Updated

Updated · Variety · Jun 10

Toy Story 5 Wins Raves Ahead of June 19 Release as Press Hails Pixar's 30-Year Franchise

Updated

Updated · Variety · Jun 10

Toy Story 5 Wins Raves Ahead of June 19 Release as Press Hails Pixar's 30-Year Franchise

Q: With Jessie now taking the lead, has the iconic friendship between Woody and Buzz finally been sidelined in the beloved franchise?

No. *Toy Story 5* appears to shift the spotlight to Jessie without pushing Woody and Buzz out of the franchise. Early reactions and reporting indicate that Jessie is the film’s emotional center, with many viewers praising Joan Cusack’s performance and describing her as the lead character. Director Andrew Stanton has said the series had returned to Woody’s perspective many times and that Jessie was ready to step forward as the toys’ leader. That suggests a deliberate handoff in narrative focus, not a rejection of the series’ core relationships. At the same time, Woody and Buzz remain central to the story. The plot still sends Woody, Buzz and Jessie together into conflict over Bonnie’s attachment to the Lilypad tablet, and both Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return in major roles. Allen has also said Woody and Buzz “realign” in the film, signaling that their bond is still part of the movie’s emotional architecture. What seems to be changing is the franchise’s balance. Rather than relying again on Woody and Buzz as the sole engine, Pixar appears to be broadening the ensemble and letting Jessie carry the main arc while the classic duo supports the larger story. That fits the film’s wider themes of friendship, loyalty and preserving human play in a technology-saturated childhood. So the Woody-Buzz friendship has not been sidelined so much as repositioned: still important, but no longer the only relationship driving *Toy Story*.

3 articles · Updated · Variety · Jun 10

Film-press reactions after Pixar’s unveiling called “Toy Story 5” emotional, funny and deeply moving, with several critics ranking it alongside the franchise’s strongest entries.
Jessie emerged as a focal point in early praise, while reviewers highlighted the film’s central conflict between traditional toys and an iPad-like tablet named Lilypad.
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack return, joined by newcomers including Greta Lee and Conan O’Brien; Andrew Stanton directs his first “Toy Story” feature after writing on all four earlier films.
June 19 is the theatrical release date, with full reviews still under embargo until June 16 after positive social-media reactions from the Los Angeles world premiere.

Sources

Variety2h ago

Pixar's "Toy Story 5" Receives Overwhelmingly Positive First Reactions from Film Press

Hollywood Reporter2h ago

"Toy Story 5" World Premiere Sparks Positive Social Media Reactions

latination.com11h ago

Belinda joins Toy Story 5 as the voice of Lilypad in an epic adventure

5 Sources

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"Toy Story 5" Debuts to Rave Reviews and $150–$175M Opening Projections: Jessie’s Story and the Franchise’s Modern Evolution

Overview

The world premiere of "Toy Story 5" on June 9, 2026, at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles sparked a wave of positive reactions, with attendees and early viewers praising its perfect blend of humor and emotional depth. The film was celebrated as a triumphant return for the franchise, delivering both laughs and heartfelt moments. Joan Cusack’s standout performance as Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl, was especially highlighted, with critics and fans noting how her portrayal brought new emotional resonance to the story. Overall, the premiere confirmed that "Toy Story 5" was exactly what the franchise needed.

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