The first reactions to Toy Story 5 have landed – and the much-anticipated Pixar sequel is getting rave reviews, branding it ‘phenomenal’, ‘a masterpiece’ and ‘deeply profound’.
It’s also already generating considerable Oscar buzz – in more than one category – which is far from the norm for the fifth entry in a 31-year-old franchise, while others were also clear to warn parents and fans over the movie’s plot.
In Toy Story 5, cowgirl Jessie (Joan Cusack) – the new sheriff now Woody (Tom Hanks) has left the playroom – takes centre stage alongside Bonnie’s other toys, including Buzz (Tim Allen), Bullseye, Rex (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger) and Forky (Tony Hale) as they come up against the new threat of technology when tablet Lilypad (Greta Lee) arrives.
‘Toy Story 5 hit me in places I was unprepared for! Exploring the divide between technology and toys through Jessie results in a deeply profound, moving story that had me in a puddle of tears,’ wrote Collider’s Meredith Loftus on X, adding: ‘I put it up there with Toy Story 2 and 3. It’s *that* excellent!’
Variety’s Clayton Davis agreed that the movie proved the films had ‘plenty of emotional territory left to explore’ while praising Cusack’s ‘standout’ work in the spotlight.
However, he also added of Toy Story 5’s new focus: ‘Fair warning that you’ll want to break your kid’s tablets.’
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This is a sentiment most millennial viewers, who both grew up with Toy Story and played in a world pre-widespread use of the internet, will likely feel most keenly.
Both the film’s high emotional stakes and the sinister arrival of online toys were echoed in other reactions.
Critic Scott Menzel was also impressed by how well it ‘explores the battle between toys and technology [but] never loses sight of what makes these characters so special’.
Declaring that Toy Story ‘remains one of the greatest film series ever made’ he added: ‘Emotional, hilarious, and genuinely moving, Toy Story 5 may very well end up being one of the best films of 2026.’
‘Toy Story 5 is a tiny bit disjointed at the start as it builds multiple different story lines, but they end up paying off with a phenomenal third act filled with all the heart and humour you expect from Pixar,’ tweeted Germain Lussier for Gizmodo. ‘Top tier stuff. I laughed, I cried, I loved it.’
Meanwhile The Wrap’s Drew Taylor called it ‘an absolute homerun and further proof that this is the greatest animated film franchise ever’, while Daniel Baptista, co-host of The Movie Podcast, described it as ‘a generation-defining experience and exactly the story we need right now’.
‘Thinking of #ToyStory5 delivers a pang of emotion and nostalgia, even a few weeks later,’ I tweeted after seeing the film as well in London a couple of weeks ago.
Are you excited for Toy Story 5?
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Yes I love the franchise!
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They should have stopped at 3
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I’m not fussed, but will probably see it
‘It’s genuinely moving – millennials who grew up with this franchise, prepare to be ruined. Its power remains undimmed, and tackling tech makes perfect sense. Truly one of the best sequels.’
In a piece from the Los Angeles premiere last night – where Taylor Swift’s new song I Knew It, I Knew You was finally unveiled over the credits (and in a live performance) following decoy previews of the film without, including mine, to avoid leaks – industry insiders and Academy members reportedly ‘gushed’ over the film and Swift’s song.
‘They really pulled out all the stops for this,’ commented one, to The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg.
It was predicted too that Toy Story 5, ahead of next year’s Oscars, will be ‘hard to stop in all races for best animated feature and best original song, and could also factor into best picture and best adapted screenplay competitions’.
The film’s voice cast also includes Conan O’Brien, Craig Robinson and Shelby Rabara as new tech toys, as well as Alan Cumming and Bad Bunny in cameos as an evil version of Bullseye and Pizza with Sunglasses, respectively.
Toy Story was released in 1995, followed by Toy Story 2 in 1999 and a long wait for Toy Story 3 in 2010 before Toy Story 4 was released in 2019.
Toy Story 5 releases in cinemas on Friday, June 19.
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