 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Toy Story (1995)
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Pixar classic is one of the best kids' movies of all time.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there is separation in the movie -- toys are separated from one another and from their owner (but if your kid made it to preschool without an issue, this should be fine). All of the dynamics behind sibling rivalry are here as well, so if your kids are going through that, this is a perfect movie to have them watch together. Kids may be scared by Andy's next-door neighbor Sid, who has a mean laugh and mutilates toys for fun -- but he does get a mild comeuppance. Really young kids may be confused by the toys being "real" here, especially when Buzz really thinks he's a star commander. Note: The 3-D version of the movie includes a couple of brief scenes that might spook the youngest viewers, like dinosaur Rex roaring, but otherwise the digital effects are played for laughs (or, as the green squeeze-toy aliens would say, "Oooh ... aaah").
What's the story?
TOY STORY follows the adventures of the toys who belong to a boy named Andy. His favorite is a sheriff from the Old West named Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), who acts as the leader of the rest of Andy's toys -- including a skittish Tyrannosaurus Rex (Wallace Shawn) and Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles). All is going well until Andy gets a very special birthay present: a toy spaceman named Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). Woody gets jealous, and, in an effort to keep Andy from taking Buzz with him on an excursion, accidentally knocks Buzz out the window. Feeling very bad about what he's done, Woody follows, determined to bring Buzz back home to Andy before the family moves to its new house.
Is it any good?
This Pixar release was the first feature film animated entirely by computer. Although the dazzling technology is especially well suited to a story in which the major characters are made out of plastic, it's the unpretentious imagination and energy of the people behind the story and the outstanding vocal performances that make the movie an instant classic. There's plenty of cleverness throughout, and the story keeps moving at a great pace -- there's truly never a dull moment in these toys' lives.
Fans of the movie are in luck -- Toy Story is followed by two sequels, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about friendships, loyalty, and rivalry. Young kids are exploring all these issues, and the movie has great models.
Andy seems to spend more time playing with his beloved toys than watching TV or playing video games. Kids: What's great about playtime over TV time?
Kids: Do you really think that toys become "real" when humans leave the room? Why is imagination such an important part of playtime?
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- Teens & kids
Parent of 2 and 7 year old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Great Movie, but not for pre-schoolers
The beginning of a beautiful record of movie making by Pixar. They're often the best movies of the year, live or animated. Good date movie (for my wife and I, for example.)
And 6+ year olds are the right target. Pixar movies are not for 3, 4 or most 5 year olds. The scare factor is one obvious thing, but not just because it's scary. Being scared is a fact of life. Being scared by a big-screen, loud movie, crafted by professionals who can dial it up an order of magnitude past anything the kid is likely to ever possibly encounter in real life, is another thing. Just because your kid doesn’t melt before your eyes, but may even say they like it, doesn’t mean it’s ok. Basic child development hasn’t evolved as fast as film-making ability. We’ve got plenty of time to ramp them up to hyper-media.
Another factor is how the characters, the friendly ones, treat each other. Constant insults, name-calling, bickering. Makes for a great film, but if that was what my household was like, I’d have some pretty obnoxious kids. 3-5 year olds are sponges, remember?
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Teen, 14 years old
April 3, 2011
AGE
One of my favorites
I've watched this movie sinse I was little, 'really' little. It was always one of my favorites, and honestly not much of it scared me, except for the toys Sid 'created'. It makes you nervous when the toys are in a bad situation, like being stuck in Sid's house for instance and getting chased by a dog. Dispite some of these things, the movie is great for the family. My brothers watched it to the point that it distroyed the DVD (This was around when they were 2 and 4) I don't think it's as terrifying as some make out, but it depends on the child. The humar is great, the parol is exciting. Woody can be bossy, and they accuse him of being Buzz's murderer later on. It's pretty torturous. Still though- I rest my case by saying it's a good movie.
What other families should know:
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Minimum age should be 8+
The "violence" in this movie is too intense for children younger than 8. The "bad boy" Sid decapitates his sister's dolls (adults will find a follow-up scene funny, but it will be confusing to younger children). Sid also blows up his toys, and plays with a rocket labeled "Keep away from children". Most reviews recognize the need to increase the age. Perhaps one reviewer is skewing the results with multiple submissions?
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Teen, 13 years old
October 21, 2010
AGE
Fun movie perfect for anyone.
Toy Story is one of the best movies of all time. I've watched it so many times, I've memorized it. ALL OF IT. There's basically nothing to watch out for and is perfectly suitable for all people, but there are some hidden adult jokes:
* Bo Peep says to Woody: "How about I get someone else to watch the sheep tonight?" Which, uh...I'll let you figure that out, k?
*Mr. Potato head takes off his lips and puts them on his rear, symbolizing the word kiss-***.
*At one point Potato head and Hamm(a piggy bank) are playing battleship, and when Hamm sinks a ship he asks for Potato head's nose, which is basically "Strip Battleship".
*Woody says, "The word I'm searching for, I can't say-because there are Preschool toys around" implying he wants to cuss...
*Potato Head says "Son of a Building Block!" in one scene.
----------But seriously, I criticize this movie too much! The movie is perfect for ANYYYONNE! It's funny even for adults, and when you actually get the jokes, it's even better. The story centers around Sherrif Woody being replaced as the favorite toy by Buzz Lightyear, a Space Ranger action figure who doesn't believe he's a toy. The two toys develop a rivalry until they wind up in the house of Sid, who tortures his toys. They have to work together to break out before Andy moves to a new home, and the movie is great on the traits of friendship and working together. If you haven't watched this movie, do it. NOW.
What other families should know:
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Not for little ones
My 3 year old girl is really getting into movies now. This movie should not be rated G. The scenes with Sid the neighbor blowing up toys is disturbing as well as the put together toys in his room. Scared my daughter pretty bad. Might be ok for older kids.
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Parent of 3 year old
February 20, 2010
AGE
Love the movie, but too scary for my 3 year olds.
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Parent of 5 year old
June 3, 2009
AGE
Two previous reviewers nailed my feelings about this movie:
"...I realized how much violence is strewn through the film. The toys fight each other, call each other insulting names, the kid Sid next door is a sociopath who plays with matches and rockets, the toy-eating dog in Sid's house is abusive, and then abused by the toys... it just goes on & on. All in all, way too dark and violent for the age group it is marketed towards. The message of playing nice and working together is completely lost in the shuffle unless the parent strings it together for the child."
"...while it seems innocuous at first, several times characters get called names like "idiot" and "stupid". Not sure I like this too much."
Actually, I am sure I don't like it at all. Between Sid's malice and the casual disrespect for everyone shown by all the name calling, I just find this movie inappropriate for younger viewers.
And how do 100% of 30-some parent reviewers say it's too violent and at the same time say it's great for kids??
What other families should know:
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Parent of 4 year old
June 28, 2010
AGE
Innapropriate language for an animated movie
My children are not allowed to say stupid, idiot or shut up and these words are used throughout the movie. I was really dissappointed by the usage of these types of negative words in an animated movie marketed to children. They could have easily used more appropriate words and it would have been an even better movie. Also the next door neighbor child is a little disturbed and seems to have no parental guidance. Not only does he tear apart his sister's toys and blow them up but he also has many locks on his door like an adult would in the inner city. Strange for a little boy's room. Not a movie that I feel comfortable promoting. I would not want my child imitating the words and actions in this film.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 9, 2010
AGE
I saw this movie a little bit before Toy Story 3 came out, and was blown away. I had never expected anything this good. It's very well done, and extremely sweet. So good that I voted 'yes' to do it for our middle-school play. Watch this movie if you want to laugh, cry, and have your heart warmed.
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Kid, 11 years old
May 21, 2011
AGE
Pretty scary but Awesome!!!
Wonderful movie! I used to watch it all the time when I was a baby. Some toys Sid messes around with may be scary. Theres no swearing but lots of name calling language like "stupid" "idiot" "shut up" "dumb" and other language. My brother hates it but it's ok if he does not like it because I already saw it a billion times when I was a baby.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, adventures, friendship |
| Studio: | Pixar Animation Studios |
| Director: | John Lasseter |
| Cast: | Don Rickles, Tim Allen, Tom Hanks |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 81 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 2, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | May 11, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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