Pixar’s biggest and most popular franchise is Toy Story franchise is now expanding with a fifth movie, to be released in 2026.

What’s known about the Toy Story 4, but at the same time, the saga had already had a supposed end in Toy Story 3. On the bright side, thanks to this expansion, the saga’s most controversial movie can now get the recognition it deserves.

Toy Story 5 Happening Means Toy Story 4 Can Be Better Appreciated

Toy Story 4 Has Some Bad Reputation

Directed by Josh Cooley, Toy Story 4 was released in 2019, nine years after the third movie. Toy Story 4 catches up with Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toys as they adapt to life with their new owner, Bonnie. However, this new dynamic isn’t sitting well with Woody, who feels left out as Bonnie prefers other toys over him. When Bonnie’s family goes on a road trip and she takes all her toys, Woody reunites with Bo Peep (Annie Potts) and gets a new perspective on life, especially now that Andy has grown up and left.

It became the most controversial movie in the saga as it felt like a weird (and, to some, unnecessary) continuation after Toy Story 3’s ending.

Despite being the lowest-rated movie in the Toy Story franchise with 97%, Toy Story 4 was a critical success and an even bigger box office one, grossing $1.074 billion and becoming the highest-grossing movie in the franchise. However, it became the most controversial movie in the saga as it felt like a weird (and, to some, unnecessary) continuation after Toy Story 3’s ending. Even if Toy Story 4 couldn’t match the popularity of its predecessors, it’s still a fun, heartwarming, and visually stunning movie.

With Toy Story 5 officially happening, Toy Story 4 can shake off the label of the saga’s weirdest and/or most controversial movie, as it’s not the one to blame for not honoring Toy Story 3’s ending, as the franchise doesn’t show any signs of stopping soon. Toy Story 5 could make way for even more movies, putting Toy Story 4 in a new light.

Toy Story 4’s Biggest Problem Was “Ruining” Toy Story 3’s Perfect Ending

Toy Story 3 Was The Perfect Ending To The Franchise

Toy Story 4 isn’t bad at all and its numbers everywhere prove it – its problem was Toy Story 3’s ending. Toy Story 3 arrived 11 years after Toy Story 2 and answered some big questions, mostly about what would happen to Woody and company once Andy grew up. As Andy prepares to go to college, the toys are accidentally donated to Sunnyside Daycare, where they endure a rough playtime with toddlers, while Woody is taken home by Bonnie. After meeting villain Lotso, the toys almost meet their end at a garbage incinerator but ultimately make it back to Andy’s home.

One of its most praised elements was its ending, giving perfect closure to the saga – that is, until Toy Story 4 arrived.

Finally understanding the changes that their history with Andy has gone through and that they all need to move on, Woody writes a note to Andy that he assumes is from his mother and decides to donate the toys to Bonnie. Toy Story 3 was a huge critical and commercial success, and one of its most praised elements was its ending, giving perfect closure to the saga – that is, until Toy Story 4 arrived.

Toy Story 4 was named “unnecessary” and believed to have ruined Toy Story 3’s perfect ending, and as such, it was never given a chance to be judged by its own merits. With Toy Story 5 happening and the franchise potentially continuing to expand after that, Toy Story 4 can finally be looked at as its own thing rather than the movie that ruined Toy Story 3’s ending.

Toy Story 4 Will Continue To Age Well (Especially After Toy Story 5 Comes Out)

Toy Story 4 Has A Brighter Future Ahead

The Toy Story franchise continuing to expand with a new movie will benefit Toy Story 4 no matter how the fifth movie performs. By simply being confirmed, Toy Story 5 is giving Toy Story 4 the attention it deserves, and the latter’s legacy won’t be badly affected by the former’s performance. If Toy Story 5 is the success it’s expected to be (simply by being a Toy Story movie and a Pixar production), Toy Story 4 will be the one responsible as it brought the franchise back to life, thus making way for the fifth movie.

If Toy Story 5 isn’t as good as expected, it will prompt more nostalgia for Toy Story 4, allowing the audience to finally see it in a different light. Toy Story 4’s biggest ally now is time, and the more the Toy Story franchise expands with movies, the more appreciated it can be for what it is rather than for not “respecting” the third movie’s ending.