Editing Pixar (section)

==== COVID-19, Disney+ releases, and some financial struggles (2020–present) ====
Pixar released ''[[Onward (film)|Onward]]'' on March 6, 2020. However, due to the start of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the film underperformed at the box office and was released onto rental digital services on March 20, and later on [[Disney+]] on April 3.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gemmill |first=Allie |date=2020-03-20 |title=Onward: Pixar's Animated Fantasy Coming to Disney+ and Digital Early |url=https://collider.com/onward-digital-release-disney-plus-details/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214031910/https://collider.com/onward-digital-release-disney-plus-details/ |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref> Due to the pandemic, ''Soul'' was moved to November 2020, and ultimately released on December 25, 2020, on Disney+ at no additional cost to subscribers, and later became the first animated streaming film to win the [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2020-10-08 |title=Pixar's 'Soul' Bypasses Theaters, Sets Disney+ Christmas Debut |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/pixars-soul-bypasses-theaters-sets-disney-christmas-debut-4074069/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011125640/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pixars-soul-bypasses-theaters-sets-disney-christmas-debut |archive-date=October 11, 2020 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Pixar's next two features, [[Luca (2021 film)|''Luca'']] and ''[[Turning Red]]'', were also released free on Disney+ in June 2021 and March 2022, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2021-03-23 |title=Disney Shifts 'Black Widow' & 'Cruella' To Day & Date Release In Theaters And Disney+, Jarring Summer Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/black-widow-cruella-disney-plus-theaters-day-and-date-release-1234720116/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323183840/https://deadline.com/2021/03/black-widow-cruella-disney-plus-theaters-day-and-date-release-1234720116/ |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-01-07 |title=Pixar's 'Turning Red' Skips Theaters & Heads To Disney+ |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/turning-red-skips-theaters-disney-premiere-1234906438/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108021845/https://deadline.com/2022/01/turning-red-skips-theaters-disney-premiere-1234906438/ |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, several Pixar employees anonymously criticized Disney's decision to release their films direct to Disney+.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=2021-04-28 |title=Pixar Staff Speaks Out Against Disney Moving Its Films to Streaming Only: 'It's Hard to Grasp' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/pixar-staff-slams-disney-moving-films-streaming-1234633910/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617021210/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/pixar-staff-slams-disney-moving-films-streaming-1234633910/ |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref>

''[[Lightyear (film)|Lightyear]]'', Pixar's first movie to return to theaters was released in June 2022. The film became a [[Box-office bomb|box-office failure]] with ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' calculating the film lost the studio $106&nbsp;million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2023-04-14 |title=The Biggest Box Office Bombs Of 2022: Deadline's Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/biggest-box-office-bombs-2022-lowest-grossing-movies-1235325138/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520001416/https://deadline.com/2023/04/biggest-box-office-bombs-2022-lowest-grossing-movies-1235325138/ |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2022, Jonas Rivera was promoted to Executive VP of Film Production at Pixar overseeing all film and streaming production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=2022-09-15 |title=Jonas Rivera, Producer of 'Inside Out' and 'Toy Story 4,' Promoted to Executive VP Film Production at Pixar (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/toy-story-4-up-producer-jonas-rivera-pixar-executive-1235221419/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924123338/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/toy-story-4-up-producer-jonas-rivera-pixar-executive-1235221419/ |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2022, Disney CEO Bob Iger noted that they would rely more on the Pixar brand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=CNBC Exclusive: CNBC Transcript: Disney CEO Bob Iger Speaks with CNBC's David Faber on "Squawk on the Street" Today |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/09/cnbc-exclusive-cnbc-transcript-disney-ceo-bob-iger-speaks-with-cnbcs-david-faber-on-squawk-on-the-street-today.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> In June 2023, Disney laid off 75 employees including the director of ''Lightyear'' [[Angus MacLane]], and the film's producer Galyn Susman.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chmielewski |first=Dawn |date=2023-06-04 |title=Exclusive: Walt Disney's Pixar targets 'Lightyear' execs among 75 job cuts |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/walt-disneys-pixar-animation-eliminates-75-positions-2023-06-03/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611103120/https://www.reuters.com/business/walt-disneys-pixar-animation-eliminates-75-positions-2023-06-03|archive-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref>

During that same month, [[Elemental (2023 film)|''Elemental'']] was released. During the film's opening weekend, Docter stated that Pixar "trained audiences that these films will be available for you on Disney+".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2023-06-16 |title=Pixar Boss Pete Docter Says the Studio 'Trained' Families to Expect Disney+ Debuts, 'Elemental' Buzz at Cannes Was 'Confusing' |url=https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/pixar-pete-docter-disney-elemental-cannes-inside-out-1235646648/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617024809/https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/pixar-pete-docter-disney-elemental-cannes-inside-out-1235646648/ |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Despite opening below projections, ''Elemental'' ultimately made a box office comeback by early August 2023, crossing $400&nbsp;million at the worldwide box office. Disney's [[Vice president#In business|EVP]] of Theatrical Distribution Tony Chambers stated "After a disappointing opening weekend, we're really pleased that audiences have discovered what a great movie it is."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/pixar-elemental-box-office/|title=How Pixar's 'Elemental' Kept Its Fire Burning at the Box Office|website=The Walt Disney Company|date=August 7, 2023|access-date=August 8, 2023|archive-date=August 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825062023/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/pixar-elemental-box-office/|url-status=live}}</ref> That same month, Morris said "at the box office we're looking at now, [the film] should do better than break even theatrically. And then we have revenue from [[Disney Streaming|streaming]], [[Disney Experiences|theme parks]] and [[Disney Consumer Products|consumer products]]. This will certainly be a profitable film for the Disney company."<ref name="Rubin">{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Pixar President on 'Elemental's' Unlikely Box Office Rebound: 'This Will Certainly Be a Profitable Film' |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/pixar-elemental-box-office-rebound-1235691248/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825062111/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/pixar-elemental-box-office-rebound-1235691248/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2023, it was announced that ''Soul'', ''Turning Red'' and ''Luca'' would be released in theaters in the United States in the first quarter of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moreau |first=Jordan |date=2023-12-05 |title=Pixar's 'Soul,' 'Turning Red' and 'Luca' Coming to Theaters After Disney+ Debuts During Pandemic |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/pixar-soul-turning-red-luca-theaters-1235822031/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2024, it was reported that Pixar's staff would face imminent layoffs by 20 percent, reducing the studio's workforce to less than 1,000 employees.<ref>{{cite news |last=Perez |first=Sarah |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/11/as-disney-pushes-towards-streaming-profitability-pixar-to-undergo-layoffs-in-2024/ |title=As Disney pushes toward streaming profitability, Pixar to undergo layoffs in 2024 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |date=January 11, 2024 |access-date=January 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111233848/https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/11/as-disney-pushes-towards-streaming-profitability-pixar-to-undergo-layoffs-in-2024/ |archive-date=January 11, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/pixar-layoffs-second-half-2024-1235870346/ |title=Pixar Expects to Make Layoffs in Second Half of 2024 |work=Variety |date=January 12, 2024 |access-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-date=January 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112235129/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/pixar-layoffs-second-half-2024-1235870346/ |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the layoffs were then delayed and did not occur, reportedly because of production schedules.<ref name="McClintock">{{cite news |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |title=Major Pixar Layoffs, Long-Expected, Now Underway In Restructuring (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/pixar-layoffs-hit-storied-animation-studio-1235904847/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 21, 2024}}</ref> In May 2024, the studio proceeded with slightly smaller layoffs: 175 employees or approximately 14 percent of the studio's workforce of over 1,300 employees.<ref name="McClintock" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Chmielewski |first=Dawn |date=May 21, 2024 |title=Disney's Pixar Animation to lay off about 14% of workforce |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/pixar-animation-lay-off-about-14-workforce-2024-05-21/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> The layoffs occurred as the studio began to rely less on direct-to-streaming series and more on feature films intended primarily for theatrical exhibition.<ref name="McClintock" /><ref name=":1" />

On June 14 of the same year, ''[[Inside Out 2]]'' was released and became financially successful. The film had a domestic opening of $154 million, the third highest for an animated film, and the biggest global opening for an animated movie with $294 million. Since then the film broke multiple box office records. It had the highest second weekend gross for an animated film with $100 million, being the first to reach the 6 digit second opening weekend. It became the fastest animated movie to reach $1 billion at the global box office, reaching the milestone in 17 days. It also out-grossed ''Incredibles 2'' to become the highest grossing Pixar film globally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2024-07-10 |title=Box Office Milestone: 'Inside Out 2' Becomes Pixar's Top-Grossing Movie of All Time Globally |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/inside-out-2-box-office-biggest-pixar-movie-of-all-time-1235945110/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>