In 1995, animated adventure comedy, Toy Story made its debut. The film – produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Disney – told the story of a group of toys who come to life when their owner isn’t watching.
Created as the first entirely computer-animated feature film, Toy Story was a landmark picture, which not only showcased state-of-the-art animation, but also changed the face of animated movies forever. It was also a damn fine film, which won the hearts of critics and audiences alike, becoming a box-office smash in the process.
And due to the popularity of Toy Story, more Toy Story movies followed, including a couple of spin-offs. But how many Toy Story movies are there? For all the details, keep reading.
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The Toy Story movies
Toy Story (1995)
As noted above, the first entry in the Toy Story movie series made its debut in 1995. The film focused on a group of toys belonging to a young boy named Andy, which come to life whenever he is out of the room.
In the movie, the leader of the toys (and Andy’s favourite) is Sheriff Woody – a cowboy from yesteryear. Woody is a thoughtful, caring toy, who keeps an eye on all the other toys and wants nothing more than to make Andy happy.
However, Woody’s world is turned upside down with the arrival of a new toy, which becomes the object of Andy’s affections. The toy is a space-themed action figure named Buzz Lightyear, who is convinced he’s a real-life spaceman.
After failing to convince Buzz he isn’t a real spaceman (because he’s a toy!), Woody accidentally causes Buzz to become a lost toy. Keen to put things right, he sets out to rescue Buzz and bring him home, even though that means travelling outside of the safety of Andy’s bedroom. (81 mins)
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Due to the success of Toy Story, Disney ordered a sequel, prompting Pixar to begin work on a follow-up. However, the initial request from Disney was to follow Toy Story with a direct-to-video sequel, rather than a big screen adventure.
But when the initial story reels proved promising, Disney saw the potential in upgrading the project accordingly. As such, the sequel – which became Toy Story 2 – was moved away from the direct-to-video market, and was pushed toward a theatrical release.
As for the story, Toy Story 2 focused on Woody’s past, with the revelation that he is a much sought-after toy. In the film, Woody is kidnapped by an unscrupulous toy collector, prompting the other toys to mount a rescue. (92 mins)
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000)
With the first two Toy Story movies being huge hits, Pixar and Disney released a traditional, 2D animated spin-off movie as a tie-in film for the straight-to-video market. The movie – Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins – was released direct to VHS and DVD in 2000, and was pitched as a sort of ‘film within a film’, focusing its story around Buzz and his enemy, Emperor Zurg.
At the beginning of the movie, the toys sit down in Andy’s room to watch a video. The video is the cartoon adventure, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, which plays out during the rest of the runtime. (70 mins)
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Following the release of Toy Story 2 and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, the Toy Story movie series went on hiatus for a decade. Within this time, Disney had plans to press ahead with a third Toy Story film, without the involvement of Pixar, but those plans changed when Disney bought Pixar in 2006.
With the two companies now acting as one, Toy Story 3 went into development, with the aim of this being the final entry in the series. The story this time around would see Andy lose interest in his toys, prompting Woody, Buzz, and Co. to contemplate their future. (103 mins)
Toy Story 4 (2019)
Although Toy Story 3 felt like a natural end for the Toy Story movie series, and certainly provided a suitable jumping off point, it wasn’t actually the end of the road. Money talks, and because Toy Story 3 made over $1 billion at the box-office, Disney-Pixar pressed ahead with another movie.
Toy Story 4 made its debut in 2019, and continued the story with Andy’s toys now in the possession of new owner, Bonnie. However, while life should run smoothly for the toys, trouble rears its head when Woody sets out to rescue new friend, Forky – a spork Bonnie turned into a toy. (100 mins)
Lightyear (2022)
Toy Story 4 proved to be yet another big hit for Disney-Pixar, taking over $1 billion at the box-office. As such, the studio put plans in place to expand the series once again, initially through the creation of a spin-off.
This next film – titled Lightyear – broke away from the Toy Story continuity, and instead told the ‘real’ story of Buzz Lightyear. In this film, Buzz is supposedly a real astronaut who becomes stranded during the course of a mission. (105 mins)
Toy Story 5 (2026)
Released during a period of uncertainty at the cinema (i.e. during the tail-end of the global pandemic), and met with mixed reviews from critics, Lightyear was not a big success at the box-office. As such, the franchise turned its attention back to the main continuity, with Toy Story 5.
In this film, with Woody no longer part of the group, Jessie becomes the leader of Bonnie’s room, alongside Buzz Lightyear. However, the toys face a new threat when Bonnie starts to turn her attention to technology, in the shape of a tablet named Lilypad.
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The Toy Story movies in order
To date there are seven entries in the Toy Story movie series. The films are as follows:
- Toy Story (1995)
- Toy Story 2 (1999)
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000)
- Toy Story 3 (2010)
- Toy Story 4 (2019)
- Lightyear (2022)
- Toy Story 5 (2026)
As detailed above, the Toy Story movies are not all part of the same storyline. They are divided into different categories:
The main series
- Toy Story (1995)
- Toy Story 2 (1999)
- Toy Story 3 (2010)
- Toy Story 4 (2019)
- Toy Story 5 (2026)
2D animated spin-off
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000)
The Buzz ‘reimagining’ movie
- Lightyear (2022)
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Toy Story shorts and specials
In addition to the feature-length movies, the Toy Story film series is accompanied by a collection of animated shorts and specials.
The shorts include:
- Hawaiian Vacation (2011)
- Small Fry (2011)
- Partysaurus Rex (2012)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is Money? (2019)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is a Friend? (2019)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is Art? (2019)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is Time? (2019)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is Love? (2019)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is a Computer? (2019)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is a Leader? (2019)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is a Pet? (2019)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is Cheese? (2020)
- Forky Asks a Question: What is Reading? (2020)
- Lamp Life (2020)
- To Fitness and Beyond (2021)
- Three Heads (2021)
- Love (2021)
The specials include:
- Toy Story of Terror! (2013)
- Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014)
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Who are the cast of the Toy Story movies and are the films the work of the same director?
Notable actors who lend their voices to the Toy Story movies include Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Chris Evans, Patrick Warburton, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Jim Varney, Blake Clark, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, Jeff Pidgeon, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, Jodie Benson, Wayne Knight, Kelsey Grammer, Emily Hahn, Madeleine McGraw, Timothy Dalton, Bonnie Hunt, Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Carl Weathers, Mel Brooks, Bill Hader, Alan Oppenheimer, Betty White, Patricia Arquette, and Betty White.
In terms of directors, the Toy Story movies are the work of the following:
- John Lasseter directed Toy Story and Toy Story 2
- Tad Stones directed Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins
- Lee Unkrich directed Toy Story 3
- Josh Cooley directed Toy Story 4
- Angus MacLane directed Lightyear
- Andrew Stanton directed Toy Story 5
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And finally, which is the best Toy Story movie?
According to IMDb, the Toy Story movies are rated as follows:
- Toy Story (1995) – 8.3/10
- Toy Story 2 (1999) – 7.9/10
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000) – 6.2/10
- Toy Story 3 (2010) – 8.3/10
- Toy Story 4 (2019) – 7.6/10
- Lightyear (2022) – 6.1/10
- Toy Story 5 (2026) – Not Yet Rated
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