With Toy Story 5 officially on the way, the franchise is getting a chance at redemption after the last movie tried too hard to shake things up. Pixar released a few key details about Toy Story 5 at D23, including some information about the plot. The fourth sequel in the series is set to add to its predecessors' legacy while presumably becoming one of Pixar's most profitable movies. Interestingly, despite the upcoming effort to increase the tally to five Toy Story movies, the franchise will actually boast six feature-length productions. However, the previous "sequel" looked very different.
There is no denying Toy Story's success since the saga began in 1995. The franchise's heart has always been built on the movies, but the shorts, video games, and other forms of related media have helped bolster its immense popularity. With Toy Story 5's release date set for June 19, 2026, the next chapter is still a notable length of time away from being released. When the movie arrives, it should rectify a big mistake made by the franchise's most recent project.
Toy Story 5 Is An Actual Toy Story Sequel (Not A Complicated Spinoff)
The 2026 sequel makes up for Lightyear's confusing approach
Although Toy Story 5 will presumably include a time jump to account for the smart device-led plot, it still counts as a direct sequel to Toy Story 4. This may seem like an obvious thing to state, but when the premise of 2022's Lightyear movie is considered, it's easy to see why such a qualification needs to be made. Lightyear wasn't a terrible movie, but its complex and meta way of weaving its way into the Toy Story universe made it difficult to engage with at times. Although there were other factors, this inaccessibility contributed to Lightyear's box office failure.
Lightyear was marketed as the movie that Andy saw in 1995 that made Andy want a Buzz Lightyear action figure. So, the spinoff is the first chronological entry into the Toy Story timeline, which technically makes it a prequel. The confusion intensfies when Lightyear doesn't acknowledge any other part of the Toy Story universe - because how could it? Toy Story 4's emotional parting of the ways between Buzz and Woody strongly suggested the franchise was done, so it's perhaps understandable that Pixar would feel the need to get creative with ways to add to the saga.
Lightyear's spirited attempt to try something new should be commended, but Toy Story 5 is a much more straightforward and suitable form of sequel.
Unfortunately, making Lightyear was the wrong move. Although Toy Story is incredibly successful, it's not a particularly complex narrative. Sure, there are unanswered questions about the toys coming to life, but that's just one of those things that doesn't need answering. Lightyear's spirited attempt to try something new should be commended, but Toy Story 5 is a much more straightforward and suitable form of sequel - even if it arguably wouldn't have been needed if Lightyear hadn't bombed.
Tim Allen Will Voice Buzz Lightyear In Toy Story 5
Chris Evans will step aside as the voice of the famous Space Ranger
One of the most-debated facets of Lightyear was the fact that long-time Buzz actor Tim Allen was recast for the meta prequel. Chris Evans replaced Allen as the voice of the Space Ranger, which made very little sense. Although Pixar provided an explanation for the decision that revolved around the differences between the Buzz from the Lightyear movie and the action figure from the main universe, it came across as a little flimsy.
The characters' voices have become just as important as their physical appearances through the decades, so it's not really a surprise that Evans' casting hurt how Lightyear was received.
Considering Woody is also based on a character from an in-universe property (Woody's Roundup) and Hanks voices both versions, Allen's absence from Lightyear raises more questions than it answers. The characters' voices have become just as important as their physical appearances through the decades, so it's not really a surprise that Evans' casting hurt how Lightyear was received - regardless of whether he did a good job or not. Pixar either didn't factor this in or thought it wouldn't matter. Either way, it was a huge misstep.
If the Buzz Lightyear toy is based on the Lightyear movie, it would make more sense for it to have Chris Evans' voice rather than Tim Allen's.
Thankfully, Allen has been confirmed to return to the recording booth for Toy Story 5, which allows for the character to return to a substantial level of consistency. In fact, Allen's comeback feels like an admission of guilt on Pixar's behalf. While it makes sense that the actor should once again voice his Toy Story character in the coming sequel, the presence of at least 51 Buzz Lightyears in Toy Story 5 will give Allen a lot of work to do.
Lightyear's 74% Rotten Tomatoes Rating Gives Toy Story 5 More Room For Improvement
Toy Story 5 has a little less weight on its shoulders
Lightyear is the lowest-rated Toy Story movie on Rotten Tomatoes, and it's not even close. The other four movies that have been released essentially all have perfect ratings. The first two Toy Story films have 100%, and the second two aren't far off that score. With Toy Story 4 currently coming in second-to-last place with 97%, Lightyear's 74% score creates a substantial gulf of 25%. Although this seems like a bad thing, it could be viewed in a positive light too.
Toy Story Franchise Release Timeline | ||
Movie | Year | Rotten Tomatoes Score |
Toy Story | 1995 | 100% |
Toy Story 2 | 1999 | 100% |
Toy Story 3 | 2010 | 98% |
Toy Story 4 | 2019 | 97% |
Lightyear | 2022 | 74% |
Toy Story 5 | 2026 | TBC |
Without Lightyear, Toy Story 5 would be attempting to follow up on a 97%-rated movie that was so perfect that it could have conceivably been the franchise's final entry. This was also true of Toy Story 4, and although Rotten Tomatoes shows a dip of just 1% between the third and fourth movies, it's still a trend in the wrong direction - no matter how negligible. So, Toy Story 5 only has to score 75% or higher to top Lightyear - which is pretty much a given at this point, given the strength of the formula used in the main movies.
Lightyear's Failure Still Means It's Up To Toy Story 5 To Restore The Franchise's High Standards
Toy Story 5 is the true successor of the other movies
Lightyear's change in direction didn't negate the fact that it had a responsibility to maintain the level of quality established by the four movies that had preceded it. It failed to do so, which means it now falls to Toy Story 5 to rectify that error. The Chris Evans-led installment is very optional viewing in the grand scheme of things. Despite being the "first" Toy Story movie, Lightyear doesn't tie into the others in any notable way.
Related
Toy Story 5 Will Win Me Over If It Is Brave Enough To Do What All Other Sequels Avoided
As the fourth sequel in the franchise, Toy Story 5 needs to take a huge step that all its predecessors failed to carry out, even if it is risky.
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There are movies far worse than Lightyear, but held up against the rest of the Toy Story series, the project pales by comparison. When the 2026 installment is released, it'll be possible to watch Toy Story 1-5 without ever having to acknowledge Lightyear for the saga to make sense. So, the franchise essentially has a do-over for its fifth movie, meaning Toy Story 5 arguably has a lot more on its shoulders than it would have had otherwise.
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Toy Story 5 is the fifth entry in the Toy Story movie franchise by Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. The film was announced on February 8 2023, along with several other major Disney animation sequels. For the film, Tim Allen reprises his role as the space-faring toy, Buzz Lightyear, once again.
- Cast
- Tom Hanks , Tim Allen
