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- 29 Jun, 2026
$312 Million Opening Weekend – Here’s Why Toy Story 5 is Breaking Records
Okay, stop whatever you’re doing. Put down your chai. Close that Instagram reel. Because we need to talk about the number $312 million – earned in just ONE weekend. That’s not a typo. That’s not a Bollywood box office fantasy. That is Woody, Buzz, and Jessie walking back into our lives like they never left, slapping every box office record in the face, and saying – “Yaar, we’re not done yet.”
Toy Story 5 just had the biggest animated opening weekend of 2026. And honestly? We’re not even surprised. We’re just emotional. Again. As always. Forever.
The Gang’s All Here – But So Is the iPad
Let’s get into what this film is actually about, because the plot is very 2026 and very relatable if you’ve ever tried to take a phone away from a child (or yourself, no judgment).
Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the whole toy squad are back in Bonnie’s room – but there’s a new threat in town, and it’s not Lotso. It’s not Stinky Pete. It’s a frog-shaped smart tablet called Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee), and she has arrived to ruin everything with her Wi-Fi and her superior processing power.
The toys realise that Bonnie’s attention is drifting. Away from them. Towards screens. Towards apps. Towards, frankly, us – because we’re all guilty of this too. The film asks a question that hits harder than you’d expect from a kids’ movie: What does it mean to belong in a world that’s moved on?
Yaar, who gave Pixar permission to come for our feelings like this? Nobody. They just did it anyway.
The Numbers Don’t Lie – And They’re Massive
Let’s talk rupees – well, dollars – because the box office story here is absolutely paisa vasool.
$160 million domestically in the US in just 3 days
$152 million internationally
$312 million globally – the biggest opening weekend of 2026, beating every single film released this year
The second biggest animated opening of ALL TIME, right behind Incredibles 2
To put it in perspective? Toy Story 4 opened to $120 million back in 2019 and everyone called that a massive success. Toy Story 5 walked in and said, “Hold my infinity gauntlet.”
The IMAX numbers? Also record-breaking. The premium format share is the highest the franchise has ever posted. People aren’t just watching this – they’re showing up big for it.
The Dream Team is Back – and Then Some
You cannot talk about Toy Story 5 without getting a little sentimental about the cast, because these voices are childhood.
Tom Hanks is back as Woody. Tim Allen returns as Buzz. Joan Cusack rides again as Jessie. Annie Potts is back as Bo Peep. Even Wallace Shawn (Rex) and John Ratzenberger (Hamm) are here – the full package, no compromises.
And then there are the new additions. Greta Lee as Lilypad is a scene-stealer – charming, slightly infuriating, and weirdly loveable all at once. Conan O’Brien also joins the cast, and frankly, that’s a casting choice we didn’t know we needed until now.
Behind the camera, director Andrew Stanton – the Oscar winner who gave us Finding Nemo and WALL·E – is steering this ship. Co-directed by Kenna Harris, produced by Lindsey Collins, and scored (of course) by the legendary Randy Newman, making his fifth Toy Story score. The man has been scoring our childhoods for 30 years. Respect.
Taylor Swift + Toy Story = The Collab of the Century
Okay, Swifties, assemble. Because this one’s for you.
Taylor Swift contributed an original song to Toy Story 5 titled “I Knew It, I Knew You“ – co-written with her long-time collaborator Jack Antonoff. And apparently, Swift attended an advance screening of the film, was completely moved by it, wrote the song in a blur of inspiration, and personally walked it over to Disney’s Bob Iger and handed it to him. Like a true main character.
The result? The song debuted at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 – the first ever number one for both Disney and Pixar. And Swift’s seventh chart-topper. Ek teer, do nishane.
The Journey Of 30 Years – A Quick Trip Down Memory Lane
If you’re new here (first of all, welcome), here’s a cheat sheet of the Toy Story journey:
🎬 Toy Story (1995) – The film that literally changed animation forever. The world’s first fully computer-animated feature film. Woody and Buzz meet, fight, and become best friends. We were today years old when we realised this film is over 30 years old.
🎬 Toy Story 2 (1999) – Woody discovers he’s a collectible. Jessie joins the gang. We cried during When She Loved Me and we will not be taking questions.
🎬 Toy Story 3 (2010) – Andy goes to college. The toys nearly get incinerated. Every millennial in the cinema was absolutely not okay. The greatest third film ever made.
🎬 Toy Story 4 (2019) – Woody finds Bo Peep again, discovers a new purpose, and says goodbye to Buzz in a scene that destroyed us. Tom Hanks himself said it was the last one.
🎬 Toy Story 5 (2026) – The comeback nobody saw coming. And somehow, it works beautifully.
The full franchise has earned over $3 billion globally – with two films crossing $1 billion individually. And Toy Story 5 is poised to become the highest-grossing film in the franchise’s history.
What the Critics and Audiences Are Saying About Toy Story 5
- 93% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes
- 95% Verified Moviegoers score
- “A” CinemaScore – the highest grade audiences can give
- Over 60 million hours of Toy Story films were streamed on Disney+ in the weeks leading up to this release – the biggest pre-release streaming lift ever seen for a theatrical film.
People aren’t just nostalgic. They genuinely love this film series. Critics have praised the storytelling, the emotional depth, and the surprisingly sharp commentary on kids and screen time. The animation? Next level – and no, before you ask, it was not made with AI. (The credits specifically clarify this, which, in 2026, is apparently something that needs to be said.)
Watch It in India – Right Now!
Toy Story 5 is in Indian cinemas from June 19, 2026, and it’s available in three languages – English, Hindi, and Tamil – so the whole family, from Nani to the toddler, can enjoy it together. Formats available: 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D.
If you’re going to watch it, go IMAX. Trust us. The visuals were built for the big screen and Bonnie’s imagination sequences alone are worth every extra rupee on that premium ticket.
Book your seats on BookMyShow, PVR, or INOX – and go this weekend before someone spoils the ending for you on Twitter. You know how it is.
Gupshup Tadka Review & Take
Okay, so we watched it. Here’s the honest by the Gupshup Tadka team, no-filter, desi-approved verdict:
The Good Stuff — Bilkul Paisa Vasool
Toy Story 5 hits you right in the nostalgia and doesn’t let go. The animation is so gorgeous it feels illegal — Bonnie’s imagination sequences look like someone mixed watercolour painting with a fever dream, and we mean that as the highest compliment. Woody and Buzz’s reunion? Chef’s kiss. The kind of bromance Bollywood has been trying to recreate for decades.
Lilypad as the “villain” is a genius move. She’s not evil — she genuinely wants to help Bonnie. And that moral greyness is what makes Toy Story 5 smarter than your average animated film. It’s not screens bad, toys good. It’s messier, realer, and honestly more honest than most adult films we’ve seen this year.
The Emotional Gut Punch — Hum Toh Rone Wale The
There is a scene — we won’t say which one — involving Woody and a quiet moment of letting go. We were not prepared. The person next to us was not prepared. Nobody in the cinema was prepared. Pixar once again proves they have a direct hotline to your tear ducts and zero shame about using it.
The Fun Factor — Full-On Timepass in the Best Way
Conan O’Brien’s character had us laughing out loud. Smarty Pants the toilet-training toy is chaotic and ridiculous and absolutely steals every scene he’s in. The 50 commemorative Buzz Lightyear figures running around like they own the place? Comic gold. This film balances the emotional weight with genuinely funny moments — it never feels heavy, even when it’s being deep.
Our One Complaint — Bas Ek Cheez
The first 20 minutes take a little time to find their footing. If you’re going in expecting it to hit like Toy Story 3 from minute one — give it a bit of patience. It finds its rhythm, and when it does, it absolutely soars.
Gupshup Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 Mirchis
Funny, emotional, visually stunning, and surprisingly relevant in a world where every kid has a tablet. Toy Story 5 didn’t need to exist — but we are so glad it does. Go watch it with your family, your friends, your neighbours, literally anyone. Just go.
Final Verdict – What are you waiting for?
Toy Story 5 isn’t just a film. It’s proof that some stories don’t get old – they just find new ways to be told. In a world where we’re all a little too attached to our screens (no offence, Lilypad), the toys remind us that real connection – the messy, loyal, show-up-for-each-other kind – never goes out of style.
$312 million in a weekend isn’t an accident. It’s 30 years of love, cashing in all at once.
Go watch it. Cry a little. Hug the person next to you. And then come back and tell us – did it live up to the hype?
To infinity and beyond, yaar. 🚀
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