10 Lowest-Grossing Pixar Movies of All Time, Ranked

Pixar Animation Studios is known for creating some of the most successful animated films of all time. The studio has a long history of both critical and commercial hits, with many of its movies breaking box office records. Films like ‘Incredibles 2’, ‘Toy Story 3’, and ‘Finding Dory’ have all become massive global blockbusters, cementing Pixar’s reputation as a powerhouse in the film industry.

However, not every Pixar film has been a massive box office success. Several factors can contribute to a movie’s lower earnings, including high production budgets, competition, and the challenges of marketing original stories. This list explores the films that, for various reasons, earned the least at the worldwide box office, ranked from the highest-grossing of the group down to the lowest.

We haven’t included ‘Soul,’ ‘Luca,’ or ‘Turning Red’ as they were first released on Disney+.

1. Toy Story 2 (1999)

With a worldwide gross of over $511 million, ‘Toy Story 2’ is by no means a box office failure, but it lands on this list when compared to Pixar’s other massive hits. The film was a huge success at the time, even surpassing the earnings of the original ‘Toy Story’. It became the highest-grossing animated film of the year it was released.

The production of ‘Toy Story 2’ was famously troubled. It was initially planned as a direct-to-video sequel, but Disney executives were so impressed with the early footage that they decided to upgrade it to a theatrical release. This decision left the creative team with a very compressed production schedule of only nine months to redevelop the entire plot and complete the film. Despite these challenges, the movie received widespread critical acclaim.

2. Elemental (2023)

‘Elemental’ earned approximately $496.4 million globally. The film had a disappointing opening weekend, leading many to believe it would be a box office flop, especially considering its $200 million budget. However, strong word-of-mouth and positive audience reception helped the movie to have a remarkable turnaround.

The film’s performance steadily improved over its theatrical run, eventually becoming what some analysts consider a sleeper hit. In some international markets, like South Korea, the movie performed particularly well. Despite its slow start, ‘Elemental’ ultimately managed to surpass the worldwide gross of other recent animated films and was considered a profitable venture for Disney when factoring in streaming and merchandise.

3. Cars (2006)

The first installment in the ‘Cars’ franchise grossed about $462 million worldwide. While a solid performance, it was considered a more modest result for a Pixar film at the time. The movie was a commercial success against its $120 million budget and ranked number one at the box office in its opening weekend.

Despite not being one of Pixar’s highest earners at the box office, the ‘Cars’ franchise has been incredibly lucrative through merchandise sales. The world of Lightning McQueen and his friends proved to be extremely popular with younger audiences, leading to billions of dollars in revenue from toys and other products. The success of the merchandise paved the way for two sequels and a spin-off franchise.

4. Toy Story (1995)

The film that started it all, ‘Toy Story’, grossed over $394 million worldwide. It was the highest-grossing domestic film of the year it was released. Produced on a modest budget of $30 million, the film was a massive critical and commercial success that revolutionized the animation industry.

‘Toy Story’ was the first feature-length computer-animated film and its success established Pixar as a major player in Hollywood. The film’s innovative animation and heartwarming story resonated with audiences of all ages. It earned three Academy Award nominations and received a Special Achievement Academy Award for its groundbreaking contribution to cinema.

5. Cars 3 (2017)

The third film in the ‘Cars’ series, ‘Cars 3’, earned a worldwide total of over $383 million. While still a box office success against its $175 million budget, it became the lowest-grossing film in the franchise. The opening weekend was also the lowest of the series, though it still debuted at number one.

The film was seen as a return to the racing roots of the first movie after the spy-themed second installment. It received generally positive reviews from critics. However, the lower box office numbers suggested that the franchise may have been losing some of its appeal with audiences.

6. A Bug’s Life (1998)

Pixar’s second feature film, ‘A Bug’s Life’, grossed over $363 million worldwide. While a financial and critical success, it didn’t quite reach the box office heights of its predecessor, ‘Toy Story’. The film was notable for being one of two major animated films about insects released around the same time, the other being DreamWorks’ ‘Antz’.

With a budget estimated between $40 and $120 million, the film’s box office return was a solid success for the young studio. It helped to prove that Pixar was not a one-hit wonder and could continue to produce successful and beloved animated features. The story of an inventive ant who recruits a group of circus bugs to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers was praised for its detailed animation and engaging story.

7. The Good Dinosaur (2015)

‘The Good Dinosaur’ grossed approximately $332.2 million worldwide, making it Pixar’s first film to be considered a box-office disappointment. The movie had a troubled production history, with changes in directors and story rewrites, which pushed back its release date. These production issues contributed to a higher budget, estimated between $175 and $200 million.

With its high production and marketing costs, the film was estimated to have lost the studio a significant amount of money, making it Pixar’s first movie that did not break even during its theatrical run. The film faced stiff competition at the box office and some critics felt the story was not up to Pixar’s usual standards, though the animation was widely praised.

8. Lightyear (2022)

The ‘Toy Story’ spin-off, ‘Lightyear’, earned about $226.4 million globally. The film, which tells the origin story of the hero that inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy, had a production budget of $200 million. Its box office performance was considered a major disappointment for Pixar, as it failed to meet expectations.

Analysts pointed to several factors for the film’s underperformance, including a confusing premise that separated it from the beloved ‘Toy Story’ films and the fact that it was the first Pixar movie to have a wide theatrical release after several films went straight to Disney+. This may have conditioned audiences to wait for it to be available on the streaming service.

9. Elio (2025)

Released in the summer of 2025, ‘Elio’ grossed approximately $144 million worldwide. The film, about a young boy who is mistaken for Earth’s intergalactic ambassador, had a production budget of around $150 million. Its opening weekend was the lowest in Pixar’s history, raising concerns about the box office draw of original, non-sequel films from the studio.

Despite a disappointing box office debut, the film received positive reviews from critics and an “A” CinemaScore from audiences. Some analysts drew comparisons to ‘Elemental’, which also had a weak opening but found success through strong word-of-mouth. However, ‘Elio’ struggled to gain the same kind of momentum in a competitive market.

10. Onward (2020)

‘Onward’ is Pixar’s lowest-grossing film, with a worldwide total of about $142 million. The film’s box office performance was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released in early March 2020, just before theaters worldwide began to shut down, cutting its theatrical run significantly short.

The fantasy adventure, about two elf brothers on a quest to spend one last day with their deceased father, had a budget of around $175-200 million. Due to the circumstances of its release, the film was made available on digital platforms and Disney+ just a few weeks after its theatrical debut, where it found greater success. The film received positive reviews and a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.

Let us know in the comments which of these underdog Pixar movies you think deserves more love.