Toy Story 5 Mania: Swift's Secret Song and 'Masterpiece' Reviews Ignite Premiere

Pixar's long-running animated franchise, "Toy Story," has made a triumphant return with its fifth installment, "Toy Story 5," which has been met with overwhelmingly positive first reactions from film critics and press members. Unveiled recently, the film is being lauded as "emotional, funny, genuinely warm, and perfect in every way," signaling a powerful comeback for Pixar Animation Studios after three decades of the beloved series.

Prominent film critic Scott Menzel praised "Toy Story 5" on X, stating that it "ranks right alongside the first three films, delivering a perfect blend of humor, heart, and that signature Pixar magic." He further described it as "a wonderfully heartfelt return to form" and a reminder of why the franchise remains "one of the greatest film series ever made," predicting it could be "one of the best films of 2026." Daniel Baptista, host of "The Movie Podcast," echoed this sentiment, calling his viewing a "generation-defining experience" and commending Pixar for delivering a "meaningful, moving, and masterful must-see movie."

The sentiment continued with Variety senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay, who found the film "magical and pure perfection," highlighting it as "a fantastic entry into the franchise" and applauding the focus on Jessie. Collider editor Meredith Loftus shared her intense emotional response, noting that "Toy Story 5" explored "the divide between technology and toys through Jessie" resulting in a "deeply profound, moving story" that she placed alongside "Toy Story 2 & 3" in terms of excellence. Other critics, including Germain Lussier, Michael J. Lee, The Distracted Tatiana, Andrew J. Salazar, and Clayton Davis, universally praised the film for its heart, humor, nostalgia, emotional depth, and timely take on technology.

The plot of "Toy Story 5" picks up after the events of "Toy Story 4," which saw Woody depart from the group to assist abandoned toys with Bo Peep. The new film sees Woody reuniting with Buzz Lightyear and the gang, who had appointed Buzz and Jessie as the new leaders of Bonnie's playroom. Their reunion is prompted by the emergence of a new technological threat: an iPad-like tablet named Lilypad, which brings the toys together for a fresh adventure.

A central theme woven throughout the narrative is the exploration of Jessie's character arc. Critics emphasized that this is "Jessie's story," with her finally getting the spotlight she deserves. The film delves into the nuanced conflict between traditional toys and evolving technology, personified by Jessie's vast experience versus Lilypad's novel skills and zero experience. Director Andrew Stanton explained that Lilypad acts as a "villain" to the toys due to their intimidation, but she also represents the "next phase in Bonnie’s life." The film ultimately takes a firm stance on the importance of one-on-one human connection for children.

The acclaimed voice cast sees Tom Hanks returning as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie. New additions to the cast include Greta Lee, Conan O’Brien (voicing the character Smarty Pants), Keanu Reeves, Craig Robinson, Alan Cumming, and Bad Bunny. Tom Hanks also revealed a new detail about Woody: his adventures have left him with a bald spot under his cowboy hat, which Hanks considered a natural part of a toy's life cycle, attributing it to "physics."

Oscar-winning director Andrew Stanton, known for "Wall-E" and "Finding Nemo," takes the helm for a "Toy Story" movie for the first time, though he previously contributed to the stories and scripts of all four prior installments. "Toy Story 5" is set to open in theaters on June 19 from Disney.

Adding another layer of excitement, global superstar Taylor Swift secretly recorded an original song, "I Knew It, I Knew You," for the film's end titles. The involvement was kept under tight wraps, even from the cast members. Tom Hanks recounted being ushered into a soundproof room hours before the song dropped to learn the news, comparing Swift's contribution to "Judy Garland singing 'Over the Rainbow' at the beginning of this." Disney had subtly hinted at Swift's participation, with the track officially unveiled on June 1 following a "Toy Story" themed countdown on the pop star's website.