REVIEWS

Toy Story 5 is the fifth installment in the Toy Story franchise and is the latest Pixar film. I have always been a BIG fan of this movie series, but even if Toy Story 3 had the perfect ending, I think continuing was still good. Although I thought Toy Story 4 was my least favourite of them all, it was still really good and had strong ideas. Then Toy Story 5 was announced and when I heard it was going to be about toys vs. tech, I was soooo excited! It’s so relatable, especially in 2026. I kept an eye on this movie from the trailers to release, and I was ready for another good movie. Now after watching this film...it wasn’t good, it was great!

Toy Story 5 exceeds all expectations; its characters and themes really shine in the writing and direction. Its plot is also really good, messy, but works well towards the end. Also, the original song for this movie by Taylor Swift was perfect for the vibe, especially how it’s focused on Jessie. Now, Jessie as the MAIN character made me a bit anxious but really delivered! She got so many emotional moments along with Bonnie, whose character gets a lot more of an arc in this film. Something that happens to her made me tear up slightly and it was honestly relatable. However, Smartypants (played by Conan O’Brien) was the funniest character of the WHOLE MOVIE! He made me laugh so many times and really entertained me a lot more than I thought he would. The moral though was the best part of the film and made everything great ! I don't want to spoil anything but the way they handle it rather than just “tech is bad, toys are better”, was fantastic to see.

The only negatives I would say are that the plot is messy and the start is really all over the place. I think the multiple buzzes that appear are cool, but it’s actually kind of a pain to come back and forth to. Also, since Jessie is the main character, Woody and Buzz are kind of pushed to the side. They still have lots of screen time but not like the others.

Toy Story 5 is a great follow up to the beloved franchise and out of the five movies is probably my second favourite, with the original being my personal favourite. I think kids 6+ will enjoy it most. Younger kids would also like it, however this specific age recommendation is who I think would most understand the film’s meaning and premise. More Toy Story films had been announced with the director saying he has enough ideas at the moment for a Toy Story 6 and 7. With also more Pixar films coming out, I personally think this studio is coming back to its old tropes.