Top 10 Amazing Moments from the Toy Story Trilogy

Opening with everyone’s favorite space ranger, the sequel to Pixar’s modern masterpiece beautifully draws us in with an interstellar setting, as Buzz makes a superhero-esque entrance onto the surface of a mysterious planet. After he encounters several unexpected dangers upon touchdown, we soon discover that he is in fact in search of the Evil Emperor Zurg’s hidden fortress and power source, the latter being of course a... double-A battery. Hahaha, get it? Once he confronts the villain several moments later, we see that Lightyear isn’t exactly cut out to be labeled one of Star Command’s finest. But don’t worry; he’s probably got a few lives remaining.

If Disney ever decides to open its own restaurant division, it’s a safe bet that one of their first ventures will be a fully equipped, out-of-this-world replica of “Pizza Planet.” While in pursuit of their owner Andy, Woody successfully cons Buzz into thinking that the arcade is a spaceport, which soon plays as a disadvantage when Buzz boards a rocket-shaped claw machine. When he encounters a pool of peaceful squeaky-toy aliens inside, the hope of returning home doesn’t seem so lost. Enter: the demented Sid, however, who - after successfully grabbing of one the aliens - goes for the space ranger action figure beneath it, taking a certain cowboy-doll right along with him.

Here’s the moment that makes you cling on to your childhood toys like they’re your own kids. Reminiscing about her original owner, Jessie allows audiences to stream through a collection of her memories with Emily. Acting as its own short film within the movie, this well-structured tale is beautifully synchronized with Randy Newman’s Oscar-nominated song; a signature Newman tune that is at once simple and fitting, and which features the vocal talents of Sarah McLachlan. As with all stories, this too has to end, and it just has to do so with a conclusion that’s guaranteed to make all of us sob our eyes out.

One of the things that makes “Toy Story 3” so great is the way it perfectly balances allusions to the previous films in the franchise while also telling its own original narrative. A classic example of this is the re-use of the movie parody opening as seen in our #10 pick. Screenwriter Michael Arndt cleverly trades in the stars of the final frontier for the sands of the western front. Featuring the toys as familiar heroes and villains from familiar stories with even more familiar dialogue, this opening plucks all the nostalgic heartstrings of longtime fans while also showing us the cinematic spectacle of Andy’s imagination.

The first Toy Story had no shortage of references to the pop-culture giants that came before it, particularly a little story that took place in a certain galaxy far, far away. It was therefore all the more fitting that the “Toy Story” writers chose to reference that same space opera’s own sequel in their sequel. After a brief confrontation atop an elevator shaft, the archenemies have a near-verbatim exchange that directly parallels another space hero and his half-machine father. Similarly to Anakin and Luke’s relationship, the connection between this father and son is later redeemed, but in a much funnier way that doesn’t involve Hayden Christensen’s force ghost.

Grown-ups in particular would do well to remember this sad scene, which perfectly captures the heartbreak of an excruciating epiphany. Though we can’t relate to Buzz’s downgrade from superhero to toy, we can certainly sympathize with his sudden identity crisis and the disheartening disappointment he’s undergoing. Just as painful is his last-ditch effort to prove that he’s something much more, which leads him to meet the same fate as Icarus. Depressing though it is, at least it’s followed-up with this much more relatable comic-relief moment. Tea, yeah, sure… that’s what the writers are referring to.

Taking place during the film’s third act just moments after their half-successful escape from Sunnyside Daycare, this scene sees Andy’s toys unavoidably pushed onto the incinerator belt at a garbage dump. After rescuing the story’s main antagonist from the shredding midway point, Lotso Bear - surprise-surprise - refuses to return the favor, leaving Woody and friends to slowly descend into the inferno. After the friends lock hands in what they accept as their final moments, a sudden floodlight flashes from above, dropping an unrecognizable silhouette over our doomed toy friends. But soon the toys are lifted away from the blaze, as it’s made apparent that none other than “the clawwwwwwww” – controlled by the Potato Heads’ adopted alien children – has come to save the day.

Desperate to catch up with their owner’s moving van, Woody foolishly lights up a rocket strapped onto Buzz’s back - courtesy of Sid – which seems like a good idea, until… After the pair is blasted down the road and into the sky, Buzz activates his wings to free them from the explosion, leading the buddies on the flight of their life. Making this moment even more special is Buzz’s callback to earlier in the film, and to a line originally exclaimed by Woody in objection to Buzz’s status as a real space ranger. It discreetly showcases Buzz’s joyful acceptance of his standing as a toy, leading Woody to fully embrace his new friend with a borrowed line of his own.

Looks can be deceiving. This is something Woody learns the hard way when he and Buzz first encounter Sid’s mutilated toys. Then again, how would you react if you saw these... playthings? Upon learning that these poor plastic souls are actually good guys, Woody enlists every last one of them for perhaps the best part-rescue, part-sabotage mission ever seen in a kids’ film. After escaping into the backyard from Sid’s stupid dog, the toys skedaddle to their new positions and play possum, waiting for Woody’s unmistakable go-ahead signal. The toys zombie-shuffle towards their disturbed owner, and the comeuppance is beautifully finished with a witty play on words from the would-be possessed cowboy doll.

Before we play-back our #1 pick, let’s have a look at a few honorable mentions:

Woody’s Roundup
“Toy Story 2” (1999)

Buzz Lightyear Al Rescate!
“Toy Story 3” (2010)

Fashion Show
“Toy Story 3” (2010)

“Toy Story 3” was nominated for several Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay. If any moment sealed that deal, it was the ending. Catching Bonnie during playtime in her front yard, Andy gives each of his toy heroes a proper introduction as he hands them down to her. Though initially hesitant, he eventually passes on Woody, but not before having a final hurrah with Bonnie’s help. Acknowledging how real they were to him, Andy shows his toys a final bit of gratitude before driving off, with Woody closing this chapter of the toys’ lives with some simple, yet beautiful, words.

Do you agree with our list? Which Toy Story moment is your favorite? For more to infinity and beyond Top 10’s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.