To infinity and beyond with Toy Story 5! I watched Toy Story 5 at a special screening, and what a wave of nostalgia it was. I went with my son, who had a Toy Story-themed 6th birthday party back in 1997, inspired by the original 1995 film.
Toy Story 5 Suzette Valle and son Alex Valle
This fifth installment in the franchise holds its own while honoring what made the series so beloved. Once again, the toys are fighting for survival—but this time, they’re battling for space in children’s imaginations and playtime in an age dominated by screens and technology.
Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Lilypad in Disney and Pixar’s TOY STORY 5. Photo courtesy of Pixar. © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
The film weaves together important themes about childhood development, parenting, friendship, and the growing role of tablets and devices in kids’ lives. Yet it never feels preachy. There’s something here for everyone. Viewers of every age will recognize pieces of themselves in the story, delivered with humor, heart, and surprising insight.
Synopsis: The toys are back in Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” and this time it’s Toy meets Tech. Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen), Jessie (voice of Joan Cusack) and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they come face-to-face with Lilypad (voice of Greta Lee), a brand-new tablet device that arrives with her own disruptive ideas about what is best for their kid, Bonnie. Will playtime ever be the same? “Toy Story 5” is directed by Academy Award® winner Andrew Stanton, co-directed by Kenna Harris, produced by Lindsey Collins and features an original score by Oscar® winner Randy Newman, who returns to score his fifth “Toy Story” feature. The film releases exclusively in theaters June 19, 2026.
The film begins with what to me resembles the dystopian ending of Planet of the Apes; toys stranded and abandoned on the beach seemingly foreshadowing the darkness of what’s ahead. Or does it? In classic Disney/Pixar fashion, there are also call backs to other films sprinkled in for the detail-oriented movie buff. And keep your eyes peeled for the Pizza Planet truck—it flashes by in a split second!
Smarty Pants and Jessie in Disney and Pixar’s TOY STORY 5. Photo courtesy of Pixar. © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
It was comforting to hear those familiar voices and see the characters again. For me, Smarty Pants steals the show. He’s a potty-training toy with only two buttons: #1 and #2. Yet somehow, he manages to conjure up a #1.5 for a perfectly timed puff of air (LOL), proving that even bathroom humor can be clever when delivered with impeccable comedic timing. Now I understand why Conan O’Brien was cast to voice this character. He had me laughing harder than any other character in the film. He absolutely wipes the floor with everyone else when it comes to one-liners, and makes this one of his best voice acting rolls. *wink*
The animation in Toy Story 5 is absolutely stunning, right down to the peach fuzz glowing off human faces in the sunlight. But some of the film’s most memorable moments come from the transitions into Bonnie’s imagination during playtime with her beloved toys: Jessie, Bullseye, Woody, Buzz, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Slinky, Rex, Forky, and the rest of the gang. I especially loved seeing Jessie step into a leading role in this adventure.
(L-R): Bullseye and Jessie in Disney and Pixar’s TOY STORY 5. Photo courtesy of Pixar. © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
The encounters between the classic toys and Lily, their sleek, high-tech counterpart, drives the story forward and creates some of its funniest and most thought-provoking situations. Toy Story 5 is as funny as it is reflective. I left the theater feeling uplifted and hopeful about today’s children and their over exposure to technology, but this hinges on us, as parents and grandparents, to continue encouraging imagination and real-world play alongside technology. You know, a balance.
As a new grandmother myself, I found the movie’s premise especially relatable. I too once battled the challenges of the rising trends with social media and my own two kids, and I may have a steeper cyber hill to climb with my granddaughter.
So, can we keep watching Toy Story movies to infinity and beyond? I sure think so.
And one final tip: stay through the credits!
Rated: PG
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes)
Release Date: June 19, 2026
Director: Andrew Stanton
Voice Cast: Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), Joan Cusack (Jessie), Greta Lee (Lilypad), Conan O’Brien (Smarty Pants), plus returning favorites from the Toy Story gang.
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