‘Toy Story 5’ First Reactions Are Overwhelming: Jessie’s Moment, Taylor Swift’s Song, and Why This Could Be Pixar’s Best in Years

The ‘Toy Story’ franchise has always carried an almost unfair amount of emotional weight. From the heartbreak of Andy’s goodbye in ‘Toy Story 3’ to the bittersweet solo ending of ‘Toy Story 4’, Pixar has repeatedly proven that no animated franchise hits harder when it wants to.

Returning director Andrew Stanton, who previously helmed ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘WALL-E’, now steps back into the universe he helped build with a bold new creative swing, and anticipation heading into the June 19 theatrical release has been sky-high.

The world premiere of ‘Toy Story 5’ was held at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, and Disney/Pixar allowed attendees to post brief social media reactions immediately after the screening, though full critical reviews remain embargoed until June 16.

That decision alone sent a clear signal. Lifting the social media embargo nine days ahead of release is a confident move from Disney, and the industry had already taken note months earlier, with Hollywood reporter Matt Belloni revealing earlier in 2026 that sources told him the new film was simply “excellent.”

Now that the first wave of reactions has landed, it is safe to say the confidence was more than warranted. Critics and entertainment writers flooded social media with praise, and the consensus is striking in its consistency.

Film critic Scott Menzel wrote that ‘Toy Story 5’ “ranks right alongside the first three films, delivering a perfect blend of humor, heart, and that signature Pixar magic,” and called the sequel “a wonderfully heartfelt return to form for Pixar Animation Studios.” Others went even further, with reviewer Andrew J. Salazar calling it “a genuine home run,” praising the toys versus technology conflict as “much more nuanced than expected,” and applauding the film’s stance on one-on-one human connection as essential for children.

One of the most consistent threads running through the reactions is the way ‘Toy Story 5’ finally puts Jessie front and center. Director Andrew Stanton has said that the character of Jessie was his biggest motivation for taking on the project, and that from the very beginning of development it was clear to him the next film should revolve around her. That instinct appears to have paid off handsomely. Critic Meredith Loftus wrote that exploring the divide between technology and toys through Jessie results in “a deeply profound, moving story,” placing the film alongside ‘Toy Story 2’ and ‘Toy Story 3’ in terms of quality.

The plot centers on eight-year-old Bonnie receiving a sleek, frog-like tablet called “Lilypad” that begins to consume all of her attention, with the toys forced to reckon with a world where screens are pulling children away from the toy box. It is a premise that taps into something genuinely universal for modern families, and reactions suggest Pixar handled it with more depth and nuance than the high concept might initially imply. Clayton Davis noted that the film is “timely and surprisingly sharp with its take on our relationship with technology,” while also singling out Joan Cusack’s voice work as a standout performance.

The other major story surrounding ‘Toy Story 5’ is the involvement of Taylor Swift, whose contribution to the film was only officially confirmed on June 1. Swift attended the Los Angeles premiere and performed the song live at the event alongside Randy Newman, and was seen mingling with Joan Cusack, whose character Jessie served as the direct inspiration for the track.

The song, titled “I Knew It, I Knew You,” was written and produced by Swift alongside Jack Antonoff and released on June 5 through Walt Disney Records. Director Andrew Stanton celebrated the collaboration by saying Swift’s connection to Jessie and her immediate understanding of what the character was going through was “undeniable,” adding that on first listen the song “instantly felt like it had always belonged there, like a long-lost family member.” Swift herself, writing on Instagram, described the songwriting process as “a musical departure and coming home at the same time.”

Reactions have already flagged “I Knew It, I Knew You” as an awards-season contender, with multiple reviewers pointing to it as a likely Best Original Song candidate for the coming awards cycle. That is a remarkable level of early buzz for a song that most audiences have not yet heard in its full cinematic context.

Not every reaction was unconditional. Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier noted that ‘Toy Story 5’ is “a tiny bit disjointed at the start as it builds multiple different storylines,” though he added that “they end up paying off with a phenomenal third act filled with all the heart and humor you expect from Pixar.” That tension between a slightly busy opening and a deeply rewarding finale seems to be the one consistent qualifier running through otherwise glowing takes.

With a June 19 theatrical debut landing on the Juneteenth holiday weekend, ‘Toy Story 5’ is positioned for one of the biggest box office openings of the summer. Directors Stanton and McKenna Harris have described the film as “a hilarious and poignant journey exploring how our favourite legacy toys might respond to today’s world of technology,” and if the premiere reactions are anything to go by, that journey is one well worth taking.

Let us know in the comments whether you think ‘Toy Story 5’ has what it takes to stand alongside the franchise’s most beloved entries.