Papa Johns is turning one of Pixar’s most iconic fake restaurants into a real-world event. To celebrate the theatrical release of Toy Story 5 on June 19, the chain is launching Papa Johns Pizza Planet pop-ups in Los Angeles, London, Seoul, and Madrid, while also rolling out a limited-time themed menu across 43 markets worldwide. That means retro arcade vibes, themed pizzas, exclusive merch, collectible packaging, giveaways, and a full nostalgia assault built around one of the most recognizable locations in the Toy Story universe. For anyone who grew up wanting to step inside Pizza Planet, this is the kind of brand stunt that instantly gets your attention.
Pizza Planet Finally Leaves the Screen
The smartest part of this campaign is how obvious the emotional hook is. Pizza Planet is not some random Toy Story reference. It is one of those settings people remember immediately, even if they have not watched the original movie in years. Papa Johns is taking that built-in affection and turning it into an actual place fans can visit, complete with retro-inspired pizza arcade design, themed food, surprises, and easter eggs tied to the new film.
That makes the whole thing feel bigger than a basic promo tie-in. Papa Johns is not just slapping Woody and Buzz on a box. It is trying to recreate a location that already lives in people’s heads, then letting fans walk into it. That is exactly the kind of move that can go viral if the execution lands.
The Menu Knows Exactly What It Is Doing
The food side of the rollout leans all the way in. Papa Johns says the pop-ups will feature limited-time Toy Story 5 pizzas called Space Ranger Roni, Sheriff’s Roundup, and Reach for the Pie, along with themed menus hitting restaurants globally from May 26 through July 19. The company is also launching its first in-app game, Operation Pizza, in the U.S. starting June 1 for Papa Rewards members.
That mix gives the campaign a little more range. Fans who can make it to one of the pop-ups get the full immersive version, but people who cannot still get a shot at the themed menu, app game, and broader campaign through their local Papa Johns. That is a much better way to stretch the idea beyond a one-city stunt.
A Summer Promo Built to Hit Parents and Former Kids at Once
This whole thing also works because Toy Story 5 is already playing in a multigenerational space. Parents who grew up with Pizza Planet now get to bring kids into a version of that memory, while newer fans get a big, colorful entry point into the movie’s world. Papa Johns is clearly betting that pizza night and movie night already belong together, and honestly, that is a pretty easy sell.
The Los Angeles Papa Johns Pizza Planet pop-up lands June 12 at 8180 Melrose Ave. from noon to 7 p.m. local time, with tickets opening May 29. The wider themed menu runs from May 26 through July 19, and Toy Story 5 opens exclusively in theaters on June 19.
Are you trying to hit one of these Pizza Planet pop-ups in person? Which themed pizza name is doing the most work for you? And is Pizza Planet still one of the most iconic fake restaurants in movie history? Share your thoughts in the comments or @me.
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