If there’s one thing Pixar is known for, it’s for their highly unique concepts. The thing is, those concepts are so unique that it’s nigh impossible to get any kind of sequel out of them, leaving those more eccentric movies in the studio’s canon standalone films, but they don’t necessarily need sequels.

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From rats becoming world-class chefs to sci-fi movies that warn children about the impact humans are having on the planet, Pixar’s standalone movies are not only some of the best animated movies of all time, but some of the best films of all time, period. The top four of these entries are even in IMDb’s list of the top 250 movies of all time.

The Good Dinosaur (2015) - 6.7

Arlo and Spot play with fireflies in The Good Dinosaur

Though The Good Dinosaur has one of the most interesting concepts of any Pixar movie, as it depicts how dinosaurs and humans would have lived together if the meteor missed the Earth, many thought it was a missed opportunity. Instead of setting it in the modern-day and showing how humans built metropolises around dinosaurs, it’s still set millions of years in the past.

It is also considered to be aimed at much younger audiences than other Pixar movies, as though adults can generally get as much out of the studio’s movies as children, the same can’t exactly be said for The Good Dinosaur.

Brave (2012) - 7.1

Merida wielding her bow and arrow in Pixar's Brave

2012's Brave broke the Pixar mold in a lot of ways, as it was the first movie with a female protagonist, the first to have a period setting, and the first to have parallels with Disney movies, the studio that owns Pixar, as the film follows a princess.

All of these might equate to why audiences didn’t love Brave as much as other Pixar movies, as viewers are used to unique mind-bending and time-warping concepts. But for what it is, it’s a brilliant, straightforward movie about a tough princess that explores Scottish culture in an interesting way.

A Bug’s Life (1998) - 7.2

Flik watches a mosquito drink at a bar in A Bug’s Life

Being the second movie that Pixar ever made, the animation may have looked good at the time, but out of all of their standalone movies, A Bug’s Life has arguably aged the worst visually.

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The animation looks extremely old by today’s standards, which is what has led to a low IMDb score relative to Pixar’s other movies, but it’s still a fan favorite to those who saw it as children. However, regardless of where it sits amongst Pixar movies, A Bug’s Life is still considered by many to be better than Antz, another similar animated movie that was released at the same time.

Onward (2020) - 7.4

Ian and Barley Lightfoot sitting on a car in Onward

2020's Onward is the first and only box office bomb in Pixar’s filmography, which is surprising given how it was widely praised by audiences but it did release just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Still, it has an all-star cast including Chris Pratt and Tom Holland, and those who did see it actually really liked it.

The movie is set in a fantastical world and follows two elves on a brotherly adventure. It’s reminiscent of Shrek, as the movie almost satirizes fantasy tropes, but it still remains as heartfelt as ever.

Ratatouille (2007) - 8.0

Remy the rat jumps with cheese in Ratatouille

Only Pixar could make a rat a world-class chef and have it make sense. Ratatouille set a lot of precedents for Pixar, as outside of the dog in Toy Story and the fish in Finding Nemo, it’s the first Pixar movie where animals are the main characters, which is surprising given the most kids’ movies are about talking animals.

Not only that, but it’s also the first movie to be set outside of the US, as it’s based in the colorful city of Paris, which is part of why audiences love it. Along with the bizarre narrative, it’s the atmosphere that pulls the viewers in.

Soul (2020) - 8.1

joe walking down the street with his briefcase in Soul

2020's Soul is the most recent Pixar movie to be released, and it’s one of the best according to general audiences. The movie is reason alone to get a subscription to Disney+, and as it was released on the streaming platform on Christmas Day, it surely had entire families full of turkey in tears.

The movie has a fantastical and classically Pixar premise, as Joe attempts to connect his body and soul after they’re separated, and its jazzy score makes it all the more unique in the Pixar canon.

Inside Out (2015) - 8.1

The emotions stand around the controls of Riley’s mind in Inside Out

It isn’t surprising that Inside Out comes from the same mind as the person who created Soul, as both are just as mind-bending as each other. Inside Out has such a convoluted premise, but it’s a fine example of world-building and is incredibly charming.

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The cast who voices the characters might be the most perfectly chosen out of any Pixar movie, and Pixar’s loving depiction of San Francisco is both hilarious and affectionate. Though it’d take its toll on viewers given its emotional heft, the movie gets better with each viewing as it’s full of hidden references that are hard to pick up on the first time around.

Up (2009) - 8.2

Allie and Carl lay on a blanket in the park in Up

Up to 2009, Pixar had made a name for itself for being the animation studio that could make any person cry. From the emotional pull of the Toy Story movies to Sully’s relationship with Boo in Monsters Inc, it’s hard to hold back the tears when sitting through a Pixar movie.

But they upped the ante tenfold with Up, as the first ten minutes whizzed through an entire decades-long relationship ending in the death of Carl’s wife. But what follows is the most uplifting (quite literally) story in which Carl becomes a father figure to Russell.

WALL-E (2008) - 8.4

WallE gives Eve the plant

2017's WALL-E could very well be the smartest, most mature animated movie that has ever been made. The film is the most visually driven of all the movies in Pixar’s filmography, as the first 20 minutes doesn’t feature a single line of dialogue. It’s a testament to how Pixar doesn’t treat its audiences like idiots.

WALL-E features some very deep subjects, including the environmental impact humans have on the world, waste management, and many others. What’s better is that even though there are so few words between the titular character and EVE, it still works perfectly as a heartwarming sci-fi romance.

Coco (2017) - 8.4

Hector and Miguel sit on a tram in the afterlife in Coco

It’s unsurprising that Coco is one of the most expensive Pixar movies to date, as it looks like one of the most ambitious animations from the studio given that most of the movie is set in the stunning looking afterlife. But the expense paid off, as Coco was a massive success, being both beloved by critics and general audiences, and it made over $800 million worldwide.

The movie has all the heart that audiences have come to expect from a Pixar movie and it features a fascinating look at Mexican culture, just like how Ratatouille did with Paris and Brave did with Scotland. But above all else, it has the most emotionally driven fantasy elements out of any Pixar movie ever.

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