Toy Story 5 Review: Let’s be honest. When Toy Story 5 was announced, my first reaction wasn’t excitement. It was, “Seriously? Another one?” After all, Toy Story 3 already felt like the perfect ending. Then Toy Story 4 came along and somehow found a reason to exist. So naturally, the biggest question hanging over Toy Story 5 was simple:
Did we actually need this movie? To my surprise, Pixar came up with a pretty convincing answer. And yes, if you’re wondering, there may have been a suspicious amount of “allergy season” happening during a few emotional scenes.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5) |
| Worth Watching? | Absolutely |
| Better Than Toy Story 4? | Yes |
| Best Character | Jessie |
| Biggest Strength | Emotional story about technology and childhood |
| Biggest Weakness | The Buzz Lightyear subplot feels unnecessary |
| Family Friendly? | 100% |
| Emotional Damage Level | High |
| Recommended For | Kids, parents, longtime Pixar fans |
The Biggest Surprise: Toy Story 5 Actually Has Something to Say
One of the reasons many late sequels fail is that they don’t have a purpose. They’re made because a studio sees a popular franchise and wants another hit. Toy Story 5 feels different. Instead of repeating old ideas, Pixar updates the original Toy Story conflict for today’s generation.
Back in 1995, Woody was threatened by Buzz Lightyear. In 2026? Every toy is threatened by technology. And honestly, that’s a much more interesting conflict than I expected.
Technology Is the Real Villain Here
The movie introduces a device called the Lilypad. Let’s not pretend. It’s basically Pixar’s version of an iPad. But the movie doesn’t simply paint technology as evil. That’s what I appreciated most. The story recognizes that kids live in a digital world now. The problem isn’t the device itself.
The problem is how it changes childhood. Years ago, if your friend had the coolest toy, you would go play with it. Today, if you don’t have the latest device, you can feel excluded from entire social circles. That’s a very real issue. And Toy Story 5 explores it in a surprisingly thoughtful way. Without getting preachy. Without sounding like your uncle complaining about smartphones at Thanksgiving.
Jessie Finally Gets Her Moment
One thing fans should know before buying tickets: Jessie is the main character this time. Not Woody. Not Buzz. Jessie. And honestly? It works. A lot better than I expected. The emotional moments centered around Jessie hit hard. Really hard.
Pixar has always been great at telling human stories through non-human characters, and Jessie carries a huge part of that emotional weight here. Her story feels natural. Nothing feels forced. Nothing feels like Pixar is checking boxes. It genuinely feels like the franchise is evolving.
Don’t Worry, Woody and Buzz Are Still Here
Before longtime fans panic, Woody and Buzz aren’t gone. They still matter. They still have meaningful roles. But they’re no longer the center of the universe. And that makes sense. Their strongest connection was always Andy. That chapter ended years ago. Toy Story 5 understands this and wisely shifts focus instead of pretending time hasn’t passed.
The Movie’s Best Quality? It Grew Up With Its Audience
This might be my favorite thing about the film. Toy Story has always been a kids’ franchise. But it has also quietly grown alongside the people who watched the original movie in theaters. Many of those kids are now parents. Toy Story 5 understands that. The movie explores:
- Parenting in the digital age
- Social pressure among children
- Technology dependence
- Growing up
- Identity and individuality
Yet somehow it never forgets to be fun. Kids get a colorful adventure. Adults get themes that actually mean something. That’s a difficult balance. Pixar mostly nails it.
The Imagination Sequences Are Pure Toy Story Magic
One reason the franchise has survived for over three decades is that it never loses sight of imagination. Toy Story 5 keeps that tradition alive. The imagination sequences are some of the best parts of the movie. They capture that feeling every kid knows. Action figures fighting dinosaurs. Random toys teaming up.
Entire worlds built from cardboard boxes. Watching these scenes reminded me of why the franchise became special in the first place. It’s not about toys. It’s about what toys represent. Creativity. Wonder. Possibility. Toy Story 5 still understands that.
The One Part That Doesn’t Really Work
Not everything lands perfectly. The movie introduces a group of Buzz Lightyears that become part of the larger adventure. At first, I genuinely thought it was setting up something important. Instead, the subplot drags on for quite a while before revealing itself to be mostly a plot device.
Every time the movie returned to these Buzzes, I found myself wondering where it was heading. Unfortunately, the payoff never fully arrives. It’s not terrible. It’s just the weakest part of an otherwise strong story.
The Cast Is Bigger Than Ever
At this point, Toy Story has accumulated an army of characters. That’s both a strength and a challenge. Many familiar faces return. The downside? Some characters barely get anything to do. Several fan favorites essentially become background cameos. It’s understandable.
The movie has to focus on its core story. Still, longtime fans may wish some characters had larger roles.
Is Toy Story 5 Better Than Toy Story 4?
This is probably the question most people are asking. For me? Yes. Without hesitation. I enjoyed Toy Story 4. But Toy Story 5 feels more relevant. More focused. More emotionally impactful. Most importantly, it justifies its existence. That’s something every sequel needs to do. Toy Story 5 succeeds where many legacy sequels struggle. It finds a reason to be here.
Also Read: Disclosure Day Review: Spielberg’s Best Strength Has Nothing to Do With Aliens
Final Verdict: Pixar Proves There’s Still Life Left in This Franchise
I walked into Toy Story 5 expecting a decent sequel. I walked out genuinely impressed. The laughs work. The emotional moments work. The themes feel modern without feeling forced. And Jessie absolutely shines. Most importantly, the movie asks a question many parents are already wrestling with:
How do kids balance technology and imagination in a world where screens are everywhere?
Toy Story 5 doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. But it starts an interesting conversation. And that’s more than I expected from the fifth movie in a franchise that started 31 years ago.
Final Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Watch it in theaters. Bring the kids. Bring the nostalgia. Maybe bring tissues too. Just in case those allergies act up again. Now I want to hear from you: Do you think Toy Story 5 is better than Toy Story 4, or should Pixar have stopped after Toy Story 3?