Buzz and friends rake in real cash for third effort.
Eleven years since Toy Story 2 broke cinematic convention by proving to be a better film than its original, British audiences must endure the best part of another month before catching the third instalment in the adventures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the toy cupboard.
But in the US, where studios had a series of flops last month and the worst Memorial Day attendances in 15 years, Pixar's long-awaited new release hit the screens last weekend and has become the pioneering animator's fastest grossing film.
Initial estimates put the opening weekend box office takings at $153 million, with long queues at midnight screenings of the type normally preserved for cult franchises such as Harry Potter and Star Wars.
A preview at the Edinburgh Film Festival also had critics on both sides of the Atlantic raving about the success of director Lee Unkrich's venture into 3D and hailing it as the jewel of the summer schedules, evoking the same blend of humour and pathos that enraptured a generation of parents and their offspring in the 1990s.
The film's success comes hard on the heels of some well-hyped turkeys, including Sex and the City 2, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Robin Hood and Iron Man 2.
In Toy Story 3, Andy must decide what to do with his former playmates before setting off to university.
Ian Freer, assistant editor of Empire magazine, said: "This is one of the most anticipated films of the year, by audiences and critics alike. I have seen it and it will definitely deliver on that anticipation."
The success of the 3D format and particularly the phenomenal appeal of Avatar, which last year became the second highest-grossing film of all time, has helped to sustain the movie industry in the teeth of the worst recession since World War II.
Next year promises blockbusters including the fourth in the Pirates of the Caribbean series and the latest Spider-Man. Before then animation lovers can enjoy the return of the green ogre in Shrek Forever After, in New Zealand cinemas now, which will go head-to-head with Toy Story for the first time.
Pixar, which until now had only one sequel to its name, is set to release new instalments of Cars and Monsters, Inc. It will not release another original film until 2012.
- THE INDEPENDENT
*Monsters, Inc is repeating on TV2 this Saturday at 7.30pm.