Pixar’s Elio Opens Low at Box Office, Faces Steep Climb Ahead
Pixar’s newly released animated film Elio has undershot expectations, accumulating USD 35 million in box office revenue by the end of its opening weekend. The film’s production budget sits approximately at USD 150 million, excluding marketing costs. This opening weekend revenue marks the lowest global debut for Pixar’s animated ventures in 29 years.
Breakdown Of Elio’s Global Weekend Gross
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Domestic (US): USD 21 million
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International Markets: USD 14 million
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Total Worldwide Gross: USD 35 million
These figures are far too low, especially considering Pixar’s reputation for consistently delivering family-friendly and children-centric blockbusters.
Box Office Drop: Strong WOM, Weak Pull-to-Box Office Ratio
The disparity between favourable reception on social media and contrasting ticket sales further worsens the situation surrounding Elio.
Early viewers praised its:
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Wonderful message
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Emotional impact
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Heartwarming narratives
Its depiction of a young boy abducted by aliens to the “Communiverse” explores themes of imagination and identity—quintessentially Pixar. However, despite the positive buzz, the film failed to draw in audiences.
Possible Reasons Behind the Discrepancy: Weak Marketing & Awareness
A key issue appears to be lack of marketing visibility.
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Many moviegoers were unaware of the release.
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Hardly any public space or digital advertising was seen.
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In a crowded summer release schedule, Elio got lost among more heavily promoted films.
Big Budget, Bigger Pressure: Needs USD 375–400 Million to Break Even
With a budget of USD 150 million and factoring in:
Analysts estimate Elio needs USD 375–400 million globally to break even.
The irony? It has already been outperformed by the lower-budget horror film 28 Years Later, suggesting Elio might face a slow death at the box office.
There’s growing concern that audiences are turning away from original animated films, making theatrical releases increasingly risky for animation studios.
Could Elio Have an ‘Elemental’-Type Resurgence?
All is not lost. Remember Pixar’s Elemental (2023)?
If Elio can connect with families and benefit from strong word-of-mouth, it might salvage its run.
But the challenge will be:
…while attempting to recover from what looks like a potential commercial bomb for Disney-Pixar.
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Box Office Worldwide Verdict
Elio’s unfortunate opening further highlights an increasingly volatile environment for animated originals—especially from a legacy studio like Pixar.
Starting with only USD 35 million, it faces a Herculean task to recover its costs.
With a good response and emotional story, Elio might still have a second chance—If the audience knows about it.
For now, this is Pixar’s biggest uphill battle yet.
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