Toy Story 4 bests Incredibles 2 for animation pre-sale record on Fandango

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

When TOY STORY 3 came out in 2010 it was the movie of the year, making over $400 million domestically and becoming the first animated movie to crack $1 billion worldwide. Needless to say, nine years later and on the verge of TOY STORY 4 the anticipation is just as high, if not higher, than back then – and the proof is in the ticket presales. After going on sale Tuesday the movie has bested last year’s Pixar smash, INCREDIBLES 2, and broken the record for best first-day ticket pre-sales for an animated movie, and is now poised to break the opening weekend record for an animated movie.

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“Pixar’s ‘Toy Story’ movies mean the world to so many fans, and that’s very much reflected in the record presales for ‘Toy Story 4,’” said Fandango Managing Editor Erik Davis. “It’s been nearly a decade since the adventures of Woody, Buzz and friends played out on the big screen, and so anticipation for this fourth installment is incredibly high.”

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The press release from Fandango notes that the movie bested the likes of INCREDIBLES 2, FINDING DORY to claim the record for first-day pre-sales or any animated movie, and even did better than BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2. The former film went on to make $182 million opening weekend, easily winning the record for the best opening weekend for an animated movie, going on to make over $600 million domestically to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time (domestically) by a wide margin. Should TS4 break that opening record, it could have a shot at claiming that new top spot too. 

And indeed, it does look like TS4 is on track for the best opening weekend record for an animated movie. While estimates from April hinted the movie was on track for a solid $100+ million opening, new projections (via Deadline) have the movie possibly hitting $200 million, now with more buzz to track. Should it crack $200 million, that would mean Disney has a shot at having FOUR movies break that much their opening weekend in 2019 — AVENGERS: ENDGAME, TOY STORY 4, THE LION KING and STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. 

The only thing that could dull TS4's opening is the release of SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 only two weeks before, but the former has more of an event status to it. If you're a parent what are going to do, not take your kids to see the toy movie?

I'm a bit conflicted about what I expected with TOY STORY 4's current box office future. On one hand, I was expecting a wallop, as FINDING DORY and INCREDIBLES 2 drove people to theaters in bundles. TOY STORY has more fan recognition than both of those, so naturally, a new movie would do better. However, my own feelings excitement (or lack thereof) factored in, and I was starting to doubt if people even really cared about it. Clearly they do and between their one-two-three punch of this, SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME and LION KING, Disney will own the summer as on late June. 

TOY STORY 4 is in theaters June 21.