'Toy Story 5' races past $1 billion to become 2026's highest-grossing film

Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, becoming the first Hollywood film of 2026 to reach the milestone and the year's highest-grossing release worldwide.

The animated sequel achieved the feat after just over a month in cinemas, propelled by strong family attendance and sustained international demand. Its latest box office milestone cements the film as one of Pixar's biggest commercial successes and continues the studio's remarkable track record with the beloved Toy Story franchise.

Toy Story 5 has now overtaken every other 2026 release at the worldwide box office, surpassing major blockbusters released earlier this year. The film also follows its record-breaking opening weekend, which marked the biggest debut in the franchise's history.

Directed by Andrew Stanton, the fifth instalment reunites the iconic voice cast, including Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, while introducing a new storyline centred on children's growing dependence on technology. The toys find themselves competing with a tablet called Lilypad as they attempt to prove that traditional play still has a place in modern childhood.

The latest milestone comes at a significant moment for Pixar, which recently underwent a round of layoffs despite the film's commercial success. Even so, Toy Story 5 has reinforced the enduring popularity of one of animation's most successful franchises, nearly three decades after the original film premiered in 1995.

With no signs of slowing down, industry analysts expect Toy Story 5 to continue adding to its worldwide total in the coming weeks, strengthening its position as one of the year's defining box office hits.