Summary

• Stinky Pete's warning in Toy Story 2 foreshadowed the plot of Toy Story 3, proving his fears were justified.
• Stinky Pete's destiny aligns with his ominous predictions, potentially setting the stage for a return in Toy Story 5.
• Toy Story 5 is set for a 2026 release, and Stinky Pete's potential reunion with Woody would be a good addition to the next installment.

Despite the 11-year gap between Toy Story ending is essentially a closed book, with the continuation of the story being seemingly optional. As such, it becomes even sneakier that a Toy Story 2 character gave the game away for a key Toy Story 3 moment.

Even the evilest Toy Story villains tend to have understandable motives, with the arguable exception of the immeasurably cruel Sid Philips. This means it can be easy to see where the logic of the franchise's bad guys comes from. Toy Story 2 begins the larger story arc of what life might be like for Andy's toys once their owner grows up, so it's a seminal entry in the Toy Story universe. However, what's surprising about Toy Story 2 is the ominous foreshadowing displayed by its antagonist.

Stinky Pete's Toy Story 2 Prediction Almost Came True In Toy Story 3

Stinky Pete's frantic rant at the airport in Toy Story 2 is a rough summary of Toy Story 3's plot

Toy Story 2's surprising villain meets a comedic ending when he's deprived of his museum destiny and delivered to an ill-suited new owner. Gags aside, Stinky Pete becomes enraged when Woody is rescued by Buzz Lightyear and the rest of Andy's toys. While being held aloft by Buzz, Stinky Pete declares: "Idiots! Children destroy toys! You'll all be ruined! Forgotten! Spending eternity rotting in some landfill!" Woody and the gang dismiss Stinky Pete's ominous prediction and simply send him to his new home. However, Stinky Pete's rant outlines almost the entire plot of Toy Story 3.

Over a decade after Toy Story 2, the following movie catches up with a roomful of forgotten toys, desperate to be played with. In addition, their imprisonment at Sunnyside Daycare Center also results in the toys being damaged daily before Woody returns to free them. Finally, when the escape plan goes awry, Andy's toys do indeed find themselves at the Tri-County Landfill in Toy Story 3. If it hadn't been for the Potato Heads' surrogate children swooping in to save the day, Stinky Pete's prophecy would have been impossible to refute.

Toy Story 3 Proves Stinky Pete's Fears Were Justified

Toy Story 2's bad guy was right to be afraid

Stinky Pete comes across as bitter and paranoid, but is simply hiding his sadness caused by, "Spending a lifetime on a dime store shelf watching every other toy be sold." Being owned by Al may not be the fate Stinky Pete dreamed of, but his status as a valued piece of history comes in as a close second. As such, it would make sense that he would make wild, loaded predictions to get Woody to change his mind about abandoning their pilgrimage to Japan. Somewhat surprisingly, it turned out that Stinky Pete's fraught arguments were more valid than anyone realized.

Given that Stinky Pete's prediction from Toy Story 2 almost paid off, a reunion between Woody and his former enemy would be a brilliant addition to the story for Toy Story 5.

With Stinky Pete's Tokyo destiny derailed, Toy Story 2's ending likely sent its villain on the same path he had just described to his adversaries. This is made especially likely by Stinky Pete's new owner labeling him a "Big ugly man doll," so her ownership of the Woody's Roundup side character could have been a short-lived affair. So, Stinky Pete's trip to the landfill may have come much sooner than Andy's toys', especially with his history as a former shelf-warmer.

It Would Make Sense For Stinky Pete To Return In Toy Story 5

Woody could show Stinky Pete that not having an owner isn't the worst thing in the world

Given that Stinky Pete's prediction from Toy Story 2 almost paid off, a reunion between Woody and his former enemy would be a brilliant addition to the Woody's destiny at the end of Toy Story 4.

Woody has now been forgotten by Bonnie as well as being left behind by Andy, but he has found new life with Bo Peep as a Lost Toy. So, a reunion with an abandoned Stinky Pete would allow Woody to prove that being forgotten doesn't need to be the end of the line. Stinky Pete's journey from the end of Toy Story 2 through Toy Story 3 and 4 has likely been a tumultuous one, but Woody bringing him back into the fold in the next film could finally close a decades-old loop.

The first four Toy Story movies are all available to stream on Disney+. Toy Story 5 is scheduled for cinematic release on June 19, 2026.