For a franchise that has spent three decades celebrating imagination, friendship and the emotional bond between children and their toys, Toy Story 5 arrives with what feels like one of its most relevant ideas yet. This time, the toys are not competing with another toy, a collector or a daycare centre. They are competing with technology.
The story follows Bonnie, now older and struggling to fit in with children her own age. While the kids around her gather together, they are hardly interacting with each other. Instead, they remain glued to their screens, immersed in their own digital worlds. Sensing her loneliness, Bonnie’s parents introduce her to a tablet called Lilypad, hoping it will help her connect with others.
The plan works, at least initially. Bonnie finds a couple of friends online and even gets invited to her first sleepover. But the experience turns out to be far from ideal. She is mocked for still playing with toys and returns home disappointed. At the same time, Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the gang begin to realise a painful truth. Children are no longer interested in toys the way they once were. Screens have become the new playmates.
The film opens with a genuinely compelling premise. The sight of children sitting together while remaining disconnected from one another feels strikingly familiar in today’s world. Dialogues such as “Tech has invaded houses”, “The age of toys is over” and “You still play with toys?” immediately establish the central conflict. The setup promises an exploration of childhood in the digital era and raises some interesting questions about loneliness, friendship and the changing nature of play.
Unfortunately, Toy Story 5 does not stay with these ideas for as long as it should.
After an intriguing beginning, the narrative gradually shifts into a more conventional adventure. The toys find themselves caught in their own mission of survival and self-preservation while also trying to bring Bonnie and another girl together through real-world play. The emotional and social commentary that makes the opening so engaging takes a backseat to a familiar rescue-and-chase structure.
To the film’s credit, it avoids turning technology into a straightforward villain. Lilypad is not portrayed as evil and the screenplay makes a conscious effort to acknowledge that technology can also help children connect. This balanced approach prevents the film from becoming preachy, but it also softens the impact of the conflict it initially sets up.
Visually, there is little to complain about. Pixar continues to set the benchmark for animation. The film looks gorgeous throughout, with expressive character work, fluid action and enough visual imagination to keep younger viewers engaged. Jessie enjoys a larger role this time, while Woody and Buzz remain important emotional anchors even if the spotlight is shared more evenly across the ensemble. The voice cast once again brings warmth and familiarity to these beloved characters.
What ultimately holds Toy Story 5 back from joining the very best entries in the franchise is not a lack of heart but a lack of commitment to its most interesting idea. The film identifies a contemporary issue that many parents and children will instantly recognise. It begins by asking whether screens have replaced toys and whether digital interaction has replaced genuine friendship. Those questions are fascinating. Yet rather than digging deeper, the story eventually settles into safer and more familiar territory.
That does not make Toy Story 5 a bad film. It remains entertaining, emotionally sincere and visually impressive. There are moments that will resonate with both children and adults, particularly anyone who has watched technology reshape everyday life over the last decade. But there is also a lingering feeling that the film had the opportunity to say something more meaningful and chose instead to play it safe.
Toy Story 5 is enjoyable and heartfelt, but its strongest scenes arrive right at the beginning. The promise of a thoughtful examination of childhood in the digital age slowly gives way to a standard adventure. It is a good Pixar film, but it never quite becomes the great Pixar film that its opening act suggests it could have been.
Movie: Toy Story 5
Directed by: Andrew Stanton
Screenplay by: Andrew Stanton, Kenna Harris
Story by: Andrew Stanton
Featuring (Voice Cast): Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, Conan O’Brien, Scarlett Spears, Shelby Rabara, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Craig Robinson
Cinematography: Matt Aspbury, JC Kalache
Theatrical Release Date: June 19, 2026
Run Time: 1hr 41mins
Toy Story 5
2.5