When Pixar Animation Studios releases ‘OriginalIn theaters Friday, the leading studio behind blockbuster films such as ‘toy Story,cars‘ And ‘finding Nemo‘ Will be under pressure to demonstrate that he hasn’t lost his Midas touch.

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The stakes are high forOriginal, ‘A story of overcoming external differences. According to the Box Office Pro website, the film is projected to open with a modest $31 million to $41 million in the US this weekend. That’s a shame given the recent $120.5 million sale for Sony’s critically acclaimed animated hit.Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,

Pixar trying to recover from box office disappointment of 2022 releaselight yearsOrigin story oftoy Story‘ Hero Buzz Lightyear. The film grossed $226.7 million in global ticket sales, a fraction of the $1 billion mark for 2019.toy story 4,

Michael Nathanson, media analyst at SVB MoffettNathanson, said, “Looking back at Pixar’s recent past, history will not be kind.”

Director and Producer oflight years‘ was closed last month, Reuters first reported, after parent company The Walt Disney Company shed 7,000 jobs at the company in an effort to cut costs.

,OriginalDirector Peter Sohn admits he feels pressure to deliver a box-office hit, especially since his film is one of the few summer titles based on an original story. The film was inspired by Sohn’s appreciation for his Korean immigrant parents, a theme he hopes will resonate with audiences.

“This whole movie was made to connect, and we hope it does,” Sohn said in an interview with Reuters Television.

Meanwhile, rival studios are riding high with animated films.

Comcast Corp’s Universal Pictures racked up $1.3 billion in worldwide ticket sales with its video-game adaptation, ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie,’ and Sony Pictures Animation hit the box-office with one of Disney’s own characters, Spider-Man.

Sean Robbins, senior analyst at Box Office Pro, said, “It used to be that when a Pixar movie was coming out, it could be an original title that didn’t even need to be based on pre-existing (characters), And it could still open like a mini-blockbuster, if not an outright blockbuster.

“I think it’s changed now, especially because there’s more competition,” Robbins said.

Pixar had no comment.

The pandemic, and the response from former Disney chief executive Bob Chapek, dealt a double whammy to Pixar.

The COVID-19 outbreak cut short the theatrical run of its March 2020 release.Ahead,’ which grossed a whopping $146.2 million worldwide. Pixar’sSoul‘In December 2020,’Luca‘More in June 2021’to be red‘ all debut on Disney+ streaming service in the US in March 2022

Disney said the direct-to-home strategy boosted sign-ups for Disney+ and exposed the films to a larger audience sheltering at home. ,to be redRemains the most watched film on Disney+ worldwide during its first three days.

According to a Pixar director who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the move dealt a blow to creatives who had hoped to see their films appear on the big screen.

,OriginalSet in the Element City, where the characters of Fire, Water, Earth and Air live together. An unlikely friendship between fire and water borrows from director Sohn’s relationship with his Italian-American wife. Sohan initially hid the relationship from his parents. “My grandmother’s dying words were literally, ‘Mary Corian!'” Sohn said.

review ofOriginalReviews were mixed following its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, but have turned more positive. According to the Rotten Tomatoes website, as of Monday, 76% of film critics gave the film a positive review.

That message of racial harmony reaches theaters as a part of the country brands Disney’s themes as “woke” — vigilantes to racial and social injustice — presenting a potential box-office challenge.

Sohan said the film, which has been in the works for seven years, was inspired by his desire to honor his parents’ experiences.

He said, “They came from another country, came here for nothing and made a living for us.”