It’s not a stretch to say that Toy Story is one of the greatest franchises of all time. Its quality throughout the decades remains unmatched, with every film in the series having at least a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes — that’s practically unheard of. The fact that it’s managed to stay so relevant and beloved for over thirty years now makes the feat even more impressive. This kind of streak raises excitement to see the newest installment, but it also made me a bit nervous, too. Everything eventually falters, right?
I’m pleased and relieved to announce that I had nothing to worry about. Toy Story 5 is exceptional, effortlessly combining enough nostalgia to satisfy those who watched the early films as a child with new themes like technology, social anxiety, and PTSD. There’s a shocking amount of nuance to be had — even more than in many movies made purely for adults — and it’s certain to start conversations, though it’s never preachy. Toy Story 5 is entertaining from start to finish and will make people of all ages laugh and cry in equal measure.
What Is ‘Toy Story 5’ About?
“The age of toys is over.” That’s the central thesis in Toy Story 5 and a rude awakening Jessie (Joan Cusack, effectively taking the lead role this time around) is faced with after peeking into Bonnie’s (Scarlett Spears) neighbor’s house, only to find the kids zoned out while staring at their respective screens, their toys abandoned in the yard. Jessie and co. fear they might soon face the same fate when Bonnie’s parents buy her a tablet, Lilypad (Greta Lee), to help her make friends. It initially seems like a good thing, as Bonnie connects with girls in her dance class over the chat feature, but they soon begin to bully her for still playing with toys they deem babyish, and in an attempt to fit in, Bonnie turns her back on Jessie and the gang.
A mishap at a sleepover finds Jessie and Bullseye being dropped off at Jessie’s first owner’s house, where a girl around Bonnie’s age named Blaze (Mykal-Michelle Harris) now lives. Upon observing Blaze, Jessie believes she could be a real friend to Bonnie, as she has the same active imagination and spunky personality. Though Jessie is initially reluctant to work with Blaze’s other toys to complete this mission and get back home, seeing as they are older model tech toys made by the same company that manufactures Lilypad, she eventually teams up with them for Bonnie’s sake. Can tech and traditional toys work together? Can playtime be saved? Or are screens entirely evil and dooming kids and their development forever?
‘Toy Story 5’s New Characters Are Clever, Instantly Beloved Additions
Toy Story 5’s plot couldn’t be more relevant. The average age at which children are exposed to technology is going down, while average screentime is going up. Most people can probably agree that too much time looking at devices is unhealthy, but that avoiding it altogether is nearly impossible. Toy Story 5 faces this reality head-on, smartly exploring the complexities of this changing culture for parents and kids alike and weighing both the pitfalls and advantages.
Though originally painted to be the villains, Lilypad and the other tech toys — a potty-training game named Smarty Pants (Conan O’Brien), a camera named Snappy (Shelby Rabara), and a map toy called Atlas (Craig Robinson) — quickly prove that they aren’t altogether evil. They also want to help their kids in the ways they know how, and they, too, are at constant risk of being thrown in a drawer when a shiny new thing comes along. The theme of consumerism isn’t explored head-on, but it does serve as an interesting side effect of the plot.
These characters serve genius narrative purposes, but most importantly, they’re a lot of fun to watch. Lee is perfectly cast, effectively capturing the cadence and tone of robotic voices like Siri and Alexa while infusing Lilypad with spunky personality. There’s a natural air of superiority and nonchalant wit to her cutting digs that’s absolutely hilarious. O’Brien emerges as another standout. Bathroom humor is often overdone and stoops to the lowest common denominator, but his delightful delivery — as well as the excellent script by Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris, who also serve as co-directors — makes it somehow fresh and sophisticated.
Even the smaller roles manage to be memorable and impress with their specificity. From a talking turtle sandbox to a pizza trinket wearing sunglasses, the film unearths long-buried memories of the popular toys of yesteryear. While the sheer number of characters can make the film a bit crowded, each of them gets enough moments to shine to feel additive, stopping just shy of being overwhelming and overindulgent.
‘Toy Story 5’ Continues to Sweetly Develop 30-Year-Long Dynamics
Jessie has been a highlight of the franchise ever since she joined the 1999 sequel, and she makes for a fantastic choice to lead this film. Cusack imbues the lovable cowgirl with courage and heart, though she’s not without her flaws and obstacles either, both of which only serve to make her even more well-rounded and interesting. She has to learn to set aside her prejudiced ideas of certain toys and apologize when her temper causes her to lash out, which leads to nice moments of relatable and satisfying growth. The most mature aspect of her arc has to do with her processing and healing from the trauma she has about being discarded again after the pain of being neglected and rejected by Emily. It’s handled with age-appropriate seriousness and care, and a surprising reveal that recontextualizes everything will likely leave you bawling.
It wouldn’t be a Toy Story movie without the rivalry-slash-friendship between Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen). Seeing the two of them duke it out over who is Jessie’s deputy is a treat, as are the softer moments concerning Buzz trying to get the courage to ask Jessie to marry him. There’s a natural progression regarding relationships that have spanned several decades now and lovely payoffs to seeds that were planted long ago, showcasing the best of what long-running franchises have the potential to be when things are allowed time to organically develop and evolve.
My one nitpicky critique is that a subplot involving a group of new, more technologically advanced Buzz Lightyears feels a bit random and disjointed from the rest of the film. While the group’s antics are entertaining, and they do eventually become important to the overall plot, they’re not integrated as smoothly as they could have been, which makes them seem tacked on separately from the main story for the runtime’s majority, or a Toy Story short that would release alongside the Blu-ray.
‘Toy Story 5’ Is Visually Stunning and Deeply Human
While the film is, of course, about the toys, I’d be remiss not to mention how wonderfully its human characters are written. This is a movie that takes its young girls and their emotions seriously, making Bonnie and Blaze authentic, fleshed-out individuals. It’s beautiful to see the healthy and supportive parenting on display as well, with Bonnie’s mom (Lori Alan) and dad (Jay Hernandez) and Blaze’s mother (Krys Marshall) all adding nice warmth and comfort.
The direction and animation are just as impressive as the writing and performances. The entire film is detailed and gorgeous, with everything from the settings to the character designs full of life and personality. Giving the playtime sequences their own distinct animation style is a brilliant choice that highlights how special and immersive a child’s imagination is. In an age of AI slop, flat cinematography, and drab lighting, Toy Story 5 isn’t afraid to be vibrant and colorful. It’s a true feast for the eyes.
Toy Story is one of the most consistently incredible franchises around, and the impressive fifth installment not only justifies its existence but feels like a necessary response to how much the world has changed in the past three decades. Toy Story 5 expertly stays true to what audiences love about the movies while adapting to the modern age, blending iconic characters with charming new additions. It’s sure to be not only one of the best family films of the year, but one of the best films of the year, period.
- Release Date
-
June 19, 2026
- Runtime
-
102 Minutes
- Director
-
Andrew Stanton, McKenna Harris
- Writers
-
Andrew Stanton, McKenna Jean Harris
- Producers
-
Lindsey Collins, Jessica Choi
-
-
Tim Allen
Buzz Lightyear (voice)
- Toy Story 5 is extremely timely and handles themes of technology, social anxiety, PTSD, and more with nuance and style.
- New cast members Greta Lee and John Hopkins give standout performances.
- Woody, Buzz, and Jessie?s storylines offer satisfying continuations of arcs that have been going on for three decades.
- A subplot involving a group of new-model Buzz Lightyears feels random and disconnected from the primary story for the majority of the film.