Toy Story 5 Splits Critics, Wins Praise for Tech Warning Ahead of Friday Release
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 17
Toy Story 5 Splits Critics, Wins Praise for Tech Warning Ahead of Friday Release
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 17
Summary
Toy Story 5 drew sharply mixed early reviews, with several critics calling it the weakest entry while others gave it 4-star notices for emotional depth and humor.
Lilypad — a frog-like smart tablet that competes with Woody, Buzz and Jessie for Bonnie’s attention — drove broad praise for the film’s cautionary message about children and screens.
2-star reviews from the Independent and Guardian said the 30-year-old franchise looked exhausted, while the Telegraph, Times, Empire and Screen International called it a warm, thoughtful update.
Friday’s UK release lands days after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a planned social media ban for under-16s, giving the film’s anti-tech theme added political resonance.
Tom Hanks had already framed the story as a reflection of children’s screen addiction, saying the cast recognized the generational disinterest of young people glued to phones.