Pixar is taking fans back to where it all started. Nearly 30 years after its release, Toy Story is heading back to theaters for one night only. The beloved animated classic that changed cinema forever will return to the big screen on September 12, giving audiences, especially younger fans, a rare chance to experience the film on the big screen as it was originally intended back in 1995.
The announcement came from Pixar’s official Instagram, complete with a new poster marking the milestone. The original Toy Story, directed by John Lasseter and co-written by Pete Docter and Andrew Stanton, was the world’s first fully computer-animated feature film and launched Pixar into the stratosphere of animation greatness.
When it premiered on November 22, 1995, Toy Story earned a solid $244.6 million globally, which was a strong debut for a groundbreaking film. What followed was nothing short of historic. The franchise grew into a cultural phenomenon, with Toy Story 2 grossing $487 million in 1999, Toy Story 3 hitting $1.06 billion in 2010, and Toy Story 4 topping that with $1.07 billion in 2019.
This isn’t the film’s first theatrical comeback. It returned to theaters in 2009, adding $41.2 million to its box office, and again in 2020 with a smaller re-release that brought in $767,913.
This new one-night-only event comes as Pixar works on Toy Story 5, scheduled to hit theaters on June 19, 2026. The fifth installment will be directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by McKenna Harris.
Returning cast members include Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, and Joan Cusack as Jessie, joined by Conan O’Brien as a new character named Smarty Pants and Ernie Hudson, who will voice Combat Carl.
The original film follows Woody as his status as Andy’s favorite toy is threatened by the flashy new space ranger, Buzz Lightyear, leading to an adventure that tests friendship and loyalty.
If you can’t make it to the theater, Toy Story and its sequels are available to stream on Disney+, as well as on Blu-ray and DVD. But if you want that nostalgic magic of the big screen, or to share it with a new generation, this is a great opportiunity!