Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toy gang are back on the big screen, but this time, they are up against something they’ve never faced before: technology.
The Pixar sequel comes during a booming box office season. The summer box office is off to its best start since 2019, pulling in nearly $1.6 billion in North America, Deadline reported. Disney Pixar’s “Toy Story 5″ is expected to keep that momentum rolling, with a projected franchise-best opening of $150 million at about 4,400 theaters, Variety reported.
If those prerelease estimates hold, “Toy Story 5″ will secure the largest opening in the franchise’s 31-year history. It would also claim the title for largest domestic debut of 2026, taking the crown from “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” which earned $131.7 million its opening weekend, according to Box Office Mojo.
Star power beyond the voice cast has also been driving anticipation. The movie features an original song by Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” which could potentially draw an even broader audience into theaters.
The franchise has only grown its multigenerational fanbase since the 1995 original. While “Toy Story” debuted to $29.1 million in the domestic box office, earning $237 million all time globally, and “Toy Story 2″ grossed $487 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
The franchise entered the billion-dollar club with its next two chapters: “Toy Story 3″ opened to $100.3 million before hitting $1.06 billion worldwide, and 2019’s “Toy Story 4,” debuted at $120.9 million, ultimately topping out at a franchise-record $1.07 billion.
Despite the potential franchise-high financial projections for the fifth installment, early critical reception is pacing at a franchise low. “Toy Story 5″ currently holds a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. While this might seem high, by comparison, the first two films boast a perfect 100%, while the third and fourth installments sit at 98% and 97%, respectively.
Even as a franchise low, a 92% is a desirable score for a film, although critics remain divided on the sequel’s appearance in theaters.
The film is “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,” wrote Awards Buzz. Randy Reviews agreed, noting the movie “Turns plastic into poetry once again, pairing a moving Jessie spotlight with smart commentary on childhood, technology, and friendship.”
Conversely, NYC Movie Guru panned the film as “preachy and underwhelming without even half the wit, charms, imagination and laughs of the beloved original.” The Film Maven was equally critical, writing, “In a year where Disney gave us the utterly darling, and original, Hoppers, Toy Story 5 feels like a reheated lunch.”
“Toy Story 5″ is co-directed and co-written by Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris. Stanton, who has been with the franchise since the beginning, served as the lead writer on the first three films and a “script savior” on the fourth before taking the reins for the fifth, according to The Associated Press.
The film’s plot centers on the modern struggle of toys competing with tablets and smartphones for a child’s attention and the need for human connection. Stanton told the AP that he initially worried the real world would solve the issue before the movie was finished.
“I feel like we’re kind of late to the party ... but it’s a legitimate concern that has no complete, finite answer,” Stanton said. “That’s drama, it’s in the gray. It is like how do you navigate something that you have to deal with? It’s not just ‘get rid of it.’”
“Toy Story 5″ opens nationwide Friday, alongside two R-rated films. A24’s “The Death of Robin Hood” and Neon’s “Leviticus” are both expected to hit $3 million to $4 million at the box office.