Weekend Box Office Winners: Toy Story 5 Crushes Supergirl
Pixar stayed powerful, DC stumbled badly, and the July Fourth box office may belong to the Minions.
The weekend box office for June 26 to June 28, 2026, had one clear winner: Toy Story 5. Pixar’s family powerhouse held the No. 1 spot with an estimated $70 million, while Warner Bros. and DC’s Supergirl opened far below expectations with $38 million. That made the weekend less of a superhero celebration and more of a warning sign. Audiences still want big movies, but they are becoming much more selective about which franchises deserve their money.
Toy Story 5 Wins the Weekend Box Office Again
Toy Story 5 did what great summer movies are supposed to do. It brought families back to theaters, kept kids excited, and gave adults a reason to return to characters they have loved for decades.
The film earned about $70 million in its second domestic weekend. That brought its North American total to about $297.2 million after 10 days. Worldwide, the movie has already reached about $585 million.
That is not just a win. It is a statement.
Pixar has had a mixed post-pandemic run, with some titles struggling to remind audiences why they should leave the couch. Toy Story 5 appears to have solved that problem by offering something simple and strong: trusted characters, broad family appeal, and a story parents and children can share.
Why Toy Story 5 Is Working
The success of Toy Story 5 comes down to several clear factors:
- Brand trust: Families know Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the Pixar name.
- Generational appeal: Parents who grew up with Toy Story are now taking their children.
- Strong summer timing: Late June is prime time for family moviegoing.
- Clear emotional hook: The franchise still speaks to childhood, change, and growing up.
The lesson is not that every sequel works. The lesson is that a sequel works when audiences still feel respected.
Supergirl Opens in Second, But It Feels Like a Loss
On paper, Supergirl finished second. In reality, the result was disappointing.
The DC film opened with $38 million in the United States and Canada. It added about $30 million overseas, for a global opening of roughly $68 million. That might sound like a lot of money until you compare it to the reported $170 million production budget.
For a movie with the DC shield, IMAX screens, and a major studio push, this was a weak launch.
Supergirl also had warning signs beyond the money. The film received poor reviews and a “B-” CinemaScore from audiences. That matters because opening weekend is often powered by fans. If those fans walk away lukewarm, the second weekend can fall hard.
Why Supergirl Tanked
There is no single reason Supergirl underperformed. But several problems likely came together at the worst possible time.
Superhero Fatigue Is Real
Audiences are not done with superheroes, but they are done showing up automatically. The old rule was simple: put a cape on the poster and people came. That rule is gone.
Moviegoers now ask harder questions:
- Does this movie feel fresh?
- Do I need to see it in theaters?
- Is it connected to something I care about?
- Are critics and early audiences excited?
For Supergirl, the answer was not strong enough.
DC Is Still Rebuilding Trust
James Gunn and Peter Safran inherited a DC brand that had years of confusion behind it. Some films connected. Some did not. Some characters were rebooted. Others vanished. Fans were asked to care about a universe that often felt unfinished.
That is a hard place to launch a new hero.
The 2025 Superman film gave DC a stronger start, earning $618 million worldwide. But Supergirl shows that one successful film does not fix an entire brand overnight.
The Movie May Have Felt Like Homework
A character can be beloved in comics and still be unfamiliar to casual moviegoers. Supergirl is known, but she is not Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman. If the marketing does not make her story feel urgent, many viewers may wait for streaming.
That is a deadly choice for a $170 million movie.
Word of Mouth Was Not Strong Enough
When reviews are soft and audience scores are mixed, a superhero film loses its safety net. One industry observer quoted by the Associated Press said of superhero fatigue, “Yes, they did,” when discussing whether audiences lost interest. The deeper question is why it happened so quickly.
That question should worry DC.
Is DC and Warner Bros. in Trouble?
The honest answer is yes and no.
No, DC is not finished. The brand still has major characters, deep comic book history, and talented creative leadership. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and a good villain story can still command attention.
But yes, Warner Bros. and DC are in trouble if they treat Supergirl as a one-weekend problem instead of a larger trust problem.
A $38 million opening is not just a number. It is feedback. It says audiences are not convinced yet.
What DC Must Fix
DC needs to focus on three things:
- Clear storytelling: Viewers need to know what matters and why.
- Stronger character hooks: A hero must feel emotionally necessary, not just available.
- Better quality control: Mixed reviews can sink a franchise film fast.
The next DC release, Clayface, is expected in October. That could be a smart pivot because horror and comic book storytelling may create a fresh angle. But if Clayface feels like another experiment without a clear audience, DC could face more trouble.
The Other Winners: Horror and Indies Hold Strong
The weekend was not only about toys and capes.
Obsession Keeps Scaring Up Money
Obsession continued one of the year’s strongest box-office runs. In its seventh weekend, the horror hit earned about $9.8 million and reached roughly $233.9 million domestically.
That is remarkable because the film reportedly cost less than $1 million to make. Horror remains one of the smartest bets in theaters because the budgets are often low and the audience is loyal.
For studios, Obsession is the kind of movie that makes executives take notes. It proves that a strong concept can beat a giant budget.
Jackass: Best and Last Opens Modestly
Jackass: Best and Last opened with about $8.4 million. That is not a disaster, especially because the movie reportedly cost about $10 million. But it is far below the $23 million opening for Jackass Forever in 2022.
The brand still has fans. But the opening suggests nostalgia has limits. People may smile at the idea of one last stunt, but not everyone feels the need to buy a ticket right away.
The Invite Shows Indie Promise
Olivia Wilde’s The Invite opened on just seven screens and earned about $379,104. That gave it a strong per-screen average of about $54,158.
That is the kind of limited opening that can build buzz. If the film expands well, it could become a smart adult counterprogramming option in July.
The Weekend’s Biggest Losers
Every box office weekend has winners and losers. This one had several clear disappointments.
Biggest Disappointment: Supergirl
The biggest disappointment was Supergirl. The film did not just miss expectations. It raised concerns about DC’s ability to build momentum after Superman.
Most Concerning Drop: Older Franchise Titles
Movies like Masters of the Universe and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu are still on the chart, but their weekend numbers show they are no longer driving the conversation. That does not mean they failed overall. It means the summer box office moves fast, and audiences quickly shift to the next event.
Soft Nostalgia: Jackass
Jackass: Best and Last was not a total loser, but it did not break out. That matters because the movie leaned heavily on farewell energy. The farewell worked for fans. It did not become a broader cultural moment.
What Takes the Lead Next Weekend?
Next weekend should belong to Minions & Monsters.
Universal and Illumination are opening the animated comedy on July 1, giving it a five-day holiday runway. Forecasts have placed it around $75 million to $85 million for the three-day weekend and $95 million to $115 million over five days.
That should be enough to beat Toy Story 5, even if Pixar remains strong.
The real fight may be for second place. Toy Story 5 should hold well with families, but Supergirl could face a steep second-weekend drop if word of mouth does not improve.
Why Minions & Monsters Could Explode
The Minions are built for summer. They are loud, silly, colorful, and easy for young children to understand. Parents also know what they are buying. That matters during a holiday weekend when families are looking for simple fun.
The movie has three big advantages:
- July Fourth timing
- A proven animated brand
- A built-in audience of kids and parents
If Minions & Monsters opens near the high end of projections, it may become the next major family hit of the summer.
What We Should Be Pumped For
The July Fourth frame gives theaters a chance to feel like theaters again: busy, loud, and full of choices.
Minions & Monsters
This is the main event. Expect big crowds, family groups, and strong matinee business. The question is not whether it wins. The question is how big it wins.
Young Washington
Young Washington opens July 3 through Angel Studios. With America’s 250th anniversary celebrations in the national conversation, the timing could help. The film may not challenge Minions & Monsters for No. 1, but it could draw faith-based, patriotic, and history-minded audiences.
The Invite Expands
The Invite is the sleeper to watch. Adult comedies have struggled in theaters, but a strong limited opening gives this one a chance. If word of mouth spreads, it could find an audience tired of superheroes and animation.
The Bigger Picture: Audiences Are Voting With Their Wallets
This weekend box office tells a simple story. Audiences are not rejecting theaters. They are rejecting weak reasons to go.
They showed up for Toy Story 5. They kept showing up for Obsession. They gave The Invite a promising start in limited release. But they did not reward Supergirl at the level Warner Bros. needed.
That should be the lesson for Hollywood.
People still want shared movie experiences. They still want laughter, fear, wonder, and escape. But ticket prices are high. Streaming is easy. Families have budgets. Fans have choices.
The studios that win will be the ones that treat audiences with respect.
Next weekend, Minions & Monsters gets its chance to take the crown. Toy Story 5 will try to stay strong. Supergirl will try to avoid a crash landing. And moviegoers will keep sending the clearest message in entertainment: make it worth the trip.
