Toy Story to help bring in $3.4 billion for Disney?

It's true - Pixar's latest blockbuster is Toy Story 3, which as of today is expected to reach if not surpass $1 billion USD worldwide.

While this is exciting news, it's also important to keep in mind that Disney projected in June that the Toy Story franchise could bring in an estimated $2.4 billion in merchandising revenue by the end of their fiscal year (end of September 2010). This means that Toy Story products, including the movie, could help Disney bring in $3.4 billion this year. Is this far-fetched? Maybe not, considering that previous Toy Story merchandising has brought in an estimated $9 billion.

With Cars 2 due out around June 2011, look for more major merchandising dollars to roll in, since Cars (2006) has brought in about $2 billion in merchandising revenue per year. I ought to know that's true since Cars merchandise is all over my house (my kids love the movie and the toys!).