Directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by McKenna Harris, Toy Story 5 once again stars returning cast members Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, and more, alongside newcomers Greta Lee, Conan O’Brien, Craig Robinson, and others.
Going into this film, I was incredibly excited. After the way the last film ended, I think a lot of people were questioning whether or not this sequel was necessary. Despite that, I went in excited. I’ve been a longtime fan of the franchise, I have so many fond memories of watching these films, specifically those first three.
The first two came out when I was very young, and I remember consuming so much of it, watching those VHS tapes over and over again. I was obsessed with the world. I loved the toys themselves. I went to Disney often and loved the Toy Story attractions and merchandise they had there. I played the video games on N64 and some of the cheesy old-school computer games as well. Then Toy Story 3 came out at the perfect time as I was getting close to graduating high school, which tied me even more closely to that film on a thematic level. To be here all these years later with a fifth installment is absolutely insane to me.
Toy Story 5 reunites Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of Bonnie’s toys as they face a challenge unlike anything they’ve encountered before. With technology becoming the center of children’s attention, the toys find themselves competing against a new generation of electronic devices for Bonnie’s affection. As playtime itself begins to change, the gang must figure out what their place is in a world that’s moving on from traditional toys.
I’m happy to start by saying that I had a great time with Toy Story 5.
A lot of people are immediately going to ask where this stacks up in the franchise. That’s a little harder for me because those first three films are movies I’ve seen dozens of times. I have a lot of nostalgia for them, and I genuinely think they’re either perfect or near-perfect films. The fourth film is one I enjoy quite a bit, just not nearly as much.
What I’ll say safely for now is that I think Toy Story 5 is better than Toy Story 4 and is playing in a similar bracket to those first three films for me. It’s hard for me to say it’s on the same level or above them, but I think this is a really solid new film from Pixar. It’s a great new installment in the Toy Story franchise that does some new things. It’s fun, light, charming, and contains a great message for both kids and adults that feels incredibly relevant.
There are some gripes, and there are elements of this film that feel very obviously similar to another recent Pixar film, but I’ll get to that later.
Immediately, I want to say that I really enjoyed the look, music, and overall feel of this film. I was having a great time almost from the start. It’s beautiful to look at. Similar to the last film, Pixar continues to absolutely kill it in the animation department. Whether it’s the lighting, reflections, or the sense of animated realism they’ve managed to achieve, this is a gorgeous movie. It still looks cartoony, but the environments feel tangible and believable. The dust, water, and surrounding world all feel incredibly detailed. This is an aesthetically pleasing film.
The score, once again composed by Randy Newman, is fantastic. He incorporates themes from the original films while introducing new elements that help give this movie its own identity. I loved both the look and sound of the movie.
The returning cast is excellent. It was great hearing Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz once again. However, Joan Cusack really stands out here because while Toy Story 2 is often considered Jessie’s movie, this feels like the first truly Jessie-centric film in the franchise.
Toy Story 5 acknowledges that Woody’s story largely concluded in the previous film. While Woody remains an important supporting character alongside Buzz and the rest of the gang, this story belongs primarily to Jessie. Joan Cusack gets to step fully into the protagonist role and becomes the driving force of the narrative. I thought she was excellent, and the returning cast members all did a great job regardless of how much screen time they received.
As for the newcomers, the most notable addition is Lily Pad, voiced by Greta Lee. She essentially serves as Bonnie’s all-consuming tablet, pulling her away from traditional toys and into group chats, social validation, and concerns about fitting in.
This makes Toy Story 5 feel incredibly timely.
As someone who grew up in the 1990s and 2000s, I watched technology steadily evolve, but I didn’t grow up with social media. I didn’t get a cellphone until I was sixteen, and it was a flip phone. I didn’t own a smartphone until I was basically leaving high school.
I look back fondly on those years. I remember spending hours playing with toys and making up stories. My sister and I would mix action figures with Polly Pockets and Barbies and create ridiculous adventures that made absolutely no sense. Looking back, those memories mean a lot.
Today, while kids certainly still play with toys, it’s impossible to ignore how often tablets and smartphones dominate their attention. This film tackles that reality head-on. It explores how technology can consume attention and limit imagination. More importantly, it examines how technology can create a confusing sense of connection, where online interactions feel meaningful but don’t always translate into genuine friendships or real-world compatibility.
I thought the film handled these themes surprisingly well. Lily Pad serves as an interesting antagonist, and the movie creates an engaging contrast between traditional toys and modern technology.
The film also introduces another interesting concept through older forms of toy technology. If you grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s, you’ve probably encountered those translucent toy gadgets that tried to mimic real technology but now feel hopelessly outdated. Characters voiced by Conan O’Brien, Craig Robinson, and Shelby Rabara represent this transitional era between classic toys and modern smart devices.
These characters add another layer to the story by exploring how different generations of toys served different roles in children’s lives. The interactions between these characters and the main cast create some genuinely compelling and emotional moments.
Pixar has always excelled at making audiences feel something, and Toy Story 5 certainly delivers in that regard. Many of those emotional beats center on Jessie, whose journey forms the heart of the film.
I also appreciated how Bonnie is handled. In the previous movie, she was mostly just a cute kid running around. Here, she feels like an actual character. We see how Lily Pad affects her life, the connections she believes she’s making, and how her imagination is slowly being pushed aside. Giving Bonnie more depth was a smart decision and made the story more impactful.
The biggest comparison I kept returning to after leaving the theater was Inside Out 2.
The more I thought about it, the more obvious the parallels became. Jessie essentially functions as Joy, while Lily Pad serves a role very similar to Anxiety. Both characters want what’s best for Bonnie, just as Joy and Anxiety wanted what was best for Riley. Both create problems because of their deeply held beliefs about how to help. Eventually, both are forced to confront the possibility that their methods may not actually be what’s best.
The similarities are difficult to ignore, but they didn’t ruin the film for me. There are still plenty of fresh ideas and unique concepts that help Toy Story 5 stand on its own.
I also loved how the movie connects back to the first two Toy Story films. There are callbacks, references, and story elements that longtime fans will appreciate. One subplot involving multiple Buzz Lightyear toys ended up being responsible for some of the biggest laughs in the movie.
In general, I found Toy Story 5 consistently funny, engaging, charming, and sweet. The banter between Buzz and Woody remains enjoyable, and there are great moments involving Jessie, Bullseye, and the newer characters.
This is one of those movies where I left the theater realizing I didn’t have many complaints. I simply had a great time watching it. There were moments where I could feel the emotions building and where the film genuinely tugged at my heartstrings.
Is this the best Pixar movie? No.
Is this the best Toy Story movie? No.
But it is absolutely among Pixar’s stronger recent efforts, and it’s one of the better entries in the Toy Story franchise. It’s a beautiful, vibrant, heartwarming film with a meaningful message at its core.
If I had to focus on one major criticism, it would be how sidelined many of the classic supporting characters feel. This was already somewhat true in Toy Story 4, but it’s even more noticeable here. Characters like Rex, Hamm, and Mr. Potato Head all get a few funny lines and memorable moments, but they are not central to the story.
Even Forky, who played such a major role in the previous film, is mostly present for occasional comic relief. It never ruined the movie for me, but when I think about the first three films and how integral the entire ensemble felt, I do miss seeing those characters play larger roles in the adventure.
Still, that’s really my only significant gripe.
Overall, if you’re a fan of Toy Story, I think you’re going to have a good time with this. If you’re a fan of Pixar or animation in general, I think you’re going to have a good time with this. And if you’re simply looking for a charming film with a warm heart and a meaningful message, I think you’re going to have a good time with this as well.
Toy Story 5 is a fun, heartfelt, visually stunning sequel that successfully justifies its existence and proves there’s still plenty of life left in this beloved franchise.
Rating: 9/10