Toy Story 5 Breaks A Longstanding Tradition
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- Hollywood & Entertainment Toy Story 5 Breaks A Longstanding Tradition By Hannah Abraham,
- Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: (L-R) Tom Hanks and Tim Allen attend the Toy Story 5 Los Angeles World Premiere at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on June 09, 2026.
Hollywood & Entertainment Toy Story 5 Breaks A Longstanding Tradition By Hannah Abraham,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hannah Abraham covers entertainment, culture and business.Follow Author Jun 20, 2026, 02:01pm EDTJun 20, 2026, 02:06pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Summary"Toy Story 5" has made franchise history by receiving a PG rating, a first for the main series after 31 years of G-rated films. The MPA cited "thematic elements and rude humor" for the change. The plot sees Bonnie, now eight, increasingly drawn to a smart tablet, Lilypad, challenging her traditional toys led by Jessie. The film features returning stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack, with new voices like Conan O’Brien. Notably, Taylor Swift performs an original country song, "I Knew It, I Knew You," marking her animated film debut. Critically, it holds 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest for the main series, but achieved a record 95% audience score, praised for its emotional depth and exploration of generational shifts.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: (L-R) Tom Hanks and Tim Allen attend the Toy Story 5 Los Angeles World Premiere at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on June 09, 2026. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Disney)Getty Images for DisneyFor 31 years, every film in Pixar’s flagship franchise carried the same rating: G, for General Audiences. Five films and three decades after the original Toy Story redefined animated filmmaking, that streak is over. In a franchise first, Toy Story 5, which opened in theaters June 19, has been rated PG by the Motion Picture Association.