Disney's Toy Story 5 Earns Rave Reviews from Insiders
Confidential sources reveal glowing feedback for the upcoming Pixar sequel, sparking excitement among industry watchers as the franchise prepares for its 2026 comeback.
Disney and Pixar appear to have struck gold again with their upcoming animated sequel. Industry insiders who've gotten early glimpses of the fifth installment are spreading positive word throughout Hollywood circles.
The film hits theaters June 19, 2026, bringing back Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. This time, eight-year-old Bonnie has shifted her attention to a tablet-like gadget called Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee. The electronic frog device threatens to replace traditional playtime entirely.
Early Buzz Builds Momentum
Matt Belloni dropped hints about the sequel's quality during his recent Town podcast episode. "I've talked to people who have seen Toy Story 5 and they say it's excellent," Belloni revealed. He didn't specify whether these viewers attended test screenings or work inside Disney's animation studios.
Andrew Stanton takes the director's chair for this project. The Pixar veteran helped write the original films and directed Finding Nemo and WALL-E. His involvement signals Disney's commitment to maintaining the franchise's creative standards.
Franchise Faces High Expectations
The animated series maintains an almost perfect critical track record. Even Toy Story 4, the lowest-rated entry, scored 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. The first two films achieved perfect 100% ratings, while the third earned 98%.
Box office numbers tell an equally impressive story. Toy Story 4 became the franchise's biggest earner with $434 mn domestically and $1.07 bn worldwide. Both the third and fourth films rank among Pixar's top five highest-grossing releases.
Overcoming Recent Setbacks
The 2022 Lightyear spinoff created some franchise turbulence. The meta-concept about Buzz's fictional origins confused audiences and critics alike. It managed just 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and barely broke even with $226.4 mn worldwide against a $200 mn budget.
Many fans felt the series should have concluded with the third film's emotional finale. That skepticism created additional pressure for this new sequel to justify its existence.
The extended gap between releases might actually benefit the new film. Inside Out 2 and The Incredibles 2 both proved that patient audiences welcome quality sequels. Summer 2026 promises major competition with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, and The Mandalorian & Grogu all scheduled for release.