Toy Story Movies Tier List: All 5 Films Ranked
Pixar built one of the most consistent franchises ever on a premise this simple: toys are alive, and they love you. Four decades of marketing couldn't improve on that pitch, and somehow the movies kept finding new ways to break your heart with it.
Here's how all five Toy Story films stack up, based on where fans and critics broadly land after years of debate, plus our own read on the closer calls. Disagree? That's half the fun of a tier list, so argue away.
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SS Tier: The untouchables
Toy Story 2
The rare sequel that improves on a near-perfect original. Jessie's backstory set to "When She Loved Me" is still one of the most devastating four minutes Pixar has ever put to film, and Woody's identity crisis gives the movie real stakes beyond a rescue plot.
About Toy Story 2
The 1999 sequel finds Woody kidnapped by a toy collector, forcing him to choose between a museum display case and returning to Andy. Introduced Jessie the cowgirl as a major new character.
- Released
- 1999
- Director
- John Lasseter
- Studio
- Pixar Animation Studios
Toy Story
The one that started it all and still plays perfectly. Woody and Buzz's rivalry is simple, funny, and completely earns its ending, and you can feel every risk Pixar took just to prove computer animation could carry real feeling.
About Toy Story
Released in 1995, this was the first fully computer-animated feature film and the movie that launched Pixar as a major studio. It follows Woody and Buzz Lightyear navigating jealousy and friendship as Andy's favorite toy.
- Released
- 1995
- Director
- John Lasseter
- Studio
- Pixar Animation Studios
AA Tier: Still excellent
Toy Story 3
Incinerator scene aside, this is the most emotionally brutal entry in the series, built entirely around the idea of growing up and letting go. Ending on Andy handing his toys to Bonnie is the kind of goodbye most franchises never manage even once.
About Toy Story 3
Released in 2010, this film sends the toys to Sunnyside Daycare after Andy leaves for college, and closes out the original trilogy. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
- Released
- 2010
- Director
- Lee Unkrich
- Studio
- Pixar Animation Studios
BB Tier: Good, but debated
Toy Story 4
A genuinely good movie that didn't need to exist, and a lot of fans still argue about that. Forky is a weird, inspired addition and the Gabby Gabby arc has real pathos, but Woody's ending split the fanbase right down the middle.
About Toy Story 4
A 2019 follow-up centered on Forky, a spork turned reluctant toy, and Woody's search for purpose outside of being Andy's (now Bonnie's) favorite. Reunited Woody with Bo Peep after her absence from Toy Story 3.
- Released
- 2019
- Director
- Josh Cooley
- Studio
- Pixar Animation Studios
CC Tier: Jury's still out
Toy Story 5
Too new for anyone to have fully made up their mind, and the series already told a complete story three times over before this one showed up. Early reactions are mixed, with plenty of people asking if Pixar is stretching a perfect trilogy past its natural end.
About Toy Story 5
The most recent entry in the franchise, continuing the story of Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toys. Details on plot and reception are still fresh as the film has only recently reached audiences.
- Studio
- Pixar Animation Studios
How we ranked them
We weighed emotional impact, how well each film justified its existence, technical and storytelling ambition for its era, and how it holds up on rewatch. Nostalgia counts for something, but we leaned harder on whether a movie actually added to the series or just cashed in on the toy box one more time.
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
What is the best Toy Story movie?
Most fans and critics put Toy Story 2 and the original Toy Story at the top, often arguing endlessly about which one edges out the other. Toy Story 3 is usually right behind as the third great entry.
Is Toy Story 4 worth watching?
Yes, even people who think it's unnecessary tend to admit it's well made. The main debate is about Woody's ending, not the quality of the filmmaking.
Why did Pixar make Toy Story 5?
Pixar continued the franchise after Toy Story 4 proved there was still audience appetite and story potential left in the toy box, though opinions are split on whether it was needed.
Is Toy Story 3 sadder than Toy Story 4?
Most fans say yes. Toy Story 3's incinerator scene and the farewell to Andy are consistently cited as the series' most emotional moments.
Do you need to watch the Toy Story movies in order?
Yes, the series builds on character relationships and callbacks across films, so watching in release order gives the full emotional arc.