Fast Links
The Toy Story franchise has been running strong for nearly 30 years now, and with the recent release of Lightyear, it’s clear that its legacy will continue to live on. In that vein, it’s interesting to look back on how much the series has changed over the years, but that begs the question: which Toy Story movie is the best?
While all 4 of them have their own unique characteristics and charm, trying to say definitely which one stands out above the rest is difficult because they all aim to do something different. The first film is a timeless classic; however, the second is a perfect follow-up that introduces lovable new characters. But the third provides a satisfying close to the arcs of several characters, and the fourth is by far the most gorgeous of the bunch, with some of the most comedic moments in the series as well.
Every Toy Story movie is not like the others, and the best way to determine which one stands on top is to weigh the good and bad of each. Here’s our list ranking all four Toy Story movies from worst to best.
4. Toy Story 4
While it seems fitting to put the fourth movie in fourth place, this list is looking solely at the quality of each film, and unfortunately, Toy Story 4 just happens to be at the bottom of that bracket. Although the movie is by far one of the most visually stunning Pixar films to date, being able to see the individual fibers on Woody’s arm does not hide this film’s lack of substance on its own merits.
For starters, the setup for the film seems a bit unnecessary since, for all intents and purposes, the third film provides an incredible sense of the closure of the Toy Story saga. It was clear that the toys’ journey with Andy was over, and while the idea of seeing their life with Bonnie sounds fun on paper, it felt unneeded based on just how good the ending was.
In addition, the overall writing of Toy Story 4, particularly for the characters, feels very odd in many places. Buzz is perhaps the worst example of this, as, throughout the film, it feels as if he’s forgotten the fact that he is a toy, and the “inner voice” with him is literally just his voice box as if the growth he went through for three movies vanished. But it is not just Buzz: all of the characters fell incredibly underused, and while the arc with Woody and Forky is interesting in how it explores the sentience of toys, not every question needs an answer.
When you have to explain why the toys are alive, that sort of takes away from the magic of a story called Toy Story, doesn’t it?
3. Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 came out a good number of years after Toy Story 2, so by default, it had a bit of legacy to live up to. Needless to say, the film shined in this regard and in some aspects, surpassed expectations. It manages to perfectly balance the emotional theme of letting the things you love go while also telling a wonderful story about what it means to move on, all while giving each and every character we’ve come to love over the past several years a good amount of screentime and focus in the narrative.
The narrative itself is wonderful too and has everything going for it: comedy, genuinely emotional moments, and a satisfying conclusion that wraps everyone’s story in a nice little bow at the end. It just feels like a perfect way to close on these characters as they move on to a new life.
2. Toy Story
It should be clarified that the first Toy Story film is by no means a bad movie. Quite the contrary, as it is a timeless classic that will likely remain in high regard for years to come. But the important part is understanding why that is the case, and that the reasons it ranks so low on this list have more to do with how much the sequels improved upon the story and characters.
Needless to say, the original Toy Story established a clear and solid foundation for the characters and themes in question, and by its own merits revolutionized the way animated films were made from that point on. You could say it is the reason so many animated movies are made with CGI in the modern day. But even baring the industrial change it brought about, Toy Story is a film that transcends the test of time through its simplicity, humor, characters, and themes.
At the center of Toy Story are Woody and Buzz, an unlikely duo with completely different lives that somehow manage to put aside their differences to work together and become inseparable. It manages to weave a believable and deep character arc for Buzz Lightyear as he comes to terms with the fact that he is a toy, and what that means for him moving forward.
It’s still an absolutely hilarious and heartwarming film too, and even though the sequels (namely Toy Story 2) are far better in terms of character and story, the original will always be special for being the one that started it all.
1. Toy Story 2
In many respects, Toy Story 2 is the epitome of a perfect sequel. While it is hard to argue what constitutes a perfect movie, a perfect sequel is one that manages to breathe new life into its characters and expand on the established world in a way that is both satisfying and respectful to the original, and Toy Story 2 does both and more.
Toy Story 2 has it all: lovable new characters, an interesting origin story for Woody, a new rescue mission that sees all the toys work together, an emotional core tied to Woody and Jessie, a well-written villain, a really good animation that still holds up, and so many other things that make it work. It’s a perfect follow-up because it puts every character we’ve seen so far into new territory while also telling a story about what it means to find purpose in the world, and that makes it the quintessential Toy Story experience.