When Quentin Tarantino, one of the most celebrated filmmakers of our time, says a film trilogy is “perfect,” you pay attention. Recently, on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, Tarantino shared his admiration for the Toy Story trilogy, particularly the emotional resonance of Toy Story 3, which he calls “devastating.” However, despite his love for the first three films, Tarantino has refused to watch Toy Story 4, and he has his reasons.
Released in 2010, Toy Story 3 felt like the perfect conclusion to the beloved saga of Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang. Directed by Lee Unkrich and produced by Pixar, the film grossed over $1 billion worldwide and earned critical acclaim, including two Academy Awards. Its ending, where the toys are passed on to a new child, left audiences in tears and gave the story a sense of closure that few trilogies achieve.
So, when Pixar announced Toy Story 4 in 2019, many, including Tarantino, were skeptical. For him, the trilogy’s conclusion was so well-crafted that a fourth installment felt unnecessary. As he put it, “You literally ended the story as perfect as you could, so no, I don’t care if it’s good—I’m done.”
Toy Story 4, directed by Josh Cooley, was a box office success, grossing over $1 billion, and it even won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Yet, for all its accolades, it lacked the emotional punch that made its predecessors so special. The narrative felt more like an epilogue than a continuation, with some critics arguing it was a commercial move rather than a creative necessity.
Tarantino’s stance raises an important question: Can a film series truly master the art of the trilogy, and should it end when the story feels complete? While Toy Story 4 introduced new characters and adventures, many fans agree with Tarantino that the original trilogy’s ending was “perfect.” Sometimes, leaving a story untouched is the best way to preserve its legacy.
As we look forward to Toy Story 5, the question remains—should some stories be left as they are, or is there always room for more?
