---
title: "Toy Story"
year: 1995
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/toy-story"
fi1m_id: "toy-story"
imdb_id: "tt0114709"
tmdb_id: 862
wikidata_id: "Q171048"
fi1m_score: 92
critics_score: 89
critics_reviews: 13
published: "2026-09-13"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:17.912339+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Toy Story (1995)

Directed by John Lasseter · 1h 21m · MPA G · Family, Comedy, Animation, Adventure

## Identity

Toy Story

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/toy-story
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** toy-story
- **IMDb ID:** tt0114709
- **TMDB ID:** 862
- **Wikidata ID:** Q171048
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/862, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q171048

**Fi1m score: 92** · Critics 89 from 13 reviews

*In a sentence:* The toys have come to life, and apparently they need a mediator

> John Lasseter’s *Toy Story* is funny, tightly made and unusually good at making awkward characters worth caring about. Randy Newman’s music sometimes overstates things; the quarrelling voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen need little help.

## Synopsis

Toys come to life, bringing human habits and disagreements into a suburban adventure. Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) are rivals, and their struggle to get along sits at the centre of a story about the lives playthings lead. Around them are Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger) and Bo Peep (Annie Potts). John Lasseter directs this animated family comedy, in which the toys’ quarrels echo the tensions of family life.

## Review

*Toy Story* knows how quickly a quarrel can become the most important thing in a household. John Lasseter lets the rivalry between Woody and Buzz Lightyear drive an animated adventure, giving their disagreements the attention usually reserved for a family falling out. It is a funny, economical comedy that takes childish feelings seriously. We would recommend it to people who usually leave animation to the children.

Tom Hanks makes Woody’s irritation sound like something he has spent time justifying to himself. There is warmth in the voice, but Hanks can tighten it until every apparently sensible objection begins to sound personal. Tim Allen’s Buzz is a fine source of further irritation: the delivery is so assured that Woody has almost nothing useful to argue with. We laughed at that mismatch, then felt for Woody, because Hanks lets the effort of sounding reasonable become painfully audible.

Joss Whedon, Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow and Andrew Stanton’s screenplay trusts a family audience to recognise pettiness without pausing to explain it. The adult jokes sit comfortably inside a story whose central disagreement a child can understand. Don Rickles gives Mr. Potato Head a useful sharpness, while Wallace Shawn’s Rex has the worried sound of someone already regretting joining the conversation. Both make the toys around Woody and Buzz worth listening to, which helps keep the central quarrel from swallowing the comedy.

The computer animation gives the toys a satisfying solidity; we can imagine picking them up. That matters when they start behaving badly, because their feelings become easier to accept once their bodies feel familiar. Lasseter lets us look closely enough to enjoy the objects themselves without making the film stop for admiration. Even with the technical novelty put aside, the characters are expressive enough to keep a conversation interesting.

Editors Robert Gordon and Lee Unkrich keep the exchanges brisk while allowing an awkward reaction to register. At 81 minutes, the film has little room for a joke that merely repeats the last one, and the cutting generally respects that limit. Randy Newman’s music supplies warmth, though it sometimes tells us to soften towards the characters a little sooner than their voices require. We would have preferred less prompting in those passages; Hanks and Allen already give us enough to decide how we feel.

Family animation can become cautious once a character risks seeming unpleasant. Lasseter lets Woody irritate us and allows Buzz’s certainty to be funny without continually stopping to reassure us that both mean well. Their rivalry has the recognisable strain of people who have to share attention, which gives the adventure something at stake before it becomes busy. That makes it easy to care about a quarrel that might otherwise seem small.

Choose it for a shared evening, including the adults who say they do not care for cartoons. Children should be allowed to enjoy the bad behaviour without a running explanation of what it all means. Afterwards, resist the temptation to tell the person beside you which toy they resemble.

*Fi1m score 92, published 13 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

All thirteen reviews are positive, and they agree on the order of things. The animation comes first: this is the first full-length computer-generated feature, and critics treat it as a real achievement rather than a novelty. Most then say the story earns its place beside the technology. The script is called witty and unsentimental, pitched so that children enjoy toys coming to life while parents catch the jokes. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are singled out repeatedly for their voice work, and several reviews praise Randy Newman’s score.

The spread is narrow, from warm to warmer, and the reservations are small. The Guardian, the coolest of the set, admires the technique but misses the sweetness of hand-drawn animation. Later reviews at Den of Geek and Collider notice that the human characters have dated, though both still recommend it without hesitation. Roger Ebert, for all his enthusiasm, notes that underneath the invention it is essentially a buddy picture.

## Straight answers

**Is Toy Story worth watching?**

*Toy Story* is worth watching for almost anyone, including adults who usually leave animation to the children, and we scored it 92. John Lasseter builds a funny, tightly made comedy around the rivalry between Tom Hanks's Woody and Tim Allen's Buzz, and takes their pettiness seriously. Randy Newman's music sometimes softens things sooner than the voices require, which is our only real complaint.

**How long is Toy Story, and what is it rated?**

*Toy Story* runs 1h 21m and is rated G by the MPA in the US. It is a family and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Toy Story in the US?**

*Toy Story* is streaming on Hulu and Disney+ in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from $3.99. It leaves Hulu on 1 October. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Toy Story compare to Toy Story 2?**

*Toy Story* is the tighter and funnier of the two, while [*Toy Story 2*](https://film.one/film/toy-story-2) reaches for more feeling. The first film stays close to the quarrel between Woody and Buzz and wastes almost nothing across 81 minutes; the sequel is moving about how childhood ends, though a few of its action passages feel dutiful. Start with the original, then let the second deepen it.

**Do you need to have seen the other Toy Story films before Toy Story?**

*Toy Story* is the first film in its series, so you need to have seen nothing before it. It stands alone as a complete story about Woody and Buzz learning to share attention, and the later films build on characters introduced here. It is the natural place to begin, and a good one.

**What should I watch after Toy Story?**

After *Toy Story*, try [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) (1999, Fi1m 88): Another unlikely friendship, with room for jokes and a proper fright. Then [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro) (1988, Fi1m 89): For the same respect for childhood, at a gentler walking pace; and [*Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit*](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit) (2005, Fi1m 87): For comic timing that makes every small movement worth watching.

**What order should I watch the Toy Story films in?**

Release order is the safe choice for Toy Story, and it is the order [our collection page](https://film.one/collections/toy-story) lists them in. *Toy Story* is the first of the 5 Toy Story titles on Fi1m; after it [*Toy Story 2*](https://film.one/film/toy-story-2). [The full order.](https://film.one/collections/toy-story.md)

### Reviews we read (13)

- **Radio Times**, Tom Hutchinson (5/5): The film is a magnificent technical achievement as the first fully computer-generated feature but delivers far more as an entertaining adventure story and witty parable for adults and children alike. The critic singles out the brilliant voice characterizations, particularly by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, and Randy Newman's score for particular praise. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-eompok/toy-story/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (4/4): The film is a visionary and liberating roller-coaster ride that creates a believable three-dimensional universe and marks the dawn of a new era in animation. The critic singles out the groundbreaking computer-generated imagery and freedom of movement for praise while noting it functions primarily as a buddy movie. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/toy-story-1995)
- **Empire**, Caroline Westbrook (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film triumphant, hilarious and original, free of sentimentality and a box-office success. They single out the groundbreaking computer animation and the simple, effective story of toys coming to life for particular praise. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/toy-story-review/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Rob Humanick (90/100, inferred): The critic hails it as Pixar’s greatest creation and an artistic milestone with a purity of essence, praising the raw yet poetic computer animation, tight storytelling, clever characterizations, and sense of cinematic spectacle that makes an 80-minute film feel epic. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/toy-story/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Michael Rechtshaffen (90/100, inferred): The critic calls it an instant classic and a visually astounding, wildly inventive winner that marks Disney’s greatest technological advance in years. It singles out the computer-generated animation, buddy-movie story, strong voice performances by Hanks and Allen, and Randy Newman’s score for praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/toy-story-1995-review-i-original-movie-949959/)
- **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin (Critic's Pick): The computer-animated film is a parent-tickling delight and a work of incredible cleverness in the best Disney tradition. Children will enjoy toys coming to life while adults marvel at the witty script and brilliant anthropomorphism. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/22/movies/film-review-there-s-a-new-toy-in-the-house-uh-oh.html)
- **The Times** (90/100, inferred): The first full-length computer-animated feature is a technical marvel and a triumph of sharp scripting, inspired casting and perfectly pitched humour. John Lasseter’s cutting-edge animation looks amazing and combines with a heartwarming and witty script to make Toy Story a modern classic for all ages. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/film-of-the-week-d6ndf2782s3)
- **Variety**, Leonard Klady (90/100, inferred): In addition to stylistic innovation the film sports a provocative and appealing story that's every bit the equal of this technical achievement. It features a first-rate voice cast and aims high to go where no animator has gone before. [Read](https://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/toy-story-2-1200443736/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (85/100, inferred): The film's visual dazzle will delight kids while adults will appreciate the wised-up jokes. It is a captivating first step along animation’s most promising new frontier thanks to its clever story and dialogue. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-22-ca-5872-story.html)
- **The Guardian** (75/100, inferred): The critic praises the technical brilliance of this first full-length computer-animated feature and its witty take on suburban American values and pop-culture references. The rivalry between toys Woody and Buzz is noted as effectively mirroring family dynamics, though the film lacks the sweet magic of traditional animation. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1996/mar/21/1)
- **Collider**, Andre Dellamorte (90/100, inferred): The critic praises both films as tightly scripted with heart, invention, and strong third acts, noting they remain enjoyable for kids and parents alike despite some dated animation in the first film. Toy Story 2 is singled out as the stronger, more layered picture and one of the greatest sequels ever made. [Read](https://collider.com/toy-story-and-toy-story-2-blu-ray-reviews/)
- **Den of Geek**, Mark Pickavance (4/5): The film excels as great storytelling that captures a child's mindset about toys and their fears of obsolescence or replacement, with strong voice casting bringing the toy community to life. It notes some dated flaws in the human characters' animation but calls the movie a timeless classic of the modern era. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/toy-story-blu-ray-review/)
- **HeyUGuys**, Colin Hart (4/5): The critic praises the film's timeless appeal, witty and knowing script with real heart that doesn't talk down to children, and the standout vocal performances. They highlight the emotional impact of key scenes like Buzz's realization accompanied by the song, noting the movie hasn't aged and remains a treat on the big screen. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/review-toy-story-3d/)

## Details

- **Director:** John Lasseter
- **Director:** John Lasseter
- **Screenplay:** Alec Sokolow, Joel Cohen, Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton
- **Editor:** Lee Unkrich, Robert Gordon
- **Music:** Randy Newman
- **Producer:** Ralph Guggenheim, Bonnie Arnold
- **Cast:** Tom Hanks as Woody (voice); Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear (voice); Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head (voice); Jim Varney as Slinky Dog (voice); Wallace Shawn as Rex (voice); John Ratzenberger as Hamm (voice); Annie Potts as Bo Peep (voice); John Morris as Andy (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 21m
- **Certificate (MPA):** G
- **Release (the US):** 22 November 1995
- **Genres:** Family, Comedy, Animation, Adventure
- **Part of:** [Toy Story](https://film.one/collections/toy-story.md) · 1 of 5
- **Also in:** [Golden Globe Best Musical or Comedy winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-comedy.md) (Nominee, 1995)
- **Budget:** $30 million
- **Box office:** $962 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxwTLktovTU

## Where to watch in the US

- Hulu: streaming, hd, leaving 2026-10-01
- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $9.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy $19.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-13.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 1996: Best Original Musical or Comedy Score (nominated); Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated)
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 1996: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (won)
- Annie Award for Best Production Design in an Animated Feature Production 1996: Annie Award for Best Production Design in an Animated Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Character Animation in a Feature Production 1996: Annie Award for Character Animation in a Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Directing in a Feature Production 1996: Annie Award for Directing in a Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production 1996: Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production (won)
- Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production 1996: Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production (won)
- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 1996: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (nominated)
- Special Achievement Academy Award 1995: Special Achievement Academy Award (won)

## If you liked this

- *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: Another unlikely friendship, with room for jokes and a proper fright. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md)
- *My Neighbour Totoro* (1988), Fi1m 89: For the same respect for childhood, at a gentler walking pace. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro.md)
- *The Red Balloon* (1956): A child’s attachment to an ordinary object gets all the attention it deserves.
- *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005), Fi1m 87: For comic timing that makes every small movement worth watching. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit.md)
- *The Lego Movie* (2014), Fi1m 83: More toys with troublesome opinions about what they are supposed to do. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lego-movie.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/toy-story