It’s hard to believe that the Toy Story franchise is still going strong over 31 years after the release of the first film. Even more impressive is that it’s managed to stay such high quality over three decades. Heck, there are currently clickbait headlines, about how the newest entry, Toy Story 5, has the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of the franchise. You’d think that’s bad, but it’s actually at a 94%; the franchise has just always had an astronomically high score. This is one of those series where every single entry is good, it’s merely about just HOW good they are. So we at JoBlo are going to try our hand at ranking the franchise.
From Woody and Buzz meeting for the first time to almost getting sold off to a museum to Lotso and the horrors of daycare, we’re getting into it all. So join us as we rank the Toy Story franchise. Don’t forget to tell us your ranking as well!
Note: We are just covering the mainline series and will not be covering the short films or spinoffs as there are a million of those.
Toy Story Movies in Release Order
- Toy Story (1995)
- Toy Story 2 (1999)
- Toy Story 3 (2010)
- Toy Story 4 (2019)
- Toy Story 5 (2026)
Since debuting in 1995, Pixar’s Toy Story franchise has become one of the most acclaimed animated series ever made. Across five mainline films, the series has followed Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and their friends through changing owners, new adventures, and the challenges of growing up.
5. Toy Story 4 (2019) – Finding Purpose Beyond the Toy Box
- Why It Ranked Here: Toy Story 4 is visually stunning and delivers a satisfying final chapter for Woody’s journey, but it lacks the cultural impact and emotional weight of the franchise’s strongest entries.
- Key Strengths: Gorgeous animation, strong focus on Woody, meaningful development for Bo Peep, emotional themes about purpose and moving on.
- Most Memorable Element: Woody’s decision to redefine his purpose beyond being a child’s toy.
I’ve never held the contempt for this film that some people have. I’ve always found it to be absolutely beautiful. Andy has given his toys to Bonnie, and she’s off on a road trip with her parents in this film. It’s about moving on from something we thought was our purpose in order to find purpose in ourselves. This is very Woody-heavy, and the road trip angle takes us away from the more suburban setting we’re used to. But it’s nice to see his connection with Bo Peep progress.
4. Toy Story 5 (2026) – A Timely Story About Toys vs. Technology
- Why It Ranked Here: Toy Story 5 earns points for tackling modern issues like children’s dependence on technology and introducing compelling new characters, but some familiar story beats keep it from ranking higher.
- Key Strengths: Relevant themes about technology and childhood, strong performances from the new cast, clever humor, expands the franchise’s world in interesting ways.
- Most Memorable Element: The conflict between traditional toys and children’s growing attachment to tablets and screens.
I was hooked the moment it was announced that the toys would be taking on tablets in their newest outing. The idea of “kids aren’t playing with toys anymore, they’re all about their iPads” is something that we can see in our everyday lives, so its prime subject matter. The story can be a little “samey” in that it’s yet another new toy that the others are having a disagreement with, but I really enjoyed the friendship being set up between the two lead girls. And Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants is one of the best casting choices of the franchises. A moment I’m not seeing talked about nearly enough is Blaze leaving the bathroom and Smarty going “She did it without me…” I think this film will just get better with time and likely will lead to a sixth entry.
3. Toy Story 2 (1999) – The Sequel That Proved Pixar Wasn’t a One-Hit Wonder
- Why It Ranked Here: Toy Story 2 expands the universe in meaningful ways, introduces some of the franchise’s best characters, and remains one of Pixar’s strongest sequels.
- Key Strengths: Excellent character development for Woody, introduction of Jessie and Bullseye, memorable villain, balances comedy and emotion perfectly.
- Most Memorable Element: Woody confronting the possibility of spending eternity preserved in a museum.
At this point, I think the first three films are interchangeable. Everyone is going to have a different order, but this is where I put the first sequel. This film follows Woody getting damaged and being taken by a collector who wants to send him off to a toy museum. The gang has to save Woody before he’s gone forever. It’s got many iconic scenes, like Woody being rebuilt by Al from Toy Barn. Kelsey Grammar’s Prospector may be the greatest villain of the franchise, as his motivations are a bit more nuanced.
2. Toy Story 3 (2010) – The Emotional Goodbye That Defined a Generation
- Why It Ranked Here: For many fans, Toy Story 3 is the emotional peak of the franchise. Its themes of growing up, letting go, and moving on resonate just as strongly with adults as they do with children.
- Key Strengths: Powerful emotional storytelling, outstanding villain in Lotso, high stakes throughout, one of Pixar’s most memorable endings.
- Most Memorable Element: The unforgettable incinerator sequence and the toys facing what appears to be their final moment together.
This was the perfect sendoff for the franchise, and it being so good is a reason why people view 4 and 5 as unnecessary. I still distinctly remember sitting in the theater during the trash scene, thinking, “There’s no way they’re going to do this.” And while they didn’t go quite so dark with it, it showed something that is often the franchise’s greatest strength: its ability to emotionally connect. This is about what happens to the toys when their child grows up and no longer uses them.
1. Toy Story (1995) – The Groundbreaking Classic That Started It All
- Why It Ranked Here: The original Toy Story remains number one because it revolutionized animation, introduced iconic characters, and established themes that continue to define the franchise decades later.
- Key Strengths: Historic animation breakthrough, fantastic chemistry between Woody and Buzz, timeless story, massive influence on modern animation.
- Most Memorable Element: Woody and Buzz’s journey from rivals to friends.
The film that put Pixar on the map. This film broke new ground in a way that really cannot be understated. This was the start of 2D animation going away and 3D animation taking over. It’s a simple story about Woody feeling he’s being replaced by the new hottest toy, Buzz. It manages to highlight the salient messages the franchise can communicate to kids through its stories. This may be about walking, talking toys but there’s so much more to it than that. Having grown up with this film, I have a hard time putting anything else ahead of it, in terms of Pixar work.
Quick Ranking
5. Toy Story 4 (2019)
4. Toy Story 5 (2026)
3. Toy Story 2 (1999)
2. Toy Story 3 (2010)
1. Toy Story (1995)
FAQ
What is the best Toy Story movie?
In our ranking, the original Toy Story (1995) remains the best film in the franchise. Its groundbreaking animation, unforgettable characters, and enduring themes help it stand above the sequels.
Which Toy Story movie is the worst?
Even the lowest-ranked entry, Toy Story 4, is a highly regarded film. This ranking reflects relative quality within one of animation’s most consistently acclaimed franchises rather than a large gap between entries.
Are all the Toy Story movies connected?
Yes. The mainline films tell a continuous story following Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and their fellow toys as they navigate changing owners, friendships, and new stages of life.
Do you need to watch the Toy Story movies in order?
While each film tells a mostly self-contained story, watching them in release order provides the best emotional experience because the characters evolve across the series.
Which Toy Story movie should new viewers start with?
New viewers should begin with the original Toy Story (1995) and watch the films in release order to fully appreciate the character development and emotional story arcs.
Why do some fans consider Toy Story 3 the ending?
Toy Story 3 concludes Andy’s story as he passes his toys on to Bonnie before leaving for college. Many viewers felt it served as a natural and emotionally satisfying conclusion to the franchise.
Is Toy Story 5 better than Toy Story 4?
In our ranking, yes. Toy Story 5 places higher thanks to its contemporary themes and its exploration of how technology has changed children’s relationships with toys.
Which Toy Story movie is the saddest?
Many fans consider Toy Story 3 the most emotional installment because of its themes of growing up, saying goodbye, and moving on from childhood.
What is the highest-grossing Toy Story movie?
Toy Story 4 was the highest-grossing entry in the franchise worldwide, earning more than $1 billion at the global box office.
How many Toy Story movies are there?
There are five mainline Toy Story films:
- Toy Story (1995)
- Toy Story 2 (1999)
- Toy Story 3 (2010)
- Toy Story 4 (2019)
- Toy Story 5 (2026)
What makes the Toy Story franchise so successful?
The franchise combines memorable characters, emotional storytelling, universal themes, humor for all ages, and Pixar’s consistent commitment to quality filmmaking. The result is a series that appeals to both children and adults across multiple generations.
The remarkable thing about the Toy Story franchise is that even its lowest-ranked entries are widely considered good films. Whether you prefer the groundbreaking original, the emotional farewell of Toy Story 3, or the newer adventures in Toy Story 4 and Toy Story 5, Pixar has maintained an unusually high level of quality across more than three decades.
What’s your ranking for the Toy Story franchise? Let us know in the comments below!
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
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