Toy Story 5

Released June 19, 2026 — just nine days before this list was compiled — Toy Story 5 has already made its position as one of 2026's defining films completely undeniable. Directed by Andrew Stanton, who helmed Finding Nemo and WALL-E and is now returning to the Pixar franchise, with Kenna Harris as co-director, the film reunites Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie while introducing Greta Lee as Lilypad — a sentient tablet that represents everything the analog toy world fears about its own obsolescence. The concept is almost too resonant for a franchise that has always been about the fear of being left behind: what happens to the toys when the thing that replaces them isn't another toy but a glowing screen that can answer any question, play any game, and never needs to be put away? Stanton and Harris wring both comedy and genuine emotion from that premise, and early reviews suggest the film handles its themes with the subtlety and grace that the best Toy Story entries always have. The early numbers are extraordinary. Toy Story 5 broke Pixar's own opening-weekend record in its debut, accumulating roughly $400 million worldwide in its first nine days of release — figures that are certain to rise substantially as the film's theatrical run continues. Its Rotten Tomatoes scores of 93% critics and 95% audience place it in the top tier of this list, with a Metacritic score of 73 reflecting strong if not unanimous critical enthusiasm. It arrives here at #5 rather than higher primarily because its figures are still a snapshot of a very young run; by year's end, the picture may look quite different. For now, Toy Story 5 is doing exactly what the best Pixar films do — making audiences of all ages laugh, cry, and think about what matters. That's enough.