Traditionally, as movie franchises chug along with one sequel after another, each entry gets worse and makes less money. The same can’t be said for Toy Story. The first film changed the face of animation when it came out in 1995. Arguably, the second and third films were even better. 31 years later, Toy Story 5 just had the biggest opening in franchise history.
What keeps us coming back is easy to explain — audiences care about the characters and the storylines they’re put in. The Toy Story movies make us laugh, but they are also emotionally devastating in the best way possible. Nostalgia and a deep love for these toys come to life have left fans weeping across generations.
5
‘Toy Story’ (1995)
Putting the original Toy Story as last on the list doesn’t mean this one won’t make you cry. It still has plenty of heartbreaking moments. The premise of the first movie revolves around Andy receiving a new toy called Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). With all of his buttons and cool features, he’s much more exciting than the simple Woody (Tom Hanks). For the first time since he’s been with Andy, Woody finds himself out of favor and left behind.
There is also Buzz’s sad origin story. Fresh out of the box, he believes he’s a real Star Command astronaut, only to learn that he is a toy. Accepting that he’s not who he thinks he is takes Buzz on a journey that moves from painful to heartwarming as he welcomes his role and becomes friends with Woody and the other toys.
4
‘Toy Story 5’ (2026)
Before even seeing a single frame of Toy Story 5 outside the trailer, the latest entry has perhaps the saddest premise. The idea of a new, rival toy entering the scene isn’t anything new, but this time, our beloved characters are threatened by the most imposing antagonist of all: technology. How do toys from a bygone era compete with a smart tablet set on replacing them all?
That’s already depressing enough in a storyline pulled from our real society. What’s worse is watching what it does to both Jessie and Bonnie. The child who loves these toys so much is growing up, and her friends make fun of her for still being a child who plays with dolls. Lonely and wanting to fit in, Bonnie rejects them all, including her favorite, Jessie (Joan Cusack).
Left behind, Jessie returns to the home of her former owner, Emily, whom she has never gotten over all these years later. There will never be a going back to the past, but Jessie finds closure when she discovers a lunchbox belonging to Emily’s daughter. On the surface is the child’s name: Jessie. Throw in a bit of “When She Loved Me,” and it’s a tearjerker moment as the cowgirl realizes just how much she meant to Emily.
3
‘Toy Story 2’ (1999)
In Toy Story 2, another new toy takes center stage. This time, it’s a cowgirl named Jessie. She, too, had a child owner she once loved, only to be abandoned. Now she’s a lonely, unplayed-with collectible. The sad montage of Sarah McLachlan‘s “When She Loved Me” played over scenes of Jessie going from a favorite toy to being forgotten is gut-wrenching.
Toy Story 2 is about being forgotten, whether in smaller or bigger moments. One scene finds Woody on a dusty shelf, where he discovers a penguin with a broken squeaker named Wheezy. He’s sat up here for years with no one, completely forgotten about. In a bittersweet moment, Woody, forever the hero, decides to give up a life with Andy to stay with the rest of the Round-Up Gang. This means saying goodbye to everyone he knows and letting Andy go. He’ll come back, but even if you know this, it’s a scene that’ll get the tears flowing.
2
‘Toy Story 4’ (2019)
When Toy Story 4 was released, many fans weren’t accepting. The third film was the perfect ending, and a fourth risked messing it up. While it’s not as good as what came before, Toy Story 4 still excelled at going straight for the heartstrings. With the toys now living with Bonnie, Woody has to accept that he is no longer the favorite. As their scared owner enters pre-school, she creates a makeshift toy named Forky (Tony Hale) to get her through it. Built out of a spork, Forky doesn’t understand his worth. To him, he’s just trash and wants to throw himself away. It’s tragic to see Forky’s lack of self-worth, but sweet to watch him grow and realize how important he is.
At the end of Toy Story 4, Woody accepts that his time as an important toy to Bonnie has ended. It’s time for him to move on and save other lost toys with Bo Peep (Annie Potts). This means Woody must say goodbye, seemingly forever, to the other toys. They all gather around, hugging and laughing, but it’s the silent embrace with Buzz that really grabs you by the throat. As the RV pulls away, Woody and Bo watch, ready to begin their next journey. “He’s not lost, not anymore,” Buzz says.
1
‘Toy Story 3’ (2010)
Number one on this list is obvious. The original franchise came to a perfect end in 2010 with Toy Story 3. It’s the best of them all and has a double wallop of scenes that left audiences bawling their eyes out. The first comes during the film’s climax. When the toys end up in a dump, they find themselves on a conveyor belt headed for the fires of an incinerator. With no way out, the toys accept their fate and grab each other’s hands. In their final moments, all they want to do is be together. Would a kid’s movie dare kill them? Even if you know that they’re going to be saved, to see the love they have for each other as the music swells will leave you a mess. A writer can’t even type this out without getting misty-eyed!
Then comes the ending. The toys have been with Andy since the beginning of the franchise. Now that he’s off to college, he wants to give them to another child who can appreciate them. He takes them to Bonnie’s house and shows her how fun they are. At the bottom of the box sits Woody, Andy’s favorite toy of all. He hesitates. How can he let go of him? Seeing the look on Bonnie’s face, though, Andy hands him over, letting go of his childhood. He has grown up, but everything will be okay because another child has already fallen in love with the toys that mean so much.
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