Smashing Debut

The fifth outing for Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang has smashed franchise records with a massive $160 million take at the US box office for its opening weekend. That’s the best opening in the history of Toy Story—not exactly something to sneeze at. Globally, Toy Story 5 hauled in a ridiculous $312 million, making it the second-biggest worldwide debut ever for a Pixar film. The only Pixar release to do better was Inside Out 2, which nabbed $384 million at launch two years back. All this on a reported budget of $250 million, so they’re not shy about splashing the cash here.

Critical Love-In

You might think by the fifth film things would be getting a bit stale, but apparently not. Toy Story 5's had critics and audiences both in its pocket. Rotten Tomatoes has its critic score sitting pretty at 94%, and for the audience score—a near-identical 95%. On paper, this thing’s all but bulletproof.

Director Gets Coy (Sort Of)

Now, what's got everyone talking is director Andrew Stanton. Fast forward to a recent interview, and he’s up to that classic Pixar teaser business. When asked what the next thirty years (yes, thirty!) might look like for Toy Story, his first answer was a flat: 'Can't tell you that.'

But then, as these things go, he couldn’t resist dropping a bit of a hint:

'I would want it to be honest like it has been and follow the lives of the kids. That's, I think, what really made that feel like a closed in a perfect trilogy for Andy. And hopefully we'll do the same, if it keeps going, for Bonnie and whoever else comes into their lives.'

In other words, if Pixar keeps this juggernaut rolling, you can expect the story to keep tracking the kids—just as they did with Andy originally, and then Bonnie after. It’s almost like he’s setting up the next jump to a new generation, isn't it?

Producer’s Turn

Lindsey Collins, who produced Toy Story 5, chimed in as well, saying the magic formula is just keeping things grounded in what real kids are dealing with in whatever decade they find themselves. 'That's what's been fun to kind of follow over the years,' she said. So, more of the toys as a mirror for children’s lives—no signs of galactic space battles anytime soon, presumably.

Here’s Where the Money Is

• Toy Story 5 budget: $250 million
• US opening weekend: $160 million (franchise record)
• Global opening: $312 million (Pixar’s second-best ever)
• Critical reception: 94% critics, 95% audience (Rotten Tomatoes)

Nothing remotely official has dropped about Toy Story 6 yet, but with figures this solid and the creative team openly teasing more stories, it feels less like a question of 'if' and more a question of 'when'. The only surprise would be if they didn't do it all over again.