The first reactions to ‘Toy Story 5’ are in after the film’s world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, and critics are saying Pixar has made something special with this one.
Jessie takes the lead in this instalment, with Joan Cusack returning to voice the cowgirl in a film built around the conflict between traditional toys and modern technology.
The early consensus, from those who attended the premiere screening, is that the sequel ranks alongside the best of the franchise, as reported by Variety.
It opens in cinemas on 19 June 2026.
What critics are saying about Toy Story 5
The reactions that hit social media after the screening were overwhelmingly positive.
Reviewer Scott Menzel wrote that Toy Story 5 “ranks right alongside the first three films” and named it one of the best films of 2026. Daniel Baptista described it as “a generation-defining experience and exactly the story we need right now.”
Another critic called it “sweet, clever, funny, heartwarming” and said it “beautifully taps into themes from Toy Story 3 to tell a simultaneously timely and timeless story.”
The toys-versus-tech conflict at the heart of the plot has been praised for being more nuanced than the premise suggests.
Critics noted that the film “takes a hard stance on one-on-one human connection being key for children,” suggesting Pixar has made something that works as a family experience with a clear point of view.
Toy Story 5 at the Dolby Theatre: who attended and what happened
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen walked the red carpet alongside Joan Cusack for the premiere, reuniting the principal voice cast in public for the first time.
Taylor Swift, who wrote the film’s original song I Knew It, I Knew You, performed the track live on stage during the screening, then sang a duet of You’ve Got a Friend in Me with composer Randy Newman.
Taylor Swift described the film as “a masterpiece” and said it “means the world to me to be a small part of the universe of these films.”
The moment became one of the most talked-about of the night, with images of Swift and Newman on stage at the Dolby going widely viral.
What to expect from Toy Story 5’s box office run
Toy Story 5 is directed by Andrew Stanton, who made Pixar’s Finding Nemo and WALL-E, and is co-directed by McKenna Harris. Conan O’Brien joins the cast as Smarty Pants, a tablet device that becomes the central antagonist in the film.
Box office tracking has the film projected to open to approximately 150 million dollars in its first US weekend, which would easily break the Toy Story franchise record and rank as the biggest opening of 2026 to date.
With the premiere done and reviews incoming, Toy Story 5 opens in cinemas on 19 June.
