Toy Story 3 Hits Big at Box Office

Toy Story 3

earned an estimated $153.8 million worldwide during its opening weekend. Domestically, the film generated $109 million, becoming the second-biggest grossing start for an animated feature, behind

Shrek the Third

($121.6 million).

Toy Story 3's

domestic numbers also marked it as Pixar's highest-grossing opener since

The Incredibles,

which raked in $70.5 million in its 2004 debut. Internationally, the

Toy Story 3

opening grossed $44.8 million.

As previously reported in

License! Global

(March/April 2010)

, Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products, predicts

Toy Story 3

will be the biggest merchandising event DCP has ever had that will only be eclipsed by

Cars 2

next year. The Toy Story franchise is valued at $8 billion at retail. The Toy Story 3 licensing program includes more than 20 licensees, including Thinkway Toys, Mattel, The LEGO Group, Hasbro, Jakks Pacific and Fisher-Price. It also features 14 new toys, including a plush bear character named Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear from Thinkway Toys.