WhileToy Story 5isdue to release in 2026, it isn’t the toy-centric sequel that most desperately needs a sequel; that title goes toSmall Soldiers, the 1998 action comedy starring Kirsten Dunst and Alan Abernathy that has evolved into a cult classic in the last two decades. TheToy Storymovies focus on the perspective of toys that come to life whenever humans aren’t around, and whileSmall Soldiersalso features toys that come to life, they have no compunction about showing just how alive they are. In fact, some of them come into direct conflict with humans.
IntheToy Storyuniverse, all toys come to life, while in theSmall Soldiersuniverse, a select few are brought to life by a malfunctioning military microchip. The action was driven by a star-studded voice cast led by Tommy Lee Jones and Frank Langella in addition to the up-and-coming Dunst, and was given a healthy marketing budget thanks in large part to the merchandising potential of the movie.Small Soldiersnever received a follow-up, but with yet anotherToy Storysequel around the corner, it’s fair to wonder how much potential a sequel could have.
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Small Soldiers Was Too Fun Of A Movie Not To Get A Sequel
An Intriguing Cast Of Characters With Their Own Lore Has So Much Potential
Small Soldiersnever made a significant cultural impact, as it lacked the quality to generate outstanding reviews, and as a result, there were not enough eyes on the movie. However, the middling reviews from critics do nothing to dampen how much fun the movie was. In the absurd yet entertaining story, two sets of toys are brought to life thanks to military AI chips initially intended for the Department of Defense: a set of ultra-aggressive G.I. Joe knock-offs known as the Commando Elite, and a group of peaceful monsters known as the Gorgonites.
July 10th, 1998
$40 million
$71.8 million
49%
45%
The toys were programmed with their own backstories and had knowledge of an ongoing war between their two parties. That left so much more potential on the table, as further exploration of the backstory of the toy characters was ripe for the taking. The toy casts also could have been expanded further, just as theToy Storyfranchise has done. The contrasting styles of the aggressive soldier toys and the fun, more philosophical monsters made for an entertaining dynamic, and seeing how the two parties continued to interact with humans also had untapped potential.
Why Small Soldiers Was Not As Successful As Toy Story
Violent Content Limited Its Audience
WhileToy Storywas revolutionary in its animation style and, of course, had what would soon become known as the can’t-miss Pixar magic storytelling,Small Soldiersbrought very few new elements to the table. The toys were mostly a blend of stop-motion and CGI, which worked well in the context of the movie, but wasn’t considered a must-see of any kind. Perhaps more importantly, the content ofSmall Soldiersdidn’t lend itself to the kind of audience that Toy Story managed to capture during the 1990s at the theater.
The toys inSmall Soldierswere violent enough for the movie to warrant a PG-13 rating, whic limited the number of little eyes who saw it in theaters. It might’ve seen more box office success if families were able to see the movie. That PG-13 rating flew in the face of the marketing, which included toy-centric imagery; they even put the toys in kids meals at fast food chains, placing the violent content at odds with the movie’s marketing targets. Add in the lackluster reviews, andSmall Soldiersnever had a chance of coming anywhere nearToy Story’s success.
A Small Soldiers Remake Almost Happened In The Late 2010s
It Was More Of A Spiritual Successor Than An Actual Remake Of The Original
While a sequel toSmall Soldiershas never actually been attempted, a spiritual successor almost came to fruition in the mid-2010s. PerThe Hollywood Reporter, a movie calledToymageddonwas developed by Fox around 2014, with the initial intention of being produced by Justin Lin, who was hot off his work on theFast and Furiousfranchise. While it never progressed very far, the initial vibe was described as an action comedy in the style of family-friendly franchises likeGhostbustersorJurassic Park.
Very few details aboutToymaggedonwere ever available, but the plot was supposedly about a toy factory that goes haywire somehow. That would have at least hit some of the same notes asSmall Soldiers, and if it had an elevated level of mayhem and violence, it would certainly have operated as a spiritual successor. In this age of reboots, remakes, and reconfigurations,Small Soldiersis a worthy candidate for a sequel, or perhaps an animated continuation.
Small Soldiers
Cast
Small Soldiers: Released in 1998, Small Soldiers follows the chaos that ensues when action figures equipped with advanced military technology come to life. The film explores the consequences of these toys activating their combat programming in a suburban neighborhood.
