Film Review – Toy Story 5

June 21st, 2026 | POSTED BY Allen Almachar

Every Toy Story movie – and I mean every single one – encompasses the same thematic arc. The lovable toys – Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Slinky (Blake Clark), Mr. Potato Head (Jeff Bergman), Forky (Tony Hale) and several others – go through an existential crisis each and every time. A new element comes in that disrupts the status quo, whether that be a new toy or a change in their child owner. This causes the toys to question everything about themselves: their purpose, their place in the natural order, their worth to others and themselves, and whether they are destined for a place in the toy box or in the garbage dump. Every single entry into the franchise is a variation of this premise.

Maybe that’s why this latest installment, Toy Story 5 (2026) feels like a case of diminishing returns. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a good movie with lots of laughs, adventure, and heart. But it also traverses subject matter we’ve already visited in the last four films. Whether it was Woody’s jealousy when Buzz was the new fancy toy of Andy’s room, Jessie’s sadness after being left behind by her previous owner, the fear the toys had after Andy grew up and donated them all to Bonnie (Scarlett Spears), or when Woody felt he could be of better use helping lost toys alongside Bo Peep (Annie Potts). The concept has remained the same even when the window dressing has changed. Toy Story (1995) was a revelation when it was released, and in many ways Toy Story 3 (2010) was the artistic culmination of the entire series. Despite its clear qualities, Toy Story 5 feels minor compared to everything that came before it.

This time, the disrupting force comes in the form of an electronic device. Lilypad (Greta Lee) is a tablet that can allow a kid to do just about anything: play games, tell stories, listen to music or watch videos, chat with other kids, etc. Lilypad immediately takes all of Bonnie’s attention, leaving the rest of the toys stranded in the dust. Afraid that constant screentime will sap Bonnie’s imagination and prevent her from making friends face to face, Jessie – along with her trusty horse Bullseye – goes on a mission to loosen Lilypad’s firm grip on Bonnie. To make matters more complicated (and bizarre), a crate containing advanced Buzz Lightyear toys have broken away from its ship and crashed on a deserted island. The Buzzes wake up and, believing they must return to “Star Command,” slowly make their way toward Jessie and the other toys. Throw in Woody returning to help out, and we have ourselves a maze-like narrative with characters running all over the place and getting into all kinds of trouble.

Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris (who both co-write and co-direct) do a fine job of bringing this franchise into the Gen-Z era. In a time where parents navigate the amount of time their kids are on their phones, tablets, or computers, and where Covid forced students and employees to work from home, society’s relationship with technology sits at an unsteady balance. We see the negative effects in how Bonnie is exposed to online bullying by some mean girls from her dance class. Heck, even Jessie, Woody, Buzz and the rest can’t help but get hypnotized (albeit temporarily) whenever Lilypad’s screen turns on. But we also see the positive side, in how tech can bring people together, like in the way Bonnie connects with another young girl named Blaze (Mykal-Michelle Harris), who is actually nice and friendly. Is it possible that the narrative sitting between the good and bad sides of technology reflect Disney having their cake and eating it too? I’m sure the House of Mouse wants to keep those Disney+ subscription numbers up, so it’s understandable that they wouldn’t want to go too hard on people that stay glued to their devices.

Each installment of the series introduces new, colorful characters. Here, the three biggest additions are Snappy (Shelby Rabara), a camera made for kids, Atlas (Craig Robinson), an old school GPS monitor, and Smarty Pants (Conan O’Brien), a Wi-Fi-enabled smart device that helps toddlers potty train. Each of the three characters demonstrate how technology has advanced throughout the decades. On the flip side, however, each one goes through the same crisis when their owners store them away for newer, state-of-the-art products. They’re just like any other toy going through the same ups and downs, trying to find a place to fit in. Rabara and Robinson are good in their respective roles, but the clear standout of the three (and the film overall) is Conan O’Brien. He brings his usual zany comedy stylings to the performance, giving Smarty Pants a ton of energy and quick wit. 

The Toy Story franchise has always benefited from beautifully rendered visuals. Part 5 is no different. What else is there to say that hasn’t already been said? The imagery has gotten so good that there are certain backgrounds, props, and environments that are near photo realistic. A nice artistic choice is how the playtime scenes are crafted. There have always been set pieces in which Andy or Bonnie play with their toys and we see their imaginations rendered on screen like they were really happening. This time, the playtime scenes are animated in stark contrast to the “real world” of the movie. The sequences have a blotchy, pastel look to them, which helps accentuate the absurd situations the kids put their toys in. At a certain point I wanted to remain in these flights of fancy – they are easily the most fun moments.  

Toy Story 5 has a lot of good stuff going for it. But when the credits rolled, I came away thinking that I’ve seen a lot of this already. The ideas and emotions were all a bit too familiar. I wasn’t as entertained as I was in previous entries, and I wasn’t moved in the same way I’ve been with these characters in the last three decades. Yes, this is still an enjoyable ride, but it is also the slightest of the entire franchise. How many times can these toys go through the same cycle of being loved, lost, and loved again? Sooner or later we must grow up and move on…don’t we?

Andrew Stanton, Annie Potts, Blake Clark, Conan O'Brien, Craig Robinson, Featured, Greta Lee, Jeff Bergman, Joan Cusack, McKenna Harris, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Scarlett Spears, Shelby Rabara, Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Tony Hale, Toy Story, Toy Story 3, Toy Story 5, Wallace Shawn