Pixar’s latest original just hit theaters…and hit the floor.
Another Disney-Pixar original hits theaters with all the confidence of a billion-dollar blockbuster—and lands with the grace of a bowling ball dropped off a cruise ship.
Elio, the new animated film about a socially awkward kid chosen to represent Earth to aliens, opened to just $35 million globally, making it Pixar’s worst launch. Ever.
Pixar’s latest animated adventure fell flat in its opening weekend. As summed up by Variety, “Elio” from Disney “face-planted with the worst start in Pixar’s 30-year history.” The Pixar film chronicling the intergalactic adventures of an 11-year-old took… https://t.co/5Ze2eCXRBg pic.twitter.com/exSdU9LUTu
— The Western Journal (@WesternJournalX) June 24, 2025
But instead of asking what went wrong, the studio did something else:
They blamed the audience.
Yep, in a now-viral social media video, a woman in a car (because why not) scolds viewers for not showing up. Her message? “Stop complaining that Disney doesn’t make original stories if you don’t show up to support them.” Translation: It’s not our movie’s fault—it’s yours.
@pixar Go see Pixar’s newest ORIGINAL movie #Elio, in theaters NOW! ✨🗣️ @rebanora ♬ original sound – Pixar
Hold that thought.
The reaction? Immediate. Thousands of comments, and most of them weren’t kind.
“Maybe actually market the movie then???”
“Same animation style. Same formula.”
Ouch.
Here’s where it gets interesting. This wasn’t a sequel. Not a reboot. Not a cash-grab remake. Elio was one of Pixar’s few original ideas in years.
And for that, maybe they should get some credit. But even with a brand-new story, the buzz just wasn’t there. Why? Because originality means little if no one knows your movie exists. And when the marketing feels like it was thrown together at the last minute, you’ve got a problem that no Instagram lecture can fix.
Now, to be fair, Elio isn’t alone on the flop list. Disney’s had a rough few years at the box office, with animated misfires like Strange World and lukewarm reactions to sequels like Lightyear. Meanwhile, the things that do seem to bring in massive audiences—like the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake that earned over $945 million—are based on stories people already know and love. Nostalgia still sells. But originality? It has to be earned. And supported. And, crucially… promoted.
Yet instead of learning from their missteps, Disney and Pixar are pointing fingers. At fans. At the very audience that kept them on top for decades. It’s like blaming voters after losing an election—you can’t win hearts by scolding the people you need on your side.
Which raises the bigger question—what is Disney actually selling now? If the content doesn’t connect and the audience gets blamed for staying home, are we looking at a creative lull… or something more? Something deeper?
Pixar wants to believe they still understand their audience. But when the theater’s empty and the fans are frustrated, that belief starts to wobble.
We’re left asking:
So why didn’t people show up?
And why is the studio scolding its fans… instead of asking the hard questions?
