'Elio' Makes Unfortunate 30-Year Pixar Box Office History

Disney's latest animated film, "Elio," received a ton of positive reviews before releasing in theaters, and yet, the box office numbers this weekend were downright brutal. 

"Elio" is about a boy with a huge alien obsession who gets abducted by the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization. This sci-fi adventure serves as a message about childhood and social isolation. 

Even though 84% of the Rotten Tomatoes reviews for "Elio" were positive, Disney fans didn't come out in full force to support this original film. 

According to Variety, "Elio" earned $21 million domestically and $35 million globally this past weekend. It's the worst opening weekend for a Pixar film in its 30-year history. 

Earning $35 million opening weekend when the film costs $150 million to produce isn't exactly a winning formula, and it's important to note this budget doesn't include marketing expenses. 

"These would be solid numbers for another original animation film, but this is Pixar," David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. "By Pixar’s remarkable standard, this opening is weak." 

Just a year ago, Pixar's "Inside Out 2" made $154 million during its opening weekend. "Elemental," meanwhile, earned roughly $29 million when it first hit theaters in June 2023. 

It's clear that Disney and Pixar's sequels can shine at the box office. When it comes to original movies, however, there's somewhat of a disconnect between the critical response and the box office numbers. 

What's also going against "Elio" is that it's battling serious competition at the box office. There are two family films out right now in "Lilo & Stitch" and "How To Train Your Dragon." Both live-action remakes have done well at the box office.