Toy Story 5 outgrosses Disney’s costly bet on Mandalorian & Grogu
Less than a week in, Toy Story 5 is ruling the box office and has already outgrossed Disney’s costly Star Wars gamble. The Pixar sequel is also winning over critics and crowds, sitting at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes from 261 reviews.
Pixar's back at it with Toy Story 5, and, unsurprisingly, it's cleaned up at the box office. We're less than a week in, and the thing is already a money-printing machine for Disney. I know sequels are a bit of a mixed bag these days, but apparently, there's still life in old Woody and his mates.
Massive Box Office Numbers—And a Little Bragging Rights
Here's the big headline: Toy Story 5 has already outperformed Disney's last Star Wars film—yes, really. According to Box Office Mojo, Woody and Buzz have pulled in over $328 million worldwide, which puts them a solid $6 million ahead of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’s entire theatrical takings. To be fair, Star Wars hasn't exactly been on a hot streak at the cinema in recent years, but still, that's rather telling.
For reference, The Mandalorian and Grogu managed $322 million globally. Not terrible, but when your budget's reportedly around $150 million and you’re Star Wars, the bar should probably be set a bit higher—especially since this one was the first Star Wars release at the box office in almost seven years, post-The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
Critical Reactions: Pretty Much All Smiles
If money's not enough, Toy Story 5 is doing the business with critics and the public too. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, it's sitting at a very healthy 92% approval, and that's over 250 reviews deep, so hardly a fluke. There's always someone who'll call a Pixar sequel unnecessary, but this time, it actually looks like the majority are on board.
The Brains and Voices Behind the Toys
This one sees Andrew Stanton, who you’ll know from Finding Nemo, directing and co-writing (this time with Kenna Harris). Stanton also crafted the original story. If you’re here for the nostalgia, the gang’s all back—plus a few new faces and voices. Here’s who's in the toy box this round:
- Tom Hanks as Woody
- Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear
- Joan Cusack as Jessie
- Greta Lee as Lilypad
- Conan O'Brien as Smarty Pants
- Tony Hale as Forky
- John Ratzenberger as Hamm
- Wallace Shawn as Rex
- Blake Clark as Slinky Dog
- Jeff Bergman as Mr. Potato Head
- Anna Vocino as Mrs. Potato Head
- Annie Potts as Bo Peep
- Bonnie Hunt as Dolly
- Melissa Villaseñor as Karen Beverly
- John Hopkins as Mr. Pricklepants
- Kristen Schaal as Trixie
- Ernie Hudson as Combat Carl
- Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom
- Craig Robinson as Atlas
- Shelby Rabara as Snappy
- Scarlett Spears as Bonnie
- Mykal-Michelle Harris as Blaze
- Matty Matheson as Dr. Nutcase
If any of you're wondering about that slightly surreal casting—yes, Conan O'Brien and Matty Matheson both have speaking parts, and it's not a fever dream.