The first Toy Story 5 reactions are in, and Pixar may have a major crowd-pleaser on its hands.
Following the Los Angeles premiere, early reactions are calling the sequel emotional, funny, and a return to form for Pixar, with one clear takeaway: this is Jessie’s movie.
The premiere also came with a major surprise, as Taylor Swift appeared in support of her new original song for the movie, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” and later joined Randy Newman for a duet of “You’ve Got A Friend In Me.”
Jessie Takes Center Stage
The strongest reactions so far are pointing to Jessie as the emotional heart of Toy Story 5.
@filmsbyjuan called Toy Story 5 “the best of the saga,” praising Jessie as “the beating heart of the story” and saying Taylor Swift’s new song “elevates her story to new heights.”
Meredith Loftus said the film left her “in a puddle of tears,” putting it up there with Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. LaughingPlace.com also singled out Jessie, calling the sequel “Jessie’s movie” and saying Joan Cusack “breaks your heart wide open” as the cowgirl rediscovers her purpose.
Andrew J. Salazar called the movie “a genuine home run,” adding that Jessie being the lead gives the film “an infectious energy.” He also praised the toys-vs.-technology conflict as “much more nuanced than expected.”
Clayton Davis said the film proves the franchise still has “plenty of emotional territory left to explore,” while also warning parents that they may want to “break your kid’s tablets” after seeing it.
Taylor Swift Brings The Big Premiere Moment
The Jessie focus also explains why Taylor Swift’s involvement is being treated as more than just a soundtrack play.
Swift wrote “I Knew It, I Knew You” for the film, with the song tied directly to Jessie’s story. After the premiere screening, Swift addressed the crowd, praised Joan Cusack’s performance, and said it was “an honor” to write for the character.
Swift then introduced Randy Newman, calling him the “architect of the Toy Story musical universe,” before joining him for a duet of “You’ve Got A Friend In Me.”
The move gives Toy Story 5 another major hook heading into release. The first reactions already say Jessie carries the film emotionally, and Swift’s song appears to be built around that exact angle.
Pixar Gets A Strong First Wave
The reactions are not only about Jessie and Swift. Several early viewers are calling Toy Story 5 one of Pixar’s strongest films in years.
Shahbaz of The Movie Podcast called it Pixar “at their absolute best” and praised the movie’s look at the balance between technology and toys, while saying Conan O’Brien’s Smarty Pants “steals every scene.”
Daniel Baptista called the sequel “generation-defining” and “exactly the story we need right now,” while Drew Taylor called it an “absolute homerun” and said it further proves Toy Story is the greatest animated film franchise ever.
Scott Menzel described the film as a “wonderfully heartfelt return to form” for Pixar Animation Studios and said it ranks alongside the first three movies. Borys Kit summed up the emotional response from inside the theater, writing that tears were shed by “them…and all.”
The only real caveat so far comes from Germain Lussier, who said the movie is “a tiny bit disjointed at the start” as it builds multiple storylines. Even then, he said they pay off with a “phenomenal third act” and called the film “top tier stuff.”
Early social reactions are always worth taking with some caution, but this is about as strong of a first wave as Pixar could have wanted. After years of questions over whether Toy Story needed another sequel, the first word says Toy Story 5 found its answer by putting Jessie front and center, giving the franchise a timely tech-vs.-toys conflict, and bringing Taylor Swift along for the emotional punch.
Toy Story 5 opens in theaters on June 19. The first reactions and Taylor Swift should surely help Toy Story 5 drive up awareness and interest, especially with Spider-Man currently in the lead.
