The internet has spoken, and for once, it might not be wrong.
A Reddit thread analyzing critical reception across film franchises has determined that Toy Story is the greatest-reviewed series of all time, with the original trilogy averaging a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score and consistently stellar Metacritic ratings. Even Toy Story 4, the "controversial" one that some fans claim didn't need to exist, sits at 96% fresh.
Let's be honest: they're right.
Find me another franchise with at least three films that maintains that level of quality. I'll wait. The Godfather? Part III exists. The Lord of the Rings? Close, but the first film is 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight? Excellent argument, but too niche to count as blockbuster franchise filmmaking.
Toy Story did something almost impossible: it told a complete story across three films, stuck the landing, and then—against all odds—came back for a fourth installment that justified its own existence. That's not luck. That's Pixar at the height of its powers, refusing to coast on nostalgia or merchandising potential.
The original Toy Story (1995) invented modern CG animation and told a story about obsolescence and purpose that resonated with children and adults. Toy Story 2 (1999) went deeper, exploring what happens when toys outlive their purpose—a meditation on mortality disguised as a rescue adventure. Toy Story 3 (2010) made grown adults weep in theaters as Andy left for college and Woody, Buzz, and the gang faced their own mortality in an incinerator.
Each film earned its emotional beats. Nothing felt manipulative or unearned. And the animation improved with each installment while the storytelling remained laser-focused on character.
Toy Story 4 (2019) could have been a disaster—a cash grab sequel to a perfect trilogy. Instead, it gave Woody a genuine arc, explored his relationship with as equals, and asked whether purpose has to be defined by others or can be self-determined. It was weird, ambitious, and emotionally complex. Not everyone loved it, but it wasn't phoned in.
