Toy Story 5 Review

Thank you to Disney for inviting my family and myself out to the premiere!

Toy Story 5 brings Pixar’s most beloved toy box back with a very modern question: what happens when toys are no longer competing with other toys, but with screens? The official setup is “Toy meets Tech,” with Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang facing a new challenge when Bonnie becomes interested in Lilypad, a high-tech tablet device voiced by Greta Lee. The film is directed by Andrew Stanton, co-directed by Kenna Harris, and opens in theaters June 19, 2026.

The Big Idea

The movie’s strongest hook is that it takes the classic Toy Story theme — toys wanting to be loved and played with — and updates it for today’s families. In the first films, the toys worried about being replaced by newer toys. This time, the threat is bigger: kids being pulled away from imagination by electronics.

That is a smart direction. It gives the movie a reason to exist beyond nostalgia. It is not just “Woody and Buzz are back again.” It asks parents and kids a real question: Are we losing something when screens replace playtime?

What Works Best

The emotional core appears to be Jessie, and that is a great choice. Early reactions have praised the movie for giving Jessie a major role and for making the technology-versus-toys story more emotional than expected. Some reactions also say the film starts a little unevenly but pays off strongly in the final act.

That makes sense for this franchise. Toy Story is at its best when it is funny for kids but secretly devastating for adults. The best moments are never just about toys; they are about growing up, being forgotten, feeling replaced, and learning when to let go.

For Kids

Kids will likely enjoy the return of Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, and the larger toy world. The tech angle should be easy for young viewers to understand because tablets and screens are part of their everyday life. The story gives families a natural way to talk about balancing screen time with imagination, friendship, and real-world play.

There is also a fun Buzz element: Disney’s official material mentions fifty commemorative Buzz Lightyear action figures stuck in toy mode, which sounds like it could create big comedy and chaos.

For Parents

This may be the most parent-focused Toy Story yet. The Guardian’s cast interview frames the movie as being strongly about childhood, technology, attention, and the way screens can take over family life. Greta Lee and Joan Cusack also discuss the importance of boundaries, boredom, outdoor time, and parents staying involved rather than letting tech become a substitute for connection.

That is where the movie could hit adults hard. If Toy Story 3 made parents cry about kids leaving childhood behind, Toy Story 5 seems aimed at parents watching childhood change in real time.

Possible Weakness

The only concern is whether the message becomes too obvious. A movie about “toys versus technology” could feel preachy if it pushes too hard. The best Pixar films trust the audience. They make you feel the message instead of announcing it. Early reactions suggest the movie mostly succeeds, though at least one critic felt the beginning had several storylines to set up before everything came together.

Overall Verdict

Toy Story 5 looks like a strong return for Pixar — emotional, funny, and surprisingly timely. It may not be as shocking as the original, and it has the impossible job of following four movies that already gave the franchise several “perfect endings.” But the tech-versus-playtime idea gives it a fresh reason to exist.

For families, this should be more than just a movie night. It can become a conversation: How much screen time is too much? What do kids lose when they stop using imagination? And why do toys still matter?

Review Score: 4 out of 5

Best for: families, Pixar fans, parents with younger kids, and longtime Toy Story viewers.Main theme: imagination vs. technology.Parent takeaway: expect laughs, nostalgia, and probably a few emotional punches.Kid takeaway: toys are fun, friendship matters, and screens do not have to win every time.

I loved it and so dit the family!!