Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 has raced to the top of the box office, earning more than $300 million worldwide during its opening weekend and setting a new record for the long-running animated franchise.

The film, which debuted June 19, brought in more than $160 million in North America and another $150 million internationally, making it the biggest opening weekend in the history of the Toy Story series.

The latest installment reunites fan-favorite characters Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie as they confront an unexpected challenge: the growing influence of digital technology. In the film, the toys find themselves competing for children’s attention against a tablet computer, a storyline that reflects modern concerns about screen time and the changing ways young people play and interact.

The timely theme appears to have resonated with audiences, helping draw families back to theaters at a time when movie studios continue to battle the effects of streaming services and changing entertainment habits.

The strong debut is welcome news for Disney and Pixar, which have experienced mixed results in recent years. While blockbuster sequels such as The Incredibles 2 and Inside Out 2 surpassed the $1 billion mark worldwide, other recent releases, including Elio and the Toy Story spinoff Lightyear, struggled to attract audiences.

With a reported production budget of about $250 million, Toy Story 5 will still need to generate substantially more revenue to cover marketing and distribution costs. However, its opening performance suggests the film is well-positioned to become one of the year’s biggest hits.

The Toy Story franchise remains one of Pixar’s most successful properties. Since the original film debuted in 1995, the series has earned more than $3 billion at the global box office. The groundbreaking first movie helped establish Pixar as a leader in computer animation and introduced generations of viewers to the adventures of toys that come to life when humans are not watching.

Source: BBC