'Toy Story 5' and 'Minions' Show Family Movies Can't Run on Nostalgia Alone

Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 5 maintained strong performance, while Minions & Monsters opened lower than previous franchise entries. This suggests family movies cannot rely solely on nostalgia. Lee Enterprises reporter Bruce Miller noted that the Minions are significantly less entertaining without Gru, comparing the dynamic to the Roadrunner without Wile E. Coyote. These results highlight the challenges facing established animation sequels when key characters are absent or when nostalgia is the primary draw for audiences.