John Lasseter’s exit marked a turning point for Pixar, and not in the way the studio hoped. As the creative force behind nearly every Pixar classic, Lasseter brought not just vision, but a deep understanding of storytelling that balanced heart, humor, and innovation. His departure in 2018, amid misconduct allegations, left a leadership void that Pixar has struggled to fill creatively.
Since then, the studio has seemed adrift, alternating between safe sequels and underwhelming originals, unsure of its voice. Lasseter may have been a controversial figure, but his ability to shepherd bold, emotionally resonant ideas into cultural phenomena was unmatched — and Pixar hasn’t quite recaptured that magic since.
Pixar chief, Pete Docter, speaking at Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies Summit, tried to make sense of it all. “We need to figure out what people want before they know it,” he said. A noble goal, sure, but not one Elio was able to deliver on. Docter himself admitted, “It’s a rough time.” Understatement of the year.
Their latest attempt at originality, “Elio,” stumbled out of the gate this past weekend. It earned a humble $21M in the U.S. opening weekend — the worst Pixar opening ever. Internationally, Elio added another $14M for a total of $35M.
Still, Docter says Pixar’s strategy is now to alternate between originals and sequels, hoping to strike a balance between creative risks and comforting, nostalgia-drenched safety nets. Case in point: “Toy Story 5” is on the way in 2026, even though “Toy Story 3” ended more perfectly than most marriages.
Also in the pipeline: “Hoppers,” a human-animal body-swap comedy that looks like it was pitched during a sugar crash; “Gatto” in 2027, which promises hand-painted cats; “Incredibles 3” in 2028; and “Coco 2” in 2029.
So yes, Pixar’s in a bit of a pickle. it should be top priority for Disney to right the ship, but this current strategy doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. The departure of John Lasseter has left a creative vacuum deeper than the studio likely anticipated, and it's starting to show.