Toy Story 5
Fifth Toy Story movie about toys fighting against screen addiction and digital entertainment
The brief
Andrew Stanton returns to direct what feels like a surprisingly necessary fifth entry, tackling screen addiction with the same smart emotional weight that made WALL-E resonate. The tablet-as-villain concept could've been preachy, but instead it creates genuinely tense moments where you're rooting for analog toys against digital dominance. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen slip back into their roles like comfortable pajamas, while the animation captures both the tactile warmth of physical play and the cold glow of endless scrolling. Perfect for parents who've watched their kids choose iPads over action figures, and anyone who thought this franchise was done surprising us.
The verdict
If you're a parent wrestling with kids glued to screens or thought this franchise had nothing left to say, this surprisingly sharp fifth entry tackles digital addiction with the same emotional intelligence that made WALL-E a classic. If you're burned out on Pixar sequels or prefer your animation without modern parenting commentary, the tablet-versus-toys premise might feel too on-the-nose despite its clever execution.
Watch with
- 👨👩👧👦 Perfect for parents and kids together
- 👥 Great for nostalgic millennials
- ⚠️ Screen-sensitive families may need discussion
Heads up
- Themes about technology addiction (moderate)
- Mild peril for toy characters (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Andrew Stanton
- Cast
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, Conan O'Brien, Craig Robinson, Anna Faris
Official synopsis
When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Both explore toys and heroes adapting to digital threats.
Total runtime: 1h 30m + 2h 20m = 3h 50m
