TOY STORY 5 -- The Franchise is Now 5 for 5

Review by Chadd Clubine

Ever since Toy Story 3, it has felt as though audiences have shared the same sentiment: “You stuck the landing—now please don’t do it again.” Pixar has no shortage of films that could receive sequels if the studio truly wanted to revisit familiar worlds. Yet Toy Story remains its safest commercial bet, a reliable success that helps fund the original projects that may not perform as strongly at the box office. Recent reports have claimed that Toy Story 5 is the best Pixar film in two decades. Don’t let that hype mislead you. While it may not quite reach those heights, it comes remarkably close with its remarkable animation and an emotional story. More importantly, it serves as a reminder that even when Pixar stumbles from time to time, the studio hasn’t lost the magic that made audiences fall in love with its films in the first place.

Looking at the future of the Toy Story franchise, it’s hard to imagine we’ll ever reach Toy Story 10. Ironically, the series has started to resemble Fast & Furious in one key way: every time it appears to have found the perfect ending, it keeps finding reasons to continue. Rather than expanding through spin-offs—which might serve both franchises better—it seems determined to keep the Toy Story name attached to new installments for as long as possible. What makes this latest entry particularly interesting is that it is, above all else, Jessie’s story. She receives significantly more focus than either Woody or Buzz, despite those two having long been the faces of the franchise. After Toy Story 4 provided Woody with what felt like a definitive farewell, Toy Story 5 finds a surprisingly convincing reason to bring him back. In doing so, it offers a blueprint for how the series can move forward: introducing a new generation of central characters while still keeping Woody and Buzz present as beloved parts of the larger story.

At 102 minutes, Toy Story 5 is officially the longest installment in the franchise to date. The film juggles three storylines simultaneously. Two of them were heavily featured in the marketing campaign, but the third comes as a welcome surprise, capturing the playful charm and humor that have always defined the series. When this subplot is first introduced, it may seem like an odd detour, leaving you wondering why it matters at all. Before long, however, it reveals itself to be a crucial piece of the larger narrative, culminating in a payoff that becomes especially meaningful during the mid-credits scene. While Toy Story 5 may not be the funniest entry in the series, the wit, heart, and comedic sensibilities that helped make the franchise iconic are still very much intact.

The film takes exactly the right approach in exploring Jessie’s story. With Woody’s character arc already brought to a satisfying close, he is able to return in a supporting role that enhances the narrative without undermining the ending that came before. Buzz, meanwhile, plays a more significant role than expected, as the film develops an engaging dynamic between him and Jessie that adds new depth to both characters. Although audiences have learned about Jessie’s past before, this installment revisits her story from a fresh perspective, delivering some of the franchise’s most emotionally powerful moments. By further exploring her backstory, the film strikes a deeply heartfelt chord, resulting in one of the most moving scenes in the entire Toy Story series.

While Pixar has another winner on its hands and further cements Toy Story as one of the greatest franchises ever made, the fifth installment is arguably the series’ weakest entry—though only by a narrow margin. Its shortcomings stem from a handful of missteps rather than any major flaws. Jessie’s story is undeniably compelling and provides the film with much of its emotional weight, but the lack of the classic Woody-and-Buzz dynamic is impossible to ignore. Their relationship has long been the heart of the franchise, and its reduced presence leaves a noticeable void. Additionally, several fan-favorite characters introduced in the previous film receive surprisingly little attention, contributing little beyond a few comedic moments and leaving less of an impact on the overall story than audiences might have hoped.

Overall, Toy Story 5 continues Pixar’s remarkable track record with a franchise that balances heart and humor as effortlessly as ever. The animation is stunning, the storytelling feels purposeful, and the film never loses sight of the emotional core that has defined the series for more than three decades. More than 30 years after the original film, Toy Story still delivers the charm, wit, and trademark humor that made audiences fall in love with these characters in the first place. While the reduced focus on Buzz and Woody’s iconic dynamic is certainly felt, the film succeeds by broadening its perspective and giving other toys—particularly Jessie—the opportunity to take center stage. In doing so, it proves that this beloved franchise can continue to evolve while staying true to what made it special from the very beginning.

Toy Story 5 releases in theaters June 19th!

RATING: 4.5/5