All four Toy Story films ranked
4. Toy Story 4
It’s safe to say that every Toy Story movie is great, but there’s always got to be one that’s not as well like as the others, and that’s Toy Story 4. The most recent film, which came out in 2019 —almost a decade after the third film — just doesn’t have the same spark and momentum as the others do. That being said, it’s still a fantastic film, one which had to face the challenge of bringing something new and worthwhile to a long-lasting, fan-favorite franchise, and it definitely succeeded. Disney/Pixar The movie continues the major themes of growing up and moving on that are very present in earlier films, resonating with viewers who grew up with characters like Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen). At the same time, it introduces a handful of charming new characters, with Forky (Tony Hale) the clear standout. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are also welcome additions as Ducky and Bunny, respectively. But while it’s an entertaining and introspective movie, the question remains: did we even need a fourth film?
3. Toy Story 3
While Toy Story 4 portrays a story about accepting change and moving on, Toy Story 3 did it first, and slightly better. The 2010 film, which came 11 years after the second film, explores Woody, Buzz, Jessie (Joan Cusack), and all of the other main toys’ journey’s as their owner, Andy (John Morris), heads off to college. Disney/Pixar The group ends up being sent to a daycare center that is much rougher than they ever could’ve imagined. While audiences can interpret the movie however they like, one possible reading of Toy Story 3 is that the toys represent parents dealing with their kids growing up and not needing them for everything anymore. In Toy Story 3, Pixar perfectly understood their audience, knowing that the movie would have to appeal to both current kids, as well as the people who watched Toy Story as a child and are now adults, looking at the franchise from a new perspective. The movie is funny and entertaining, but it’s also intense, action-packed, emotional, and surprisingly dark. You have Woody and the others facing real destruction in a flaming pit, as the evil Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (Ned Beatty), or Lotso for short, rules the daycare with an iron fist, emotionally abusing the other toys because of what he suffered when he was abandoned by his owner. While Toy Story 4 is a worthy addition to the franchise, Toy Story 3 was a perfect wrap-up of the initial trilogy, concluding the toys’ story with Andy and ending with them moving to their next stage in life with a new owner.
2. Toy Story
While many people look back on the first films in a franchise with a lot of nostalgia and argue that the original is the best, Toy Story actually lives up to its reputation. The movie introduces fans to all of the amazing characters, including the classic villain Sid (Erik von Detten), the neighbor boy who loves destroying toys and putting them back together. Disney/Pixar Woody and Buzz are a dynamic duo –classic enemies to friends – with very different personalities who somehow work extremely well together. The comedy is smart and lasting, still creating earnest laughs over 25 years later, and the story is equally exciting and emotional as the crew does whatever they can to get back to Andy. You also can’t deny the cultural impact of Toy Story. It was the first full-length computer-animated film and the first from Pixar Animation Studios ever. The movie proved that this new style of animation, which can take many years to complete, is worth the time and effort, transforming the animation industry. Looking back now, we can see that Pixar was right. Along with that, the entire Toy Story franchise became a landmark in pop culture, with pretty much everyone familiar with Buzz’s catchphrase “To Infinity… and Beyond!”
1. Toy Story 2
Toy Story is amazing, but in its 1999 sequel, everything that made the first so great was perfected. Since the audience already knew and connected with the main characters, Pixar was able to build on that base in Toy Story 2 and create an even more impactful tale about fear of abandonment. Disney/Pixar The sequel truly deserves the top spot if only for the scene in which Jessie recounts how her owner Emily gave her up to Sarah McLachlan’s version of “When She Loved Me” (originally by Randy Newman). Sure, Toy Story can be sad at times, and you probably can’t deny that this scene doesn’t make you cry every time you watch it. Throughout the rest of the film, audiences hope for Jessie to finally find a real home, and when she decides to stay with Woody and the others as a part of their family, you’re overcome with a sense of relief and happiness. On top of that, Toy Story 2 is the first moment in the franchise when you feel like the toys are in actual danger. The crew must survive both Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), who wants to collect and sell the toys, and the surprise enemy, Stinky Pete the Prospector (Kelsey Grammer), who has never been played with before and tries to trap Woody and the others in a similar fate. To be honest, Lotso from Toy Story 3 feels a lot like the second version of Prospector. Jessie and Bullseye seem to complete the main team of toys when they join Woody and Buzz, and the rest of the movies wouldn’t be the same without them. Toy Story 2 is arguably the film in the franchise with both the best character development and the most intense plot, earning it the top spot in this ranking. Do you agree? Next, Finally! You Can Now Watch These 18 Incredible Pixar Movies Whenever You Want on Disney+
