Toy Storyhas long been regarded as one of the best animated films ever made, with its original release worldwide box office gross exceeding the film’s production budget by 800% (viaBox Office Mojo). TheToy Storyfranchise benefited fromPixar’s focus on sequelsin the coming years, with three additional and equally successfulToy Storyfilms being made between 1999 and 2019, and aToy Story 5releaseon the way in 2026. This animated franchise features the voices of Tom Hanks as Woody, the pull-string toy cowboy, and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, the superhero space ranger action figure.
The popularity of theToy Storyfranchise stems from many different factors, including its all-star cast, its status as the first-ever computer animated feature film, and its brilliant use of slapstick, wordplay, and situational humor. Yet the cleverToy StoryEaster eggs, however, are perhaps the franchise’s most successful running gag, witheachToy Storyfilm sneaking in clever references to popular movies, ranging fromThe Lion Kingto Alfred Hitchcock’sVertigo.
10Jurassic Park
Toys In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear
Jurassic Park(1993)is one of the most well-loved sci-fi films of all time, and its franchise has achieved great success with five additional films released between 1997 and 2022 and another on its way in July 2025. Steven Spielberg’s dinosaur masterpiece heralded groundbreaking advancements in the use of CGI, and the originalToy Storysequel’s reference to this a few years later is perhaps a nod toToy Story’s own status as the first computer-animated movie.
1995
$30,000,000
$191,796,233
$244,660,876
8.3/10
100%
10/10
1999
$90,000,000
$245,852,179
$487,059,677
7.9/10
2010
$200,000,000
$415,004,880
$1,066,969,703
98%
9/10
2019
$434,038,008
$1,073,394,593
7.6/10
97%
8/10
Toy Story 2had just the right opportunity to sneak in aJurassic ParkEaster egg given the character of Rex (Wallace Michael Shawn), a green dinosaur. As an epic chase occurs in a toy car, Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) looks into the rearview mirror to see Rex in hot pursuit.ThisToy Storyscene is a direct reference to the moment inJurassic Parkwhen Ellie Sattler and Iam Malcom spot the T-Rex in the Jeep’s mirror,which chillingly reads: “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.”
9The Shining
Sid’s Overlook Hotel Carpet, Room 237, Mr. Tony The Janitor, & “Here’s Benson!”
The Shining(1980), directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, has been cited as one of the best psychological horror films ever made. As such, it has been referenced heavily in pop culture at large, and theToy Storyfranchise is no exception. The original film,Toy Story 3,andToy Story 4all make nods to this horror classic, and not just with the infamous “Here’s Johnny!” reference.
Toy Story 5’s Confirmed Villain Continues An Odd Trend That Even Pixar’s Most Divisive Movie Included
Although there are still a lot of unanswered questions about Toy Story 5’s plot, Pixar has made it clear who will be the movie’s bad guy(s).
In the 1995 film,the carpet in Sid’s (Erik Von Detten) house is the same as that fromThe Shining’s Overlook Hotel.Later, theToy Story 3janitor at Sunnyside is named after Danny Torrance’s imaginary friend, Mr. Tony, and the number 237 appears multiple times in reference to Room 237 at the Overlook, where Danny is attacked by an old woman. TheToy Story 4ventriloquist dummies, the Bensons (Steve Purcell), are also a visual reference to Lloyd the Bartender, and the closing song fromThe Shiningplays as a Benson pushes the pram.
8The Wizard Of Oz
We Need More (Flying) Monkeys
The 1939 fantasy musicalThe Wizard of Ozis, unsurprisingly, yet another film referenced by theToy Storyfranchise to have a major “first,” to be made in technicolor. The movie famously features the Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys.While they don’t fly like the ones employed by the Wicked Witch of the West, the plastic monkeys act as evil minions throughout theToy Storyfranchise,and occasionally as a way for the toys to climb out of windows. Such a scene contains one of the mostmemorableToy Storyquotes:
Slinky: “We need more monkeys!”
Rex: “There aren’t anymore — that’s the whole barrel!”
— Toy Story (1995)
The barrel of monkeys is seen in the opening ofToy Story 3in an epic showdown between Woody and the Evil Dr. Porkchop (the alter ego of piggy bank Hamm, voiced by Jon Ratzenberger). Later in the film, Slinky Dog (Jim Varney) and the gang use the chain of linked monkeys to try to rescue Buzz from Andy’s bedroom window, leading to the famous shortage. Also in the originalToy Story, Woody referencesThe Wizard of Ozwhen he repeatedly says “There’s no place like home,” thinking he has found an escape from Sid’s house.
7The Exorcist
The supernatural horror filmThe Exorcistwas initially met with mixed critical reviews but maintained its status as the highest-grossing horror movie for an impressive 44 years until the release of the Andy Muschietti remake of Stephen King’sItin 2017. Despite the critical response to the film,The Exorcistwas followed by several sequel films between 1977 and 2023, as well as a two-season TV series in 2016.
While it may be an unexpected inclusion for a children’s film,The Exorcistdoes have an easily recognizable Easter egginToy Story,which occurs when the toys unite to scare away Sid. As this toy-abusing terror picks up Woody, the cowboy’s head spins in a circle in a direct reference to Regan’s famousThe Exorcisthead-spinning scene — and, as many have pointed out, potentially unfairly scarring Sid for life.
6Monsters, Inc.
The Cleaner’s Handful Of Eyeballs & Jessie The Cowgirl Doll
The Pixar animated filmMonsters, Inc.(2001), directed by Pete Docter, featured voices by such A-list actors as Billy Crystal and John Goodman. The movie was met with high praise and enjoyed a lucrative box office run. Taking up the torch of advancement in animation afterToy Story,Monsters, Inc.boasted cutting-edge animation for its time. Given the timeline,it is possible thatMonsters,Inc.is referencingToy Storywith the following Easter eggs and not the other way around,but it is well-known thatPixar often uses Easter eggs to tease future films.
In a classic montage-style scene inToy Story 2, an eccentric toy repairman fixes up Woody, bringing him back to mint condition. As the cleaner works out of his tool chest, one of the drawers he rummages through is seen to be full of false eyes. InMonsters, Inc., Scare Floor monster Theodore Paulley is seen taking a handful of identical eyeballs and pressing them into his (previously eye-less) face. Furthermore,“Boo” has a Jessie doll in her room— Andy himself also has a hat identical to Jessie’s in the firstToy Story, before the character’s introduction.
5Cars 2
Lightning McQueen Shirt & Finn McMissile Poster
Cars2, a Pixar film also directed by John Lassiter, is one of three films in theCarsfranchise. The second film and overall series feature an all-star cast typical of Pixar, including greats like Michael Caine, Suzy Eddie Izzard, John Turturro, Tony Shalhoub, and, of course, Owen Wilson as the film’s main character, the race car Lightning McQueen. The originalCarsmovie was one of many films in Pixar’s long streak of blockbuster hits released in the early 2000s and contains many Easter eggs in its own right.
Cars 2is directly referenced inToy Story 3:the third film seesAndy from the originalToy Storypreparing to head off to college, and as Woody surveys the teenager’s bedroom, a poster of theCars 2character Finn McMissile can be seen hanging over Andy’s bed. The blue 1965 Fautless GT is a British spy in the sophomoreCarsinstallment. Another reference occurs when a Sunnyside Daycare child can be seen wearing a shirt with Lightning McQueen’s number/logo.Toy Story 3’s 2010 andCars 2’s 2011 release dates mean these are more Easter eggs teasing upcoming Pixar productions.
4Raiders Of The Lost Ark
The Iconic Boulder Scene
The 1981 Spielberg classicIndiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Arkkicked off another one of the most successful action franchises of all time, spanning 42 years and four sequel films.Raiders of the Lost Arkalso won an impressive five Academy Awards and was the highest-grossing movie of 1981 at a cool domestic gross of $212 million — nearly as much asToy Story14 years later.
Shortly beforeBuzz Lightyear battles Emperor Zurg(Andrew Stanton)in the opening ofToy Story 2, there is a visual allusion to the boulder scene from the opening ofRaiders of the Lost Ark. Buzz flees frantically down the hallway as metal spikes hurtle towards him.This is the secondIndiana Jonesboulder scene reference to be made in theToy Storyfranchise, with the first involving a falling book topplinga world globe that rolls perilously after Buzz in the first installment.
32001: A Space Odyssey
The Famous Hallway Shot & Richard Strauss' “Also Sprach Zarathustra”
2001: A Space Odysseywas released in 1968 by director Stanley Kubrick. The epic sci-fi was lauded for its groundbreaking visual and special effects, as well as its exploration of classic sci-fi themes like artificial intelligence, extraterrestrial life, and the advancement of the human race. The movie’s legendary status means that almost any new property with sci-fi elements references it at some point, and the lore surrounding Buzz Lightyear the space ranger is no exception.
Toy Story 2references2001: A Space Odysseyvia theimagery of the stark hexagonal corridorthrough which Buzz flees the metal spikes. When he emerges from the corridor, he must leap from one hovering platform to the next to make his way to his confrontation with the Evil Emperor Zurg. This is one of the most brilliantmusical moments in theToy Storyfranchise: as Buzz lands on each of the hovering platforms, the opening notes of Richard Strauss' “Also sprach Zarathustra” are picked out, the famous theme music for2001: A Space Odyssey.
2Forrest Gump
“I May Not Be A Smart Man”
The Robert Zemeckis filmForrest Gumpwas released in 1994 to great critical acclaim, winning six Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Tom Hanks, and generally rising to become one of the best motion pictures of all time. As Tom Hanks also stars in all theToy Storyfilms, theirForrest GumpEaster eggs are all the more meta and expected. First,Toy Story 2briefly references the opening scenes ofForrest Gumpwith the falling of a feather,as Buzz chases after a car to rescue Woody.
Lightyear: 10 Other Toy Story Toys That Deserve A Spin-Off
While Buzz Lightyear is the first Pixar space ranger to get an origin story, what Toy Story friend could we see next?
Later, though it is a brief and subtle reference, the film also riffs off on a touchingForrest Gumpquote as themainToy Storycharactersprepare to cross a busy street. In this scene, Slinky Dog protests Buzz’s proposed plan, turning to him to say: “I’m not a smart dog, but I know what roadkill is.“This is a variation of Forrest’s heartbreaking confrontation with Jenny, in which he says: “I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is.”
1Star Wars
Buzz Lightyear In Carbonite, “I Am Your Father,” & Other Star Wars Quotes & Imagery
The legendary George Lucas filmStar Wars: A New Hopewas released in 1977, leading to many references, influences, and Easter eggs throughout pop culture.Of the many Easter eggs within theToy Storyfranchise,Star Warsis easily the most heavily referenced,as it becomes clear that the Buzz Lightyear-Zurg-space ranger canon is something of a spoof onStar Warsin this world. For example, in the first movie, Buzz reveals that he believes he is carrying vital information to combat a weapon that can destroy entire planets.
Toy Story: Is Zurg Really Buzz’s Father?
Zurg confessed to Utility Belt Buzz in Toy Story 2 that he was his father, but is that actually the case?
More notably, one ofBuzz Lightyear’s bestscenes quotesThe Empire Strikes Backwhen Zurg says: “I am your father.“InToy Story, Sid also asks Woody, “Where are your rebel friends now?”, stealing Grand Moff Tarkin’s line fromA New Hope. While theseStar WarsEaster eggs may be common knowledge, one in particular is especially ironic. When Buzz battles Emperor Zurg in the opening ofToy Story 2, Zurg’s energy gun blasts the space ranger in half, mimicking the injury Darth Maul sustains inThe Phantom Menace,which came out the same year as theToy Storysequel.
Toy Story
Cast
Toy Story is a 1995 animated feature from Pixar Animation Studios. It follows Woody, a cowboy doll, as he faces rivalry with new toy Buzz Lightyear. The film explores the dynamics between the toys as Woody and Buzz are inadvertently separated from their owner, embarking on a journey to return home.
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2, released in 1999, is the sequel to the beloved original, where Woody is kidnapped by toy collector Al McWhiggen, prompting a rescue mission by Andy’s toys. As the toys embark on this adventure, Buzz Lightyear encounters a formidable counterpart, and Woody faces decisions about his true place in the world.
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 continues the beloved animated series, reuniting Woody, Buzz, and the gang as they face new challenges when they are mistakenly sent to a daycare center. With Andy headed to college, the toys must collaborate to navigate the perils of their new environment and find their way back.
Toy Story 4
Toy Story 4 is part of Pixar’s animated franchise, where Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks, embarks on a road trip with old and new friends. As Bonnie introduces Forky, an unconventional toy, Woody navigates the challenges of his evolving role while exploring the wider world beyond Andy and Bonnie.
