While 28 Years Later seems to have exceeded last weekend’s estimates, Elio’s record-low opening for a Pixar film has animation fans wondering why Pixar’s latest couldn’t soar among the stars. To answer that question requires an expert,

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

A bad opening weekend might not necessarily spell doom for Pixar's latest–but a pattern is emerging that might shape what's to come from the beloved animation studio.