Toy Story (1995)Movie Reviews

Must Go!
Avg. Critic Score: 92 out of 100 Universal acclaim Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
4 OK for kids 4+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 100
    San Francisco Chronicle | Peter Stack

    A gem of fast action, sophisticated wit and inspired comedy. Read full review

  • 100
    The Globe and Mail (Toronto) | Liam Lacey

    There's a giddy, absurd charm to the story, in which the strange setting only enhances the comfortable familiarity of the narrative and characters. Read full review

  • 100
    San Francisco Examiner |

    The film will intoxicate children and charm the parents in their company. Read full review

  • 100
    The New York Times | Elvis Mitchell

    A parent-tickling delight, is a work of incredible cleverness in the best two-tiered Disney tradition. [22 November 1995, p. C9] Read full review

  • 100
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    A visionary roller-coaster ride of a movie. Read full review

  • 100
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    The first animated feature produced entirely on computer is a magically witty and humane entertainment, a hellzapoppin fairy tale about a roomful of suburban toys who come to life when humans aren't around. Read full review

  • 100
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    Although its computer-generated imagery is impressive, the major surprise of this bright foray into a new kind of animation is how much cleverness has been invested in story and dialogue. Read full review

  • 88
    ReelViews | James Berardinelli

    The computer-generated effects are a marvel. It's something of a bonus that the characters, dialogue, and story provide entertainment value of their own. Read full review

  • 75
    USA Today | Susan Wloszczyna

    The first all computer-animated feature, which brings a bedroom of playthings to bouncy life, is yummy eye candy spiked with 3-D-style tactile treats. Read full review

  • 70
    TV Guide |

    Clever, fast-moving and unobtrusively self-conscious. Read full review

View more reviews for Toy Story (1995) on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 4+ Pixar classic is one of the best kids' movies of all time.
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").
  • 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?
The good stuff
  • educationalvalue true1 Educational value: Shows teamwork in action.
  • message true3 Positive messages: Themes of loyalty, friendship, and teamwork throughout. Toy characters go to great lengths to rescue their friend.
  • rolemodels true3 Positive role models: Two toys are rivals and one does something cruel out of jealousy, but works hard to make amends and become friends in the end. All the toys show lots of love and loyalty to their owner. A mean neighbor who mutilates toys gets his comeuppance.
What to watch for
  • violence false2 Violence and scariness: Some tense/scary scenes with toys in peril. A boy mutilates toys and straps them to rockets. Potentially frightening images of "mutant" hybrid toys. In the 3-D version, a couple of other scenes can be briefly scary -- like when Rex roars.
  • sex false0 Sex: Not an issue
  • language false1 Language: Mild insults like "idiot" and "shut up."
  • consumerism false4 Consumerism: Several of the Toy Story characters are recognizable brands (like Barbie, Ken, and Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head). And beyond that, the Toy Story franchise has the potential for the most merchandising tie-ins of any kid-targeted movie series. Toys, action figures, books, party supplies, plush dolls, you name it -- Disney's Toy Story characters are everywhere, especially kid favorites Woody and Buzz Lightyear.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
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Toy Story (1995) Movie Reviews + Ratings

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