6 Heartbreaking ‘Toy Story’ Scenes, Ranked

I don't remember the very first time I watched Toy Story (1995), but I remember how many times I obsessively rewatched it as a kid. I remember begging for a Woody doll, and I also remember involving him with all my Barbie dolls. (Yes, you read that correctly. He was my Ken doll.) There have been a number of remarkable Pixar movies that've left a mark, but the pivotal role that Toy Story's played in shaping so many of our childhoods is something that's also tethered to how heartbreaking it is, and how it's been with us through key points in our lives.

With Toy Story 5 (2026) set to release soon, now's a good time to look back at the number of times these movies about toys wrecked us beyond repair. It's also a good time to think about why these movies matter and how Pixar continues to find a winner with the franchise that's rare, even for a company as large as Disney.

6. Woody Stays Behind In Toy Story 4

Toy Story 4 (2019) has its faults, but reuniting Woody with Little Bo Beep is one of my favorite details because it acknowledges that there was always something between the two of them in the original film. At the same time, while it feels odd that Woody would choose to stay behind, it also makes sense because people do that for love. It's what makes the scene bittersweet, ultimately.

And while it isn't heartbreaking per se because it's understandable, it feels important to add it to a list like this because watching him say goodbye to his friends is something that also makes the movies so relatable. It adds the emotional weight necessary to showcase how they honor friendships, love, and character journeys.

5. Woody Feels Replaced In Toy Story

The first time Toy Story gives viewers a hint that this movie is about to torment them is right at the beginning, where Andy's obsession with his new toy, Buzz Lightyear, results in the replacement of his trusty sidekick, Woody. The heartbreak we go through as the animation shows us his sadness is almost diabolical, and then to see all the merchandise shift from Woody to Buzz adds salt to the wound.

Naturally, it doesn't stick as Andy eventually realizes that he misses Woody, but that momentary understanding of how a shiny new thing takes our attention away from what's flawed and a little rusty is a poignant metaphor Pixar is all too good at. It certainly isn't the saddest scene in the franchise, but it's still up there with a sting.

4. Buzz Realizes He's A Toy In Toy Story

Buzz's existential crisis hits even harder when we're adults than it may have when we were kids, because it's easier to understand what he's feeling. The belief that you're one thing when you're really another is enough to cause a blow, but to suddenly realize that the grand purpose you thought you had isn't a reality? Now that cuts deep.

The realization that he's a toy is synonymous with identity crises and conversations about legacy that tend to strike people too often in their careers. It's not a fun thought to have, and while it can be cathartic at times, it's more often than not, daunting. And the melancholy that pushes him over the edge before he's pulled out of his funk is profound in a lot of ways, making this one of the most cutting moments in Toy Story.

3. The Toys Face The Incinerator In Toy Story 3

The incinerator scene would've been ten times more diabolical in Toy Story 3 (2010) if we didn't have the certainty that this is a kid's movie and everything will be okay in the end. It's terrifying and outright anxiety-inducing, but the heartbreak is made easier to bear by the return of the aliens, and by extension, the claw.

Still, part of what makes facing the incinerator so heartbreaking is the fact that the toys are genuinely convinced that this is the end of life as they know it, and how the animation touches on the horrors in their expressions is no small feat. It's what makes the moment gut-wrenching because, for a split second, we can feel the loss and horrors that they do. We can grasp their desperation to hold onto each other.

2. Jessie's Backstory In Toy Story 2 

Jessie's backstory in Toy Story 2 (1999) is basically what could've happened to Woody if Andy hadn't remembered. It's a painful metaphor for what it not only means to be left behind but to be forgotten, and the abandonment issues that she's left with are all too relatable. It's strange to tether the abandonment a toy feels to the one we feel as human beings, but that's what makes the scene so painfully evocative.

A large part of the reason the scene also hits is that it's tied to a song, making the emotions feel twice as gutting if you're someone for whom music hits deep. Pair that detail with the fact that Jessie feels momentary hope that Emily remembers her again, only to understand that she's instead being abandoned, which is almost sinister. It makes the scene gut-wrenching to watch and genuinely so heartbreaking for kids.

1. The Ending Of Toy Story 3

There are a handful of Pixar scenes I can't rewatch because it's embarrassing how hard I cry, and the ending of Toy Story 3 is one of those scenes. Maybe it's because it aired shortly after I'd graduated, so the timing felt almost too close to Andy's timeline. And in many ways, this is the case for a lot of us millennials who grew up with these movies because we went through the same milestones, making this goodbye all the more heart-wrenching.

Tom Hanks always does an exceptional job with his voice acting when it comes to Woody, but his line delivery of "So long, partner" is haunting. The difference between his usual drawl and this heartbreaking delivery is a literal gut-punch. There's an understanding in Woody, Buzz, and all the other toys that this decision is necessary, which almost makes it even more sad because it's the realization of how hard changes can be that adds an extra layer of heartbreak. Plus, for the longest time, we thought this was the end, which makes it feel more final.