A movie about too much screen time, brought to you by the company that requires an app to ride a rollercoaster

First, the Toy Story franchise has undergone a major change. This is the first in the Toy Story films series to have a PG rating. Many people believe that Toy Story should have ended after three movies. With that knowledge, I went into this with low expectations. But I always view movies from a Christian perspective, and for the purposes of this Toy Story 5 Christian Movie Review, I give you the information you need before viewing this film with your children.

Toy Story 5 Synopsis

Studio Synopsis:

The toys are back in Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” and this time it’s Toy meets Tech. Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they’re introduced to what kids are obsessed with today….electronics! 

My Synopsis:

The Toy Story toys were last seen living with Bonnie. But Woody had left the gang to go off with Bo Peep. Now Bonnie is a little older, and she’s found a new “toy” that has taken over: she has a brand-new tablet device, Lilypad. Woody returns to help save Bonnie from this strange new device. Additionally, Bonnie doesn’t have time for her real toys anymore. But she desperately wants human friends. She soon finds out that she must change who she is to fit in with her new friends.

Disney Pixar Toy Story 5 Christian Movie Review – What Parents Want to Know:

Language:

No foul language. There are some crude words such as “darn” and “oh my gosh.” Additionally, “shut up” is used, along with a couple of crude comments such as “flush me,” and a few phrases that cut off before the intended swear word. There is also mild name-calling and bullying.

Violence:

Pretty mild overall, but there are a few instances of toys fighting. A comment is also made about someone having “poisoned the maid of honor.” One toy gives up and is about to be eaten by a squirrel, but he is saved.

Spiritual Content:

One of Bonnie’s toys is made to act as a priest to perform a wedding.

Other Content:

There are a few scenes with toys kissing, both during “imaginative play” and “toys in the wild.” CPR is referred to as “the kiss of life.” Several rainbows are sprinkled throughout. Combat Carl has stickers on his body and is shown wearing a tutu. Bonnie also holds a wedding ceremony for two of her toys.  She has Buzz and Jessie get married, with Buzz walking down the aisle. My husband caught something I hadn’t: many of the traditional gender roles in the scene are reversed.

Positive Content:

While the movie begins with the belief that the age of toys is over, Toy Story 5 does something valuable by showing the real downsides of too much screen time, even though it’s wrapped in a kid-friendly story. We see what happens when a child spends too long on a device, gets pulled into chats with kids who aren’t mature enough to handle them (kids who say mean things and make fun of others), and starts to lose the kind of imagination that only comes from real, unplugged play.

Furthermore, there’s a kind of dumbing-down that happens when free play gets replaced by a screen, and the movie isn’t shy about showing it. On the other hand, Bonnie also makes a real friend in this Pixar film, and the two girls are shown playing together with actual old toys, a small but meaningful picture of what childhood is supposed to look like.

A Note Worth Making

It’s worth noting the irony here. Disney is the studio telling us, through this very movie, that too much screen time can rob kids of real connection and imaginative play. Yet you cannot walk through Walt Disney World today without the My Disney Experience app in your hand. It books your dining reservations, holds your park reservations, runs Lightning Lane, and even helps you navigate from land to land. Families have complained for years about staring at a phone screen the entire time they’re supposed to be making memories together. It will be interesting to see whether Disney takes its own movie’s message to heart and scales back some of the screen time it now requires just to have a vacation.

Teachable Moments:

Children very easily get addicted to tech. However, it is important for adults to understand the value of play for children. Children need to learn how to play. There is plenty of time to learn how to use technology.

Additionally, Bonnie’s parents give her the Lilypad, and it doesn’t appear they monitor it. Bonnie is 8 years old, and it is very important for parents to understand that tech devices are not toys. I often use the power tool comparison. Technology is a tool. You would not give your child or even a teen a chainsaw and walk away. Likewise, you should not give your children or teens phones, iPads, or technology devices and walk away. There is monitoring, training on how to use it, parental control software, and helping your children navigate what could be scary or dangerous situations.

Disney Pixar Movie Review – My Viewing Recommendations:

Toy Story 5 brings some of the beloved toys from the franchise back together again. While it can be touching to see them interact, it still lacks the emotional depth that the rest of the movies had. In my opinion, Toy Story 5 is at the bottom of the Toy Story franchise. They introduce a series of new toys, but besides the new LilyPad, I don’t see anything that is a must-have toy.

There are three separate storylines that eventually tie together, but for many children, most of the movie jumps among them, causing confusion. I appreciate Disney bringing in the tech storyline; however, that isn’t enough of a draw for me to give it a glowing recommendation. Your kids will like this movie, but they like chicken nuggets, and that doesn’t make them a five-star meal.

Keep in mind that while I judge movies harshly, the worst Disney movie is many times better than another studios best movies. Overall, Disney still knows how to make a touching movie, and one that the entire family can watch. Due to the PG rating, my age recommendation for Toy Story 5 is 6 and up.

Disney Pixar Toy Story 5 – About the Movie

Release Date: June 19, 2026

Rating: PG for thematic elements, rude humor, and some mild action 

Runtime: 102 minutes

Studio: Pixar Animation Studios

Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Directed by: Andrew Stanton

Co-Director Kenna Harris

Produced by: Lindsey Collins, Jessica Choi

Written by: Andrew Stanton

Music by: Randy Newman

New Song: I Knew It, I Knew You sung by Taylor Swift

Edited by: Jennifer Jew

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

The Cast of Toy Story 5:

Tom Hanks as Woody

Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear

Joan Cusack as Jessie

Greta Lee as Lilypad

Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants

Tony Hale as Forky

John Ratzenberger as Hamm

Wallace Shawn as Rex

Blake Clark as Slinky Dog

Jeff Bergman as Mr. Potato Head

Anna Vocino as Mrs. Potato Head

Annie Potts as Bo Peep

Bonnie Hunt as Dolly

Kristen Schaal as Trixie

John Hopkins as Mr. Pricklepants

Ernie Hudson as Combat Carl

Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom

Craig Robinson as Atlas

Scarlett Spears as Bonnie

Lori Alan as Mrs. Anderson

Jay Hernandez as Mr. Anderson

Bad Bunny as Pizza with Sunglasses

Alan Cumming as Evil Bullseye (imagination sequence)

Shelby Rabara as Snappy

Mykal-Michelle Harris as Blaze

Matty Matheson as Dr. Nutcase

Melissa Villaseñor as Karen Beverly

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

​Is there an end-credit scene?

There is a scene midway through the end credits.