Watch Toy Story in release order: Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010), Toy Story 4 (2019) and Toy Story 5 (2026). The Toy Story Toons shorts and the specials Toy Story of Terror! and Toy Story That Time Forgot fit between 3 and 4. Lightyear (2022) is the film Andy saw in 1995, so it can go first.
- Titles
- 15
- Films
- 13
- Series
- 2
- Watch time
- 35 hours
- Box office
- $4.41 billion
- Avg IMDb
- 7.2
Toy Story movies in release order
Here is every Toy Story title in the order it came out, 1995 to 2026: 13 films and 2 series. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toy Story | 1995 | Film | 1h 21m | 8.3 |
| 2 | Toy Story 2 | 1999 | Film | 1h 32m | 7.9 |
| 3 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins optional | 2000 | Film | 1h 10m | 6.2 |
| 4 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command optional | 2000 | Series | 21h 42m | 6.7 |
| 5 | Toy Story 3 | 2010 | Film | 1h 43m | 8.3 |
| 6 | Hawaiian Vacation optional | 2011 | Film | 7m | 7.2 |
| 7 | Small Fry optional | 2011 | Film | 7m | 7 |
| 8 | Partysaurus Rex optional | 2012 | Film | 7m | 7.4 |
| 9 | Toy Story of Terror! | 2013 | Film | 22m | 7.4 |
| 10 | Toy Story That Time Forgot | 2014 | Film | 22m | 7.1 |
| 11 | Toy Story 4 | 2019 | Film | 1h 40m | 7.6 |
| 12 | Forky Asks a Question optional | 2019 | Series | 1h 20m | 6.6 |
| 13 | Lamp Life optional | 2020 | Film | 7m | 6.7 |
| 14 | Lightyear | 2022 | Film | 1h 45m | 6.1 |
| 15 | Toy Story 5 | 2026 | Film | 1h 42m | 7.4 |
Toy Story timeline: movies in chronological order
The same titles in story order, by when they take place, with the year or era each one is set in.
| # | Title | Set in | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lightyear | The film Andy saw | 2022 |
| 2 | Toy Story | Andy's room | 1995 |
| 3 | Toy Story 2 | Al's Toy Barn | 1999 |
| 4 | Toy Story 3 | Andy leaves for college | 2010 |
| 5 | Hawaiian Vacation | A short: Ken and Barbie's trip | 2011 |
| 6 | Small Fry | A short: Buzz in a fast-food support group | 2011 |
| 7 | Partysaurus Rex | A short: Rex in the bathtub | 2012 |
| 8 | Toy Story of Terror! | A roadside motel | 2013 |
| 9 | Toy Story That Time Forgot | Christmas at Mason's | 2014 |
| 10 | Toy Story 4 | A road trip and an antique shop | 2019 |
| 11 | Forky Asks a Question | Forky's questions | 2019 |
| 12 | Lamp Life | A short: Bo Peep's story | 2020 |
| 13 | Toy Story 5 | Toys meet tech | 2026 |
| 14 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins | Buzz's cartoon world | 2000 |
| 15 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Star Command | 2000 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 15 titles here. In release order you start with Toy Story (1995); in story order you start with Lightyear, set in The film Andy saw, which came out 27 years later.
First time through, watch in release order. That is how the twists, returning characters and callbacks were built to land, and later entries assume you have seen the earlier ones. On a rewatch, try story order. It turns Toy Story into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Toy Story also runs a separate continuity: Star Command. It has its own line on the timeline, so you can watch it on its own without breaking the main story.
Where to start
Start with Toy Story and go in release order, skipping the 7 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 8 titles and about 10 hours, 70% less than the full run.
The three highest rated: Toy Story (8.3), Toy Story 3 (8.3), and Toy Story 2 (7.9).
Every Toy Story movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1995 · Film · 1h 21m · 2nd in story order
Toy Story
Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.
Why it matters: The first fully computer-animated feature, 1995.
- Starring
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Don Rickles
- Director
- John Lasseter
- Box office
- $401 million on a $30 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 8.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 100%
No. 02 · 1999 · Film · 1h 32m · 3rd in story order
Toy Story 2
Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggen, owner of Al's Toy Barn kidnaps Woody. Andy's toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear meets his match and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.
Why it matters: Woody is stolen by a collector.
- Starring
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack
- Director
- John Lasseter
- Box office
- $497 million on a $90 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 100%
No. 03 · 2000 · Film · 1h 10m · 14th in story order · optional
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins
Buzz Lightyear must battle Emperor Zurg with the help of three hopefuls who insist on being his partners.
Why it matters: The cartoon Buzz Lightyear is based on, in a direct-to-video film that launches the series.
- Starring
- Tim Allen, Nicole Sullivan, and Stephen Furst
- Director
- Tad Stones
- Scores
- IMDb 6.2
No. 04 · 2000 · Series · 21h 42m · 15th in story order · optional
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Buzz Lightyear’s adventures as he patrols the galaxy with his team of Space Rangers, battling evildoers “to infinity and beyond.”
Why it matters: One season of 62 episodes following Buzz and his rookie crew against Emperor Zurg.
- Starring
- Patrick Warburton, Nicole Sullivan, and Stephen Furst
- Scores
- IMDb 6.7
- Episodes
- 62
No. 05 · 2010 · Film · 1h 43m · 4th in story order
Toy Story 3
Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy's toys haven't been played with in years. With Andy about to go to college, the gang find themselves accidentally left at a nefarious day care center. The toys must band together to escape and return home to Andy.
Why it matters: Andy leaves for college.
- Starring
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack
- Director
- Lee Unkrich
- Box office
- $1.07 billion on a $200 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 8.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 98%
No. 06 · 2011 · Film · 7m · 5th in story order · optional
Hawaiian Vacation
The toys throw Ken and Barbie a Hawaiian vacation in Bonnie's room.
Why it matters: A short: Ken and Barbie miss their Hawaii trip, so the toys stage one in Bonnie's house.
- Starring
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack
- Director
- Gary Rydstrom
- Scores
- IMDb 7.2
No. 07 · 2011 · Film · 7m · 6th in story order · optional
Small Fry
A fast food restaurant mini variant of Buzz forcibly switches places with the real Buzz and his friends have to deal with the obnoxious impostor.
Why it matters: A short: a kids' meal Buzz takes Buzz's place, and Buzz lands in a support group for discarded toys.
- Starring
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack
- Director
- Angus MacLane
- Scores
- IMDb 7
No. 08 · 2012 · Film · 7m · 7th in story order · optional
Partysaurus Rex
When Rex finds himself left behind in the bathroom, he puts his limbs to use by getting a bath going for a bunch of new toy friends.
Why it matters: A short: Rex throws a bathtub rave for Bonnie's bath toys to prove he is not a party pooper.
- Starring
- Wallace Shawn, Tom Hanks, and Tim Allen
- Director
- Mark A. Walsh
- Scores
- IMDb 7.4
No. 09 · 2013 · Film · 22m · 8th in story order
Toy Story of Terror!
What starts out as a fun road trip for the Toy Story gang takes an unexpected turn for the worse when the trip detours to a roadside motel. After one of the toys goes missing, the others find themselves caught up in a mysterious sequence of events that must be solved before they all suffer the same fate in this Toy Story of Terror.
Why it matters: A Halloween TV special: Bonnie's toys vanish one by one at a roadside motel.
- Starring
- Joan Cusack, Carl Weathers, and Tom Hanks
- Director
- Angus MacLane
- Scores
- IMDb 7.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 94%
No. 10 · 2014 · Film · 22m · 9th in story order
Toy Story That Time Forgot
During a post-Christmas play date, the gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It's all up to Trixie, the triceratops, if the gang hopes to return to Bonnie's room in this Toy Story That Time Forgot.
Why it matters: A Christmas TV special: Bonnie's toys meet dinosaur warrior figures who do not know they are toys.
- Starring
- Kristen Schaal, Kevin McKidd, and Tom Hanks
- Director
- Steve Purcell
- Scores
- IMDb 7.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 92%
No. 11 · 2019 · Film · 1h 40m · 10th in story order
Toy Story 4
Woody has always been confident about his place in the world, devoted to taking care of his kid—whether that's Andy or Bonnie. But after Bonnie creates a reluctant new toy called "Forky", a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends challenges everything Woody believes about loyalty, purpose, and what it truly means to be a toy.
Why it matters: Woody and Forky on a road trip.
- Starring
- Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Annie Potts
- Director
- Josh Cooley
- Box office
- $1.07 billion on a $175 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 96%
No. 12 · 2019 · Series · 1h 20m · 11th in story order · optional
Forky Asks a Question
Forky, a craft project created from trash, has important questions about how the world works, such as: What is love? What is time? And of course, the deepest question of all, What is cheese? Follow him as he explores all of these questions and more.
Why it matters: Ten short Disney+ episodes where Forky asks the other toys to explain everyday ideas.
- Starring
- Tony Hale, Bob Peterson, and John Ratzenberger
- Creator
- Bob Peterson
- Scores
- IMDb 6.6
- Episodes
- 10
No. 13 · 2020 · Film · 7m · 12th in story order · optional
Lamp Life
Bo Peep explains what happened to herself and her sheep between the events of Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 4.
Why it matters: A short: Bo Peep tells Woody what happened to her between Andy's house and the antique shop.
- Starring
- Annie Potts, Ally Maki, and Jim Hanks
- Director
- Valerie LaPointe
- Scores
- IMDb 6.7
No. 14 · 2022 · Film · 1h 45m · 1st in story order
Lightyear
Legendary Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure alongside a group of ambitious recruits and his robot companion Sox.
Why it matters: The in-universe film Andy watched in 1995; optional.
- Starring
- Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, and Peter Sohn
- Director
- Angus MacLane
- Box office
- $226 million on a $200 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 74%
No. 15 · 2026 · Film · 1h 42m · 13th in story order
Toy Story 5
When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang's jobs become exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime.
Why it matters: The toys meet technology.
- Starring
- Joan Cusack, Tom Hanks, and Tim Allen
- Director
- Andrew Stanton
- Box office
- $1.15 billion on a $250 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 93%
Toy Story box office and budgets
The 6 Toy Story films with reported numbers have grossed $4.41 billion worldwide on about $945 million in combined budgets, roughly 4.7 times what they cost. The biggest is Toy Story 5 at $1.15 billion, 26% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Toy Story 4 ($1.07 billion) and Toy Story 3 ($1.07 billion).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Toy Story, which made 13 times its $30 million budget. The weakest was Lightyear at 1.1 times its $200 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Toy Story movies
Across 15 rated titles, Toy Story averages 7.2 on IMDb. The top of the list is Toy Story at 8.3, then Toy Story 3 (8.3) and Toy Story 2 (7.9). At the bottom: Lightyear (6.1) and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (6.2). Money and quality don't line up perfectly: the highest grosser, Toy Story 5, is only the 7th best rated.
- Toy Story8.3 · RT 100%
- Toy Story 38.3 · RT 98%
- Toy Story 27.9 · RT 100%
- Toy Story 47.6 · RT 96%
- Partysaurus Rex7.4
- Toy Story of Terror!7.4 · RT 94%
- Toy Story 57.4 · RT 93%
- Hawaiian Vacation7.2
- Toy Story That Time Forgot7.1 · RT 92%
- Small Fry7
Who appears in the most Toy Story movies
Tim Allen leads with 11 appearances as Buzz Lightyear, ahead of Tom Hanks (10) and Wallace Shawn (9). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Allen | Buzz Lightyear | 11 | Toy Story (1995) to Toy Story 5 (2026) |
| Tom Hanks | Woody | 10 | Toy Story (1995) to Toy Story 5 (2026) |
| Wallace Shawn | Rex | 9 | Toy Story (1995) to Forky Asks a Question (2019) |
| Don Rickles | Mr. Potato Head | 7 | Toy Story (1995) to Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014) |
| John Ratzenberger | Hamm | 7 | Toy Story (1995) to Forky Asks a Question (2019) |
| Joan Cusack | Jessie | 6 | Toy Story 2 (1999) to Toy Story 5 (2026) |
| Annie Potts | Bo Peep | 4 | Toy Story (1995) to Lamp Life (2020) |
| Estelle Harris | Mrs. Potato Head | 4 | Toy Story 3 (2010) to Partysaurus Rex (2012) |
| Timothy Dalton | Mr. Pricklepants | 4 | Hawaiian Vacation (2011) to Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014) |
| Lori Alan | Bonnie's Mom / Bonnie's mom | 4 | Partysaurus Rex (2012) to Toy Story 5 (2026) |
| Wayne Knight | Al McWhiggin / Evil Emperor Zurg | 3 | Toy Story 2 (1999) to Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000) |
| Peter Sohn | Recycle Ben / Transitron | 3 | Small Fry (2011) to Lightyear (2022) |
Toy Story directors and creators
11 filmmakers have directed or created Toy Story; Angus MacLane has the most, with 3.
- Angus MacLaneSmall Fry (2011), Toy Story of Terror! (2013), and Lightyear (2022)
- John LasseterToy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999)
- Tad StonesBuzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000)
- Lee UnkrichToy Story 3 (2010)
- Gary RydstromHawaiian Vacation (2011)
- Mark A. WalshPartysaurus Rex (2012)
- Steve PurcellToy Story That Time Forgot (2014)
- Josh CooleyToy Story 4 (2019)
- Bob PetersonForky Asks a Question (2019)
- Valerie LaPointeLamp Life (2020)
- Andrew StantonToy Story 5 (2026)
How long it takes to watch every Toy Story movie
All 15 titles add up to 35 hours: 12 hours of film and 23 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 18 two-hour evenings, or 4 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 10 hours. The longest film is Lightyear at 1h 45m.
The 4 best rated films: Toy Story, Toy Story 3, Toy Story 2, and Toy Story 4.
Everything takes about 6 weeks; the essentials about 2 weeks.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which Toy Story movies can you skip?
7 titles can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 25 hours.
- Hawaiian Vacation2011 · Film · 7m · optionalA short: Ken and Barbie miss their Hawaii trip, so the toys stage one in Bonnie's house.
- Small Fry2011 · Film · 7m · optionalA short: a kids' meal Buzz takes Buzz's place, and Buzz lands in a support group for discarded toys.
- Partysaurus Rex2012 · Film · 7m · optionalA short: Rex throws a bathtub rave for Bonnie's bath toys to prove he is not a party pooper.
- Forky Asks a Question2019 · Series · 1h 20m · optionalTen short Disney+ episodes where Forky asks the other toys to explain everyday ideas.
- Lamp Life2020 · Film · 7m · optionalA short: Bo Peep tells Woody what happened to her between Andy's house and the antique shop.
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins2000 · Film · 1h 10m · optionalThe cartoon Buzz Lightyear is based on, in a direct-to-video film that launches the series.
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command2000 · Series · 21h 42m · optionalOne season of 62 episodes following Buzz and his rookie crew against Emperor Zurg.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Toy Story movies in?
Watch Toy Story in release order: Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010), Toy Story 4 (2019) and Toy Story 5 (2026). The Toy Story Toons shorts and the specials Toy Story of Terror! and Toy Story That Time Forgot fit between 3 and 4. Lightyear (2022) is the film Andy saw in 1995, so it can go first.
How many Toy Story movies and shows are there?
There are 15 titles in the Toy Story franchise: 13 films and 2 series, released from 1995 to 2026.
How long does it take to watch all the Toy Story movies?
About 35 hours for all 15 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (8 titles) take about 10 hours.
What is the first Toy Story title in chronological order?
Lightyear, set in The film Andy saw. In release order the first is Toy Story (1995).
Which Toy Story titles can I skip?
Hawaiian Vacation, Small Fry, Partysaurus Rex, Forky Asks a Question, Lamp Life, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the best Toy Story movie?
By IMDb score, Toy Story (1995) at 8.3, followed by Toy Story 3 at 8.3.
What is the highest-grossing Toy Story movie?
Toy Story 5 (2026), with $1.15 billion worldwide. Toy Story films have made $4.41 billion in total.
Who has appeared in the most Toy Story movies?
Tim Allen, in 11 of them as Buzz Lightyear.
What is the longest Toy Story movie?
Lightyear, at 1h 45m.
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