In 'Toy Story' (1995) pull-string cowboy Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) is Andy (John Morris)'s favourite toy until action figure Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), who believes he's a real space ranger, not a toy, arrives. Woody's jealousy sparks a battle for Andy's affection between the two toys, but they are forced to team up when they find themselves separated from Andy and taken by his neighbour, Sid (Erik von Detten). Through their attempts to return to Andy's room Woody and Buzz forge a unique friendship.

'Toy Story 2' (1999) sees Woody kidnapped by toy collector Al (Wayne Knight), who plans to sell him to a Japanese toy museum. Assisted by Mr Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney) and dinosaur Rex (Wallace Shawn), action figure Buzz Lightyear sets off to the rescue, but when they get to Al's store Buzz is mistakenly boxed up and his place taken by a new, flashier Utility Belt Buzz. Meanwhile, Woody has discovered that he was once the star of a popular children's television show, and is no longer sure he wants to return to Andy's toy box.

In 'Toy Story 3' (2010) Andy clears out his bedroom in preparation for starting college and Woody, Buzz and the rest of the toy-box gang are dumped in the donations box at a local nursery school, where they find themselves at the mercy of a horde of wild, sticky-fingered toddlers. As they struggle to stay together while coping with the chaos, they meet a new bunch of toys led by pink teddy bear Lotso (Ned Beatty), while Barbie (Jodi Benson) is at last united with her male counterpart, Ken (Michael Keaton). The yearning to return home cannot be ignored, however, and many comical adventures ensue as the toys make a series of elaborate escape attempts.

Finally, in 'Toy Story 4' (2019), on Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw)'s first day of kindergarten, she makes a new toy, a spork called Forky (Tony Hale), to join Woody, Buzz and the gang. However, the spork is not comfortable with being a toy and wants nothing more than to be thrown back in the trash. When Bonnie and her family go on a road trip, the toys are all taken along for the ride and find themselves having to keep a close eye on Forky to make sure nothing happens to Bonnie's beloved creation. They are helped by old friend Bo Peep (Annie Potts), who Woody finds discarded in an antiques shop, but her reappearance makes the cowboy question the real meaning of being a toy.