Toy Story (1995)

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Toy Story (1995) Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 5+

Pixar classic is one of the best kids' movies of all time.

G 1995 81 minutes
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Parents say

age 5+

Based on 130 reviews

Kids say

age 5+

Based on 248 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that there is separation in Toy Story -- 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").

Community Reviews

transparenteyeball
transparenteyeball Adult
July 9, 2021
age 7+

Not a little kids’ movie.

Lots of name-calling and the like (“shut up”; “you idiot”) and the only female character of note is Bo Peep who wanders through a couple of times as a kind of comedic femme fatale to make sultry side comments to the (white, male) main characters. Not what I want my 5 year old to imprint on.

This title has:

Too much violence
10 people found this helpful.
kranzor-z
kranzor-z Adult
April 11, 2016
age 8+

More dark and cynical than you may remember!

I remember seeing this movie in the theater as a young adult in the 90's and thinking it was lots of fun, and even heartwarming. Watching it with my almost-6-year-old, I felt differently. This movie is a lot more dark and negative than you may remember. The whole plot about Woody "murdering" Buzz, and how the other toys gang up and push him from the moving truck, the whole long sequence with Sid torturing and destroying toys... And the good guys are constantly bickering (lots and lots of times characters called each other "stupid" and "idiot") or making obnoxious adult-themed jokes ("laser envy", etc.). There's very little in the way of love and compassion, and LOTS in the way of 90's cynicism. Avoid this one for pre-elementary kids, and wait until they're older if you feel like you need to watch. Recommended alternative: "Monsters, Inc." -- a much sweeter story with good-hearted characters and a positive message.
2 people found this helpful.
See all 130 parent reviews

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?

There's plenty of cleverness throughout this film, and the story keeps moving at a great pace; there's truly never a dull moment in these toys' lives. 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.

Fans of the movie are in luck -- Toy Story is followed by two fantastic sequels, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about friendships, loyalty, and rivalry in Toy Story. 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?

  • The characters in Toy Story demonstrate many important character strengths. How do the toys demonstrate courage and teamwork? How do Buzz and Woody learn to be humble? Why are these important traits?

Movie Details

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