After more than ten years of pioneering new classics, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney return to the franchise that made it all possible: Toy Story. “Toy Story 3” hits theaters today and already the reception is dazzling. Another Pixar mega-hit is on our hands.

Pay no attention to the man with the scarred face. “Jonah Hex” will likely flop this weekend while “Toy Story 3” earns one of the highest grosses of the year, certainly higher than what “Shrek Forever After” earned in its first weekend back in May. We’re fully in summer mode and those kiddies have to go somewhere. Considering I was their age when I first enjoyed “Toy Story,” this is multiple generations we’re talking about lining up at the box office this weekend.

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Toy Story 3

Directed by Lee Unkrich
Written by Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Starring: (voices) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Joan Cusack, etc …

The Word: Andy’s off to college and the toys find themselves donated to a day care facility where countless new toys await from Barbie’s mate Ken to their fearless fuzzy leader, Lots-‘O-Huggin the bear. Also, somewhere in here is a plot element that will make you cry.

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (boo-yah)

My Thoughts: This is “Toy Story 3.” My comments are pretty moot at this point. I trust Pixar like my own parents when it comes to them entertaining me in wholesome ways.

Recommendation: Worth admission. Not sure about 3-D. Depends how much cash you got.

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Jonah Hex

Directed by Jimmy Heyward
Written by Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, William Farmer, John Albano and Tony Dezuniga (comic)
Starring: Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox

The Word: The DC/Vertigo comic will mark Brolin’s first mainstream action role. Hex is a wild-west anti-hero with supernatural powers that “can’t be explained.” One-liners await.

Rotten Tomatoes: 08% (revolting)

My Thoughts: I can’t believe this film is 8% bad. Brolin is so talented, but it doesn’t surprise me that an action film from the director of “Horton Hears a Who” combined with the writers of “Crank” has come out just a total mess.

Recommendation: Worth dismissin,’ sadly.

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Box Office Predictions

Just how much will the toys go for? That’s the question this week. My thought says better than the most recent “Shrek,” so more than $70 million, which is easy because the last two non-franchise Pixar films made at least $65 million. The only thing tempering my predictions is that this weekend historically doesn’t usually bring in huge totals. However, I’m going to say $100 million for Toy Story 3. It just has all the right things going for it being Pixar, a sequel and a long-awaited sequel. Even the last Indiana Jones made $100 million and it wasn’t that good.

Although it will take a hit because of another family film coming out, the The Karate Kid will easily be next with $28-30 million. Third should be The A-Team which will fall the usually 50 percent and land at about $18 million.

The fourth spot is tough. My gut is to say Jonah Hex will tank, but comic-based films tend not to totally flame out. I’m going to guess $10 million to balance out those two forces. The reason Shrek Forever After won’t beat it even if it does tank is because not only is “Toy Story 3” competition, but “Shrek” has to get yanked out of theaters to accommodate it.

1. Toy Story 3
2. The Karate Kid
3. The A-Team
4. Jonah Hex
5. Shrek Forever After