The First Reactions TOY STORY 5 Are in, and Pixar Has Done It Again: "Magical and Pure Perfection"
Let's be real for a second. When Pixar announced Toy Story 5, the internet had... opinions. The argument was fair, too. Toy Story 3 wrapped things up so perfectly in 2010 that people genuinely wept in theaters and called it one of the greatest trilogy-cappers ever put on screen.
Then Toy Story 4 came along in 2019 and somehow managed to do it all over again, delivering yet another emotionally resonant send-off for Woody and the gang.
So when a fifth film got announced, the collective skepticism from fans was more than understandable. Well, the first reactions for Toy Story 5 are out and they are setting the internet on fire.
Critics and fans who got early access to the film have started sharing their thoughts, and the consensus isn't just positive. It's ecstatic.
Andrew Salazar from Discussing Film set the tone, saying: "Toy Story 5 is a genuine home run." Jazz Tangcay from Variety matched that energy without hesitation, writing, "Toy Story 5 is magical and pure perfection."
If those two reactions alone aren't enough to get you excited, film critic Scott Menzel went even further, calling it "a wonderfully heartfelt return to form for Pixar Animation Studios and a reminder of why the Toy Story franchise remains one of the greatest film series ever made."
So what's the movie actually about? While Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) are both part of the story, this one belongs to Jessie. Joan Cusack's cowgirl finally steps into the spotlight as the central character, and the emotional engine driving everything is deeply personal.
A new tablet toy named Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, arrives and immediately captures the attention of young Bonnie (Scarlett Spears), triggering something Jessie fans have waited a long, long time to see addressed on screen.
Her abandonment trauma, first introduced in Toy Story 2 with the heartbreaking "When She Loved Me" sequence, gets fully explored here. The wound that's been sitting under the surface for over two decades finally gets its moment.
Tangcay said: "Jessie finally gets the story she deserves! It's emotional, funny, genuinely warm, and perfect in every way."
Meredith Loftus from Collider went even deeper, saying: "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. I put it up there with Toy Story 2 & 3. It's that excellent!"
Comparing anything to Toy Story 2 and 3 is a big statement. Those are two wonderfully made and beloved animated films. The fact Loftus went there tells you everything about how this film landed emotionally.
The reactions aren't entirely without nuance. Germain Lussier from io9 noted that the film is "a tiny bit disjointed at the start as it builds multiple different story lines," though he was quick to add that it all comes together for a "phenomenal third act."
There are two other big conversation starters coming out of early screenings. Taylor Swift contributed an original song to the film titled "I Knew It, I Knew You," and it's being called "perfect" by Tangcay and others who saw the movie.
On the character side, Conan O'Brien voices a new toy named Smarty Pants, and Daniel Baptista from The Movie Podcast is calling him an "all-time great" franchise character. Those are strong words for a brand-new addition to one of animation's most iconic ensemble casts.
None of this should come as a total shock. Pixar doesn't greenlight Toy Story sequels for the fun of it. Each one has arrived with a clear emotional reason to exist, and they've consistently delivered.
Tim Allen himself has said that Toy Story 5 is the most emotional entry in the entire series, and based on everything critics are describing, that feels completely believable.
The film opens in theaters on June 19th.