Last weekend marked Pixar’s worst box-office opening — but with positive buzz and a big holiday coming up, Elio could rocket toward profitability.

Disney's animated adventure 'Elio' failed to lift off at the box office, underscoring Pixar's continued struggle to launch original films.

Pixar's Elio opened with just $21 million at the box office, the studio’s weakest debut ever, and Wall Street took notice. While critics were relatively kind (84% on Rotten Tomatoes), the financial stumble wasn’t just about the movie itself.