Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 3” has surpassed “Shrek 2” to become the top-grossing animated movie of all time worldwide and fourth biggest movie of any format in Disney history with $920 million, according to the studio.
Much of that haul can be attributed to the 3D version of the movie — 59% from 3D during the record-setting opening weekend of “Toy Story 3,” not only because of the lure of the format itself but also the higher ticket prices for 3D.
This weekend the movie is expected to become Disney’s second film to surpass $400 million domestically, after “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” with $423 mil., according to Hollywood.com Box-Office. With IMAX, which contributed disproportionately strong percentage revenues, contractually obligated to replace their giant 3D presentation of “Toy Story 3” at even higher ticket prices after only two weeks with “Inception,” Hollywood.com Box-Office’s Paul Dergarabedian estimates the overall 3D percentage at about 56% domestically.
The studio announced this week that the movie will be released on Blu-ray Disc Nov. 2. Although there will be three home versions — 4-disc Blu-ray combo pack for $45.99; two-disc Blu-ray $39.99; DVD $29.99, there will be no 3D version at this time.
“The success of Toy Story is due to the tremendously creative and innovative team at Pixar, led by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, and our incredible marketing and distribution teams around the world,” said Rich Ross, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.
“Toy Story 3” set records out of the gate with an all-time Disney/Pixar high opening weekend domestically of $109 million the weekend of June 18 and setting another benhcmark as the highest June opening in industry history. It was also the 11th Disney/Pixar title to open at #1.
More than half of the global grosses — $518 million — have come from overseas, where it is expected to become the studio’s biggest-ever international animated release this weekend.
It has performed especially strong in Latin America with a Disney-record $138 mil. from the region. It has also been the top film in UK for four consecutive weeks and is the most successful release in company history there with $90 million to date. Nearly as strong has been Japan, with $84 million in five consecutive weeks at #1.
Overall, “Toy Story 3” ranks at #14 on the all-time global box-office charts.
— By Scott Hettick