JuicyTalk
Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Toy Story 5
Toy Story 5 is now streaming on Disney+, allowing the masses to finally watch the latest Pixar movie from the comfort of their own homes (hopefully after experiencing it on the big-screen first). Now that it’s available to watch with the push of a button, it’s fun to look back at the fifth Toy Story movie to better examine what worked (and what didn’t).
After Toy Story 3 had what many saw as the perfect franchise ending, and Toy Story 4 seemingly parted ways with Woody, Toy Story 5 faced a fair amount of scrutiny ahead of its summer release this year. However, the movie has a number of solid strengths amid some legitimate missteps, some of which I found to be quite surprising (in the best way possible).
Keeping that in mind, here are some of the biggest takeaways after rewatching Toy Story 5 on Disney+.
Jessie As Toy Story 5’s Protagonist Was The Right Call
Making Joan Cusack’s Jessie the central lead character was easily one of Pixar’s smartest decisions with Toy Story 5. Since her debut in 1999’s Toy Story 2, Jessie has become one of the franchise’s most recognizable toys, though she has never fully carried one of the movies herself until now. Not only does Toy Story 5 put her in a primary leadership role among Bonnie’s toys, but her long-held insecurities and fear of abandonment and being forgotten also take center stage, continuing her arc that first began almost three decades ago.
Buzz Lightyear Got The Redemption He Deserved After Toy Story 4
Without a doubt, Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear was one of the weakest elements of 2019’s Toy Story 4, as his characterization felt incredibly reduced to little more than a running gag involving his “inner voice.” Because that’s almost all of what Buzz was in the fourth movie, he felt far less capable, and honestly dumber, than in previous movies.
Thankfully, Buzz does and says a lot more in Toy Story 5 by comparison. Not only does he clash with Woody over interim leadership duties while Jessie is away, but he also takes charge of the hi-tech army of new Buzz Lightyear models by helping them realize their true nature as toys. Likewise, there’s also Buzz’s humorous mission to “propose” to Jessie ahead of Bonnie’s upcoming playtime, imagining a wedding (and an excellent organic vehicle allowing Buzz to finally profess his true feelings for the yodelin’ cowgirl).
Woody’s Return Feels Justified (But Was It Necessary?)
Bringing Tom Hanks’ Woody back after Toy Story 4 could have easily undermined what was a very emotional goodbye, as he chose to join Bo Peep to help lost toys, rather than going back to Bonnie. Fortunately, Toy Story 5 provided a reasonable explanation: Woody believes Jessie needs his help and to come back to Bonnie’s house after a walkie-talkie call, giving him a genuine reason to return.
That said, I can’t help but feel as though not much would be lost if Woody hadn’t returned, especially with him staying at Bonnie’s with Buzz and the rest of the toys for the bulk of the movie. While it’s fun to see him return and have the classic dynamics with Buzz, it does slightly undo Toy Story 4’s ending all the same (even if there was a decent reason for him to come back to help his friends).
Buzz Lightyear Finally Flying ROCKS
For longtime Buzz Lightyear fans, one moment in Toy Story 5’s third act is absolutely incredible with the reveal that the high-tech Buzz Army has secret drone wings, allowing each Space Ranger toy to legitimately “fly with style” (not just fall). It’s a moment that provides some amazing payoff 3 decades in the making. 31 years later. Buzz Lightyear finally gets to fly (and the moment still hit for me on Disney+).
Toy Story 5’s Legacy Cast Is Too Side-Lined
Unfortunately, one of Toy Story 5’s biggest weaknesses definitely becomes more apparent on a rewatch. The classic legacy ensemble of characters gets massively pushed to the background. After all, most of the movie keeps its focus on Jessie, Bullseye and the new technology device characters at Blaze’s house.
Back at Bonnie’s, the story mainly revolves around Woody, Buzz, and Lily Pad, leaving characters like Rex, Hamm, Slinky, Mr. Potato Head and more with very little to do when all is said and done. When it comes to the bulk of Bonnie’s toys, they basically just get glorified cameo appearances. While it didn’t bother me as much in the theater, it would have been nice if they’d been given more meaningful roles in hindsight.
Conan O’Brien’s Smarty Pants Is Toy Story 5’s Best New Character
Conan O’Brien’s Smarty Pants is easily one of Toy Story 5’s best new characters, an old potty training device Jessie encounters at Blaze’s house. It’s obvious that Conan was allowed to riff and completely be himself in the role, and it absolutely works. Case in point, there’s a hilarious moment where Blaze is playing with the toys and devices, imagining a gala-turned-spy adventure. During this sequence, Smarty Pants is given a tux and the signature hair of Conan himself. Combined with Alan Cumming voicing Bullseye, it’s easily one of my favorite scenes in the entire movie.
Toy Story 5’s Message Is More Nuanced Than Anticipated
Based on the marketing, it was easy to assume that Toy Story 5 was going to have a more basic “technology is bad” message with its toys vs. tech premise. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised that the message is actually more nuanced than that, and I appreciated it even further on my recent rewatch.
Toy Story 5’s ultimate message is more about the balance to be had between the convenience and experiences from devices and the play with toys that is just as crucial for kids and their development. Likewise, it also does a great job highlighting the dangers of kids having tech when not monitored by parents, at the very least forcing kids to grow up faster than they should.
Jessie’s “Reunion” With Emily Was Incredibly Well-Done
Jessie being donated by her original owner Emily has always been one of the most heartbreaking parts of 1999’s Toy Story 2. Toy Story 2 established how deeply Jessie was affected, having felt abandoned by someone she truly loved. Keeping that in mind, I absolutely loved how Toy Story 5 handled the resolution, especially when they could have gone overboard with their confirmed original plan to reunite Jessie with an elderly Emily.
Instead, Jessie finds herself at Emily’s old home that now has new owners, though she does find the old tree where she and Emily used to play, discovering an old lunchbox filled with pictures, including a grown Emily with a daughter whom she named Jessie, proving that she never forgot her cowgirl toy and the impact she made on her as a child. All things considered, I felt as though it was a wonderfully balanced resolution that had been a long time coming.
Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” Is The Perfect Ending Song
Taylor Swift’s original song “I Knew It, I Knew You” fits Toy Story 5 incredibly well, particularly because the megastar confirmed she wrote the new song with Jessie in mind, the movie’s emotional center. Rather than going with some new rendition of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”, Disney and Pixar definitely made the right call collaborating with Taylor Swift and her personal connection to the franchise, having grown up with these animated toys just as many of us have.
Toy Story 5 Earns The Right To Keep The Franchise Going A Little Longer
Many feel as though Toy Story 3 was the perfect franchise ending (myself included). Toy Story 4 didn’t do much to sway those feelings either. That said, I do feel as though Toy Story 5 earned the right to keep the franchise going more than the last one did, offering a truly fun and heartwarming experience with a meaningful story behind it. After watching Toy Story 5 again at home, it may even be enough to make an inevitable Toy Story 6 sound appealing, assuming it’s of the same caliber.
Toy Story 5 is now streaming on Disney+ from Disney and Pixar Animation.
- Release Date
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June 19, 2026
- Runtime
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102 Minutes
- Director
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Andrew Stanton, Kenna Harris
- Writers
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Andrew Stanton, McKenna Jean Harris
- Producers
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Lindsey Collins, Jessica Choi
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Tim Allen
Buzz Lightyear (voice)
