‘Toy Story’ 5 Streaming Release Date Confirmed with Taylor Swift Surprise
Pixar’s fifth installment in its iconic franchise has already made waves even before its theatrical run concluded, and now the studio is providing fans with a definitive timeline for when they can enjoy this record-breaking success from the comfort of their homes. Few franchises generate the same level of excitement for a streaming debut, and this one is no different.
‘Toy Story 5’ premiered in theaters on June 19, raking in an impressive $160,000,000 during its domestic opening weekend, marking the second-best debut ever for an animated film in the U.S., surpassed only by Pixar’s own ‘Incredibles 2.’ The film has since grossed over $1,130,000,000 worldwide, becoming the third ‘Toy Story’ film to surpass the billion-dollar milestone, following 2010’s ‘Toy Story 3.’
Fans can now mark their calendars, as Disney has confirmed that ‘Toy Story 5’ will start streaming exclusively on Disney+ on September 23, just one day after it becomes available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 22.
The film follows Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of the gang as their sense of purpose is challenged by the introduction of Lilypad, a new tablet device that brings its own disruptive ideas about what’s best for their kid, Bonnie. This toy-versus-tech storyline has resonated strongly with both critics and audiences during its theatrical run, contributing to the franchise’s cumulative worldwide gross exceeding $3,300,000,000 across all five films.
In conjunction with the streaming announcement, Disney unveiled a new piano rendition of Taylor Swift’s original song for the film, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” now available for streaming on Disney+, Spotify, and Apple Music, accompanied by footage from the movie. The track, co-written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, became a chart-topping success following the film’s June release, and its official soundtrack will be released on CD and vinyl on September 25, just two days after the movie’s streaming debut.
‘Toy Story 5’ continues the franchise’s remarkable tradition of retaining much of its original voice cast over three decades, with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack reprising their roles. The film is directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Kenna Harris, with Stanton also credited for the story that Harris helped adapt into the screenplay.
Once it arrives on the platform, ‘Toy Story 5’ will join Disney+’s existing ‘Toy Story’ Collection, a franchise that already holds the title of the most-watched film series on the service, having accumulated over 2,000,000,000 hours streamed to date. Given the film’s strong theatrical performance, that number is expected to rise even further once the new installment becomes available.
The timing of the release also works in the film’s favor, arriving with little direct competition from other major animated streaming releases in the weeks surrounding its debut. This should provide ‘Toy Story 5’ ample opportunity to dominate Disney+’s daily charts as it settles into its new home.
For a franchise built on nostalgia and heart, ‘Toy Story 5’s’ streaming debut feels like a natural progression in a saga that has already proven that these beloved toys still have plenty of life left in them.
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