Will Pixar's Hoppers Surpass Cars 3 at the Box Office?

Pixar's latest animated film, Hoppers, is approaching the end of its theatrical run, having earned $371.3 million globally. As it transitions to digital platforms, the film faces competition from other releases. With a goal to surpass Cars 3's earnings, Hoppers needs an additional $12.6 million. The story follows Mabel, who uses technology to connect with wildlife. Will Hoppers achieve its box office ambitions? Read on for more insights.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 5, 2026, 20:01 IST

Hoppers Approaches the End of Its Theatrical Journey

Pixar's newest animated feature, Hoppers, is nearing the conclusion of its two-month run in theaters. As it transitions to various digital platforms in the U.S., the film's box office performance has understandably begun to wane. To date, Hoppers has generated a remarkable $371.3 million globally, significantly surpassing its estimated production cost of $150 million. Directed by Daniel Chong, it has outperformed Pixar's earlier release, Elio, which earned $154.3 million worldwide.

Currently, Hoppers stands as the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2026, trailing behind Michael, which has amassed $430.3 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo. However, it faces fierce competition, particularly from The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is quickly closing in with a total of $233.3 million. As Hoppers continues its theatrical journey, it is also approaching the global earnings of the least successful film in the Cars series, Cars 3.

To outpace Cars 3 at the box office, Hoppers needs to secure an additional $12.6 million. During the week of April 24-30, the animated sci-fi comedy earned $2.4 million domestically. If it experiences a 50% decline in earnings, it could potentially add $1.2 million in the week of May 1-7. Matching this performance in international markets could make surpassing Cars 3 a challenging yet feasible goal.

The storyline of Hoppers revolves around Mabel, an animal enthusiast who employs cutting-edge technology that enables humans to transfer their consciousness into realistic robotic animals. After hopping into a robotic beaver to connect with wildlife, Mabel discovers a looming threat to their forest habitat and must unite to help the animals defend their home.

As the film's theatrical run continues, both audiences and industry experts will be keenly observing whether Hoppers can achieve its aim of surpassing Cars 3, marking yet another triumph for Pixar in the competitive realm of animated films.