Pixar's New Release Plan Might Just Be Enough To Make Everyone Happy (& Turn Things Around For Disney) (2024)

Pixar has announced its strategy for the coming years, and it may just be enough to make everyone within the sequel vs. new content debate happy. The Disney studio has struggled to please in recent years, with many of its new movies falling flat at the box office. Pixar president Jim Morris announced at the end of 2023 that the company would be taking a new approach in the new year, with more attention put on what made its past films so beloved. Now, Morris has provided more information about this strategy, and it seems to involve a fair balance.

Pixar saw significant success in 2019 with the release of Toy Story 4, but the studio hasn't managed to duplicate this in the years since. The theatrical restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic took quite a toll on Disney's 2020 releases, and direct-to-streaming releases like Onward, Soul, and Luca failed to justify their production costs. Now, Morris has announced that Pixar will no longer release feature films on Disney+ until after a theatrical release, and this should result in a marked improvement. However, even the studio's recent theatrical releases have fallen short.

Pixar's New Strategy Balances New Ideas With Reboots & Sequels

Pixar Will Release 3 Movies Every 2 Years, With Every Other One Being A Sequel Or Reboot

Disney as a whole has been criticized for focusing too much effort on reboots and sequels, while new ideas seem to be few and far between. However, Pixar's recent movies have proven that new stories aren't enough to draw audiences to the theaters. The studio's last big success was the sequel Toy Story 4 in 2019, and the hype for 2024's Inside Out 2 indicates that this will be Pixar's next successful project. Clearly, the idea of sequels and reboots can't be left behind entirely. However, Pixar will begin to lose its relevance and longevity if it doesn't release new content as well.

Pixar's president has explained that moving forward, there will certainly be more reboots and sequels, and he made specific mentions of franchises like Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. However, the Pixar president is aware that a good portion of his audience wants new content as well. He has explained that the current strategy involves three movies every two years, with every other one being a sequel or spinoff, while the rest are "standalone concepts or potential seeds for new franchises.” This is a balance that should be able to keep everyone happy.

Pixar's Sequels Have Been The Company's Most Successful Projects

Pixar Can't Just Stop Making Sequels

Whenever Disney or Pixar announces a new sequel or reboot, there is a fair amount of public backlash and accusations that these studios have run out of ideas. However, despite this, the numbers prove that these projects are among Pixar's most successful. When looking at the studio's domestic box office results, four out of the top five are sequels. The single original movie among these money-makers is Inside Out, whose sequel, 2024's Inside Out 2, is already breaking records with its trailer alone. Clearly, Pixar abandoning sequels entirely would be a horrible idea.

It's undoubtedly true that Pixar's recent new ideas have fallen short, but the studio can only figure out why and fix the problem by continuing with sequels. This is how Pixar will financially stay afloat, and movies like the planned The Incredibles and Finding Nemo sequels or reboots are how future new ideas will be funded. Therefore, regardless of criticism, the Disney studio must stay the course.

New Ideas Haven't Worked For Pixar, But They Are Still Important

Pixar Must Keep Trying To Introduce New Characters & Stories That Will Strike The Right Chord

Pixar's new stories haven't paid off. Though some of them were well received by critics, they weren't able to leave a lasting mark on popular culture or bring in enough money at the box office. Luca, Turning Red, Elemental, and Soul were each great movies, but they fizzled out quickly, unlike past successes like Inside Out. Still, Pixar can't just stick exclusively to the more marketable sequels and reboots. New ideas are imperative for both showing audiences that the studio is growing and for establishing new potential franchises.

Luckily, Pixar's plan proves that the studio understands this, and audiences can expect just as many new ideas as they can sequels and reboots. Those who have been concerned that the studio is out of new ideas can breathe a sigh of relief, while those who are eager to see more of the existing characters and worlds can rest assured that they are on the way. Pixar's strategy has the best of both worlds, so all we can do is sit back and wait for some great movies.