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Credit: Inside the Magic
For the first time in the three-decade-long history of Toy Story (1995), a mainline installment in the Pixar film franchise has been given a PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) rating instead of a G (General Audiences). The Motion Picture Association (MPA) published its decision about Toy Story 5 (2026) on Monday.
Toy Story 5 (2026) Gets PG Rating
On April 27, the Motion Picture Association announced that it had rated Toy Story 5 a PG rating for “Parental Guidance Suggested.” The general guidelines on the MPA website list the following guidelines for PG-rated films:
“Generally, violence is mild in nature. May include pushing and shoving, fist fights or brawls. Violence may be cartoonish, comedic or slapstick, or fantasy-like. If weapons are used, they are usually unrealistic (i.e. laser guns, glowing swords, magical powers etc.). If guns are present, they are used infrequently and, generally, bullet impacts to characters will not be observed on screen. Usually, there are no real details of lasting harm observed on-screen (i.e. no blood, visible wounds, characters dying onscreen).”
This is the first time that a mainline Toy Story franchise installment has been rated PG. Lightyear (2022), the spinoff/prequel film about the astronaut who inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy, is the only other related title to receive a PG rating from the MPA. Toy Story, Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010), and Toy Story 4 (2019) all received G ratings.
Is This A First for Pixar?
Although audiences largely consider Disney and Pixar titles among the most family-friendly content in theaters, several recent films with darker, more serious themes, like Lightyear, have received PG ratings from the MPA. They include: Inside Out (2015), Inside Out 2 (2024), Turning Red (2022), Up (2009), Luca (2021), The Incredibles (2004), Incredibles 2 (2018), Elemental (2023), Soul (2020), Elio (2025), Hoppers (2026), The Good Dinosaur (2015), Coco (2017), Brave (2012), and Finding Dory (2016).
Toy Story 4 is the most recent Pixar film to receive a G rating.
Buzz and Woody Back in Theaters
Toy Story 5 sees Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Woody (Tom Hanks), Jessie (Joan Cusack), and friends battle “what kids are obsessed with today….electronics!” The film also stars Greta Lee as the new character Lilypad and Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants. It premieres in theaters on June 19, 2026.
What do you think about the trailers for Toy Story 5? Share your opinion with Inside the Magic in the comments!
