Toy Story 5 or the world cup?

ENTRETENIMIENTO

14-06-2026

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Editorial bajanews.mx| BajaNews
Publicado: 14-06-2026 16:34:52 PDT
Actualizado: 14-06-2026 16:37:29 PDT

The battle for audiences' attention in 2026 The release of Toy Story 5 will coincide with one of the biggest events on the planet: the 2026 FIFA

World Cup. Pixar’s highly anticipated sequel is set to hit theaters on June 19, just days after the tournament kicks off, setting the stage for another showdown between Hollywood and the world’s most popular sport.

History, however, suggests that the World Cup does not always hurt the box office prospects of major film releases. In fact, the Toy Story franchise has already proven it can thrive during football’s biggest event.

Toy Story 3 already won a similar battle

Back in 2010, during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Toy Story 3 premiered while the group stage was underway and went on to become one of Pixar’s biggest successes.

The film grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, proving that a well-established franchise can still capture audiences even as global attention shifts toward the tournament.

That achievement remains one of the key reasons why industry observers are optimistic about the performance of Toy Story 5.

Films that thrived during World Cup years

Over the years, several blockbuster movies have delivered impressive results despite sharing the spotlight with the World Cup.

During Italy 1990, Ghost earned more than $500 million worldwide, while Total Recall surpassed $260 million.

At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, The Lion King became a global phenomenon with $763 million in its original run, while Forrest Gump followed with an impressive $678 million.

France 1998 also produced major box office hits. Armageddon led the summer season with more than $553 million, while Saving Private Ryan finished its theatrical run with nearly $485 million.

The trend continued during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, when Spider-Man helped redefine the superhero genre and generated $825 million globally.

In Germany 2006, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest crossed the $1 billion mark, while Pixar’s Cars also posted strong numbers.

Brazil 2014 saw Transformers: Age of Extinction dominate theaters with more than $1.1 billion worldwide. Four years later, during Russia 2018, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Incredibles 2 both surpassed $1.2 billion in global box office revenue.

More recently, Avatar: The Way of Water arrived in theaters just two days before the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar and ultimately earned more than $2.3 billion worldwide.

Not every film enjoyed the same success

Some studios have pointed to the World Cup as a factor behind disappointing box office performances.

Among the most frequently cited examples are The A-Team in 2010, Edge of Tomorrow in 2014, and Superman Returns in 2006.

Still, industry analysts generally agree that audience reception, critical reviews, and marketing campaigns tend to play a much larger role in determining a film’s success than competition from the tournament itself.

Pixar’s next challenge

Now it is Toy Story 5’s turn.

Beyond competing with the 2026 World Cup for viewers’ attention, the film must prove that a franchise with more than three decades of history can still attract millions of moviegoers around the world.

The odds may be in Pixar’s favor. If Hollywood has learned anything from previous World Cup summers, it is that films featuring beloved characters and strong fan bases can still become major box office hits, even when the world is focused on football.

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