Toy Story 5 Tops 2026 Tuesday With $23.7M, Crossing $200M Domestic in 5 Days

Q: As Toy Story and Mario battle for records, which animation giant will ultimately win the 2026 box office war?

Right now, Mario is still ahead for the full-year crown, but Toy Story 5 has the stronger momentum and a real chance to overtake it. The clearest fact is that Universal/Illumination/Nintendo’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has already crossed $1 billion worldwide and, as of June 22, stood at about $429.6 million domestically, making it the highest-grossing 2026 release so far. That gives Mario a major head start in the 2026 animation race. But Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is opening at a faster pace. It posted a $159.6 million domestic debut, the best opening of 2026, then delivered the year’s best Monday and Tuesday, including a $23.7 million Tuesday that beat Mario’s 2026 record. It passed $200 million domestic in five days, one day faster than Mario and on par with Inside Out 2 and Moana 2. That matters because early trajectory often signals final ceiling. Toy Story 5 also has stronger critical and audience support, with reviews and exit scores suggesting better staying power. If it follows the recent pattern of animated sequels such as Inside Out 2 and Zootopia 2, it could finish well above $1 billion and potentially become the year’s biggest animated title. So the race is not settled. Mario leads on total gross today; Toy Story 5 looks like the more powerful runner from here. If Pixar holds well through July, it has the best shot to win the 2026 box office war.

Q: Will 'Supergirl's' opening be strong enough to secure the future of DC's new cinematic universe?

No. A projected $40 million to $50 million opening for “Supergirl” would be respectable for a secondary DC character, but it would not be strong enough on its own to secure the future of James Gunn’s new DC universe. The core issue is scale. “Supergirl” is reportedly carrying a production budget in the $170 million to $175 million range, with marketing likely pushing total costs far higher. At that level, analysts generally expect a worldwide gross near $500 million to reach breakeven. An opening in the high $40 millions suggests a much tougher path to that mark, especially compared with “Superman,” which launched the DCU with a far stronger $125 million domestic debut and $618 million worldwide. The film’s reception also looks mixed rather than momentum-building. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is hovering in the low 60s, and while Milly Alcock’s performance has drawn praise, reactions to the villain, action, and overall execution have been less enthusiastic. That matters because the second live-action DCU film needs to show the brand can expand beyond its biggest icons. That said, one opening weekend will not decide the entire franchise. Warner Bros. and DC Studios are clearly committed to Supergirl as a long-term character, and the broader DCU will be judged on whether multiple releases can deliver consistent audience interest and solid box office. If “Supergirl” opens in the projected range, it would be more a warning sign than a fatal blow.

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jun 24

$23.7 million on Tuesday pushed Toy Story 5 past $200 million domestic in just its fifth day, matching the post-Covid pace of Inside Out 2 and Moana 2.
That haul rose 37% from Monday's $17.3 million, also a 2026 best, and easily beat the previous top Tuesday this year—Super Mario Galaxy Movie's $14.7 million.
Among June Tuesdays, the Pixar sequel ranks fourth behind Inside Out 2, Incredibles 2 and Jurassic World, giving it the third-best Tuesday ever for a Pixar title.
After a $159.6 million opening and a record $101.2 million second weekend for an animated film, the movie is projected to slip 40%-45% to $88 million-$96 million in weekend two.