Why This Action Figures Movie Deserves a Sequel More Than Toy Story 5

Why Small Soldiers Deserves a Sequel More Than Toy Story 5

As anticipation builds for the release of Toy Story 5 in 2026, many fans are left wondering about the sequels that truly warrant another installment. Among these, Small Soldiers stands out. Released in 1998, this action-comedy starring Kirsten Dunst and Alan Abernathy has gained a loyal following over the past twenty years. Unlike the more family-oriented Toy Story franchise, Small Soldiers presents a darker narrative where toys not only come to life but often engage in aggressive confrontations with humans.

In the world of Toy Story, all toys possess life and unique personalities. However, Small Soldiers narrows this concept, bringing certain toys to life due to a malfunctioning military microchip. The film boasts a remarkable voice cast, featuring venerable actors like Tommy Lee Jones and Frank Langella alongside rising star Kirsten Dunst. With an impressive marketing budget primarily driven by its commercial toy potential, the movie nonetheless never received a sequel. With another Toy Story installment on the horizon, the question remains: does Small Soldiers hold untapped sequel potential?

Why Small Soldiers Deserves a Sequel

An Intriguing Cast with Rich Lore

The Commando Elite armed in Small Soldiers

Despite its limited cultural impact and mixed critical reviews, Small Soldiers remains an entertaining watch. The film’s plot revolves around a pair of toy factions brought to life by military AI chips: the fierce Commando Elite and the tranquil Gorgonites. Each toy possesses distinct backstories and awareness of their ongoing battle, hinting at further narrative exploration opportunities.

Small Soldiers – Key Details
Release Date	Director	Budget	Box Office	RT Tomatometer Score	RT Popcornmeter Score
July 10th, 1998	Joe Dante	$40 million	$71.8 million	49%	45%

The contrast between the aggressive Commando Elite soldiers and the mellow Gorgonites set a captivating dynamic. There lies significant potential for further development of these toy characters and potentially introducing new ones, reminiscent of the Toy Story franchise’s expansive narrative approach.

Challenges Faced by Small Soldiers

Violent Themes Restricted Its Audience

While Toy Story revolutionized animation and storytelling with Pixar’s hallmark charm, Small Soldiers offered a different experience with fewer innovative elements. The film’s combination of CGI and stop-motion captured the action, but it did not resonate as a must-see cinematic event. One of the major setbacks was its PG-13 rating due to violent content, which severely limited the film’s reach to younger audiences.

Director Joe Dante faced challenges during production, initially aiming for a more edgy, teen-oriented narrative. However, external influences reshaped the film’s tonal direction, resulting in an inconsistent final product. The marketed toy-centric imagery conflicted with the film’s mature undertones, ultimately leading to its limited box office success compared to Toy Story.

A Possible Small Soldiers Remake in the 2010s

The Concept of a Spiritual Successor

Alan Abernathy and Dick Miller in Small Soldiers

Though a direct sequel was never pursued, a spiritual successor to Small Soldiers was considered in the mid-2010s. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox developed a film titled Toymageddon, potentially directed by Justin Lin, known for the Fast and Furious franchise. While the project did not progress far, it aimed to create an action-comedy reminiscent of beloved family franchises like Ghostbusters and Jurassic Park.

Although details on Toymageddon remained scant, the storyline was rumored to involve a toy factory causing chaos. This concept aligns closely with the themes of Small Soldiers, and an elevated level of mischievousness would have reinforced its place as a spiritual successor. In an era dominated by reboots and fresh takes, Small Soldiers stands as a formidable candidate for either a sequel or an animated revival.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Source & Images