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Toy Story 2

Toy Story 2

The toys are back!

199992 minGMidcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Directors
John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Starring
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer

Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggen, owner of Al's Toy Barn kidnaps Woody. Andy's toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear meets his match and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Toy Story 2?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Toy Story 2 streaming on Disney+ and Hulu and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Toy Story 2?

Toy Story 2 earns 10 badges, led by Stood the test of time and Top 5% of films.

Show 2 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content

Reception

Is Toy Story 2 worth watching?

Toy Story 2's Midcredits score is the 98th percentile of all films, from 2.5M ratings across 6 sources. 88% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

98th percentile

Better received than 98% of films

96th percentile among Animation98th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)96th
Approval (how many liked it)97th

80 /100

96th percentile of all films

96th percentile among Animation98th percentile among 1990s

Critics 88 · Audience 79

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

88% liked it

97th percentile of all films

96th percentile among Animation97th percentile among 1990s
88% rated it 7–1012% rated it 1–6

Critics 100% · Audience 87%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 1 Oscar noms · 20 wins / 27 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Music, Original Song
  • WonGolden Globes· Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

99th percentile

2.5M ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Animation99th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$90M
Opening weekend$300K
Domestic gross$246M
Worldwide gross$497M

Returned 5.5× its budget — 96th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A sequel that expands the Toy Story world with new characters and bigger adventures, though opinions split on whether its deeper emotional themes and faster pace improve upon the original or dilute its charm.

Fans praised

  • Emotionally resonant themes of abandonment, growing up, and loyalty hit hard in Jessie's backstory and Woody's dilemma
  • Expanded universe with clever new characters (Jessie, Bullseye, Stinky Pete) and witty pop-culture parodies (Star Wars, Jurassic Park)
  • Improved animation with vivid detail, polished effects, and spectacular action sequences (traffic-cone road crossing, airport finale)

Detractors panned

  • Plot rehashes the original's rescue formula with less freshness and a bloated, less focused structure
  • Jessie's constant screeching and the overly sentimental song 'When She Loved Me' feel manipulative and tonally jarring
  • Too many lazy pop-culture references and implausible sequences (Bullseye outrunning a plane) break the series' grounded rules

What stands out

Effects and spectacleDivisive88

Major leap in CGI quality; airport chase, traffic-cone sequence, and Zurg confrontations are highlights

Emotional impactDivisive85

Jessie's abandonment montage consistently cited as tear-jerking; detractors see it as manipulative and overdone

ActingDivisive85

Hanks and Allen deliver strong chemistry again; new voices (Cusack, Grammer, Knight) praised by fans but criticized by some for grating or underutilized performances

CharactersDivisive82

Jessie and Stinky Pete deepen the franchise's emotional stakes; detractors find new additions annoying or unnecessary

HumorDivisive78

Broad slapstick and adult-targeted parodies land well; detractors find jokes forced or too reliant on nostalgia-bait

Sound and musicDivisive78

Randy Newman's score and Sarah McLachlan's 'When She Loved Me' praised for emotional impact; critics call it over-sentimental

Plot and storyDivisive65

Rescue mission structure seen as a rehash; themes of abandonment and purpose elevate it for many but feel unearned to detractors

OriginalityDivisive52

Seen as a safe but effective expansion of the first film's world; detractors call it derivative and formulaic

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 8 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 1 point apart
  • Critics vs users 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is Toy Story 2 like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle and funny and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
HopefulMelancholicTriumphant
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
WarmAdventurous · 11% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its toy-world emotions and adventure straight, with warmth and affection, while allowing playful humour and a touch of melancholy.
The rideThe middle section, where Woody wrestles with abandonment and decides to stay with Jessie and Pete, has the most emotional weight.
StructureThe story follows a conventional beginning-middle-end structure: Woody is taken, the toys plan and execute a rescue, and they return home.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film ends with Woody home, Andy happy, and the toys together, leaving a warm, uplifting impression.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestRescue
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% (this title) · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Rescue: Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).

10% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeWoody is stolen by a greedy collector, and Buzz Lightyear leads a team of toys on a mission to rescue him before he is shipped to a museum in Japan.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4% (this title)
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Friendship · 9% of filmsPurpose · 9% of filmsLoyalty · 4% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores what it means to belong to someone and to a community, weighing eternal preservation against the messy joy of being loved and played with.
StanceThe film celebrates friendship and the value of being loved over preservation, affirming a toy's true purpose is to be played with.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticUrbanIn transitStylized realism
Orchestral classicalFolkForeground music · original score · Randy Newman
SettingA suburban American home, a collector's high-rise apartment, and an airport in the late 1990s.
MusicThe score includes the Oscar-nominated song 'When She Loved Me,' which underscores Jessie's backstory, and a playful Western theme for Woody's Roundup.

Content guide

Is Toy Story 2 okay for kids?

G

Toy Story 2 is rated G. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (28/100), sexual content at minimal (13/100), language at minimal (9/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (6/100) and frightening material at mild (30/100). Overall it is heavier than 25% of G-rated films.

Ratings in 25 other countries
  • UKU
  • CanadaG
  • AustraliaG
  • Germany0
  • FranceTP
  • IrelandG
  • JapanG
  • South KoreaALL
  • BrazilL
  • Belgium12
  • BGB
  • CzechiaU
  • Denmark7
  • FinlandK-6-4
  • Hong KongI
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoAA
  • NetherlandsAL
  • Norway6
  • PortugalM/6
  • ROAP
  • SpainAi
  • Sweden7
  • Switzerland12
  • Taiwan0+
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 3% of all filmsHeavier than 25% of G-rated films
Violence & Gore
Mild
typical for a G-rated film
heavier than 37%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
typical for a G-rated film
heavier than 37%
Profanity
None / Minimal
typical for a G-rated film
heavier than 36%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
light for a G-rated film
heavier than 13%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
typical for a G-rated film
heavier than 30%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is frightening material, heavier than 30% of G-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Toy Story 2 have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Toy Story 2?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Tom Hanks
as Woody
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Tim Allen
as Buzz Lightyear
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Joan Cusack
as Jessie
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kelsey Grammer
as Prospector
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Don Rickles
as Mr. Potato Head
Jim Varney
as Slinky Dog
Wallace Shawn
as Rex
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
John Ratzenberger
as Hamm
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Annie Potts
as Bo Peep
Wayne Knight
as Al McWhiggin

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Toy Story 2?

Movies like Toy Story 2 include Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 3 (2010) and Monsters, Inc. (2001). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films written by Andrew Stanton, and several are films about loyalty.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

10 of these 12 share its subject: friendship. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Toy Story 2?

445 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: thief. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.