Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was released to overwhelmingly positive reviews and praised for its groundbreaking animation (which many believe makes it a top contender for "Best Animated Feature" at the Oscars next year).
In fact, the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel has grossed over $686 million worldwide and is a bona fide hit for Sony Pictures.
While the Marvel movie opened on June 2, it was only a couple of weeks later when Pixar's Elemental followed, with pundits declaring it a box office flop. As you'll recall, it delivered a record-low $29 million domestic opening weekend for the studio (in contrast, Across the Spider-Verse debuted with $120 million).
However, the Disney title has since proved it's got legs, vastly exceeding initial expectations to shake off the narrative that it's another disappointing Pixar title.
With $458 million worldwide, it's probably only just about broken even thanks to a $200 million budget. Still, it's a real turnaround for the studio after former Disney CEO Bob Chapek decided to release a number of Pixar movies on Disney+, reducing interest in the brand and creating the narrative these movies are no longer worthy of being watched on the big screen.
Particularly noteworthy is a $307.2 million overseas which means Elemental has outgrossed Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse's $305.9 million at the international box office.
Still, we'd be remiss not to point out that, in North America, the web-slinger has crushed Wade and Ember by earning $380 million compared to $151 million.
Still, this is a huge win for Disney and Pixar and an indication there's still an appetite for original stories from the studio. However, they're now hard at work on a fifth Toy Story movie, with the hope being it will restore them to their glory days of effortlessly breaking box office records.
Elemental introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in.
Directed by Peter Sohn, and featuring the voices of Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie as Ember and Wade, respectively, Elemental is still playing in theaters.